Pat Neshek traded to the Rockies; Kyle Barraclough placed on the DL

July 27, 2017

Colorado Rockies — The Rockies added some much-needed bullpen depth with the acquisition of Pat Neshek from the Phillies. Neshek brings an impressive resume (1.12 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 10.04 K/9) to Coors Field, where he will immediately see high-leverage work and potentially a save chance with Greg Holland on paternity leave. Holland will be back sometime during the Rockies’ series against the Nationals, and Bud Black was mum on who would close in Holland’s absence before the Neshek deal. We’ll see how Black plays the new-look bullpen when that series begins on Friday.

Updated hierarchy: Holland | Neshek | McGee.

Miami Marlins — The Marlins placed Kyle Barraclough on the 10-day DL Wednesday. Junichi Tazawa will become the team’s primary setup man ahead of AJ Ramos, with left-handed rookie Jarlin Garcia likely to see some more late-inning work. If Barraclough remains on the shelf for an extended period of time and Ramos is traded, Tazawa could end up as the Marlins’ closer. Another name to keep an eye on in that scenario is Brad Ziegler, whose return is imminent if a rehab appearance on Thursday goes smoothly.

Updated hierarchy: Ramos | Tazawa | Garcia.

Philadelphia Phillies – The Phillies traded Pat Neshek to Colorado on Wednesday, which means even more chances for Joaquin Benoit and Luis Garcia to get the ball to Hector Neris.

Updated hierarchy: Neris | Garcia | Benoit. 

Oakland A’s – Santiago Casilla blew his fourth save in 16 games on Wednesday. He is still the closer, but his hold on the job has become even more tenuous with Blake Treinen now on the team. Treinen has four holds and a 0.00 ERA since joining the A’s.

Hierarchy remains: Casilla | Treinen | Hendriks.

San Diego Padres – Brad Hand got the first post-Brandon Maurer save chance and converted. Hand has been sensational of late and should be traded to a contender by Monday. In the meantime, he should continue to be the favorite for saves in San Diego, though Andy Green has said that matchups may dictate that Hand pitch earlier in games.

Hierarchy remains: *Hand | Maton | Yates.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago White Sox — The White Sox activated Jake Petricka from the DL on Wednesday. Rick Renteria said that Petricka could be an option in the late innings. Petricka hasn’t pitched since a disastrous outing on June 28, so we’ll see just how quickly Renteria throws Petricka into the fire.

Hierarchy remains: *Clippard | Jennings | Minaya.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Ryan Madson — Sean Doolittle needed 28 pitches to get through a rough outing (3 H, 3 ER) on Wednesday.

Friday:
1. Pat Neshek/Jake McGee — As mentioned above, Greg Holland is on paternity leave.
2. Ryan Madson — If Doolittle pitches again on Thursday it will be two straight games with a potential high pitch count.

Anthony Swarzak traded to Milwaukee; Tyler Clippard gets another shot for White Sox

July 26, 2017

Chicago White Sox — Hey White Sox fans, did you like that clean, drama-free save from Anthony Swarzak the other night? Too bad! With Swarzak headed up I-94 to Milwaukee, it’s Tyler Clippard time again — or whatever gallimaufry of negative-WAR relievers Rick Renteria has left to compose a committee. For second in line behind Clippard and Dan Jennings right now, we’ll put our marker on Juan Minaya, who’s had some bad luck (.333 BABIP, 13% HR/FB), but boasts the best K-rate of anyone on the current roster of mismatched Sox. Recently signed Danny Farquhar could be in the hierarchy very soon.

Updated hierarchy: *Clippard | Jennings | Minaya.
* = closer-by-committee

Milwaukee Brewers — Last season, Anthony Swarzak gave up 10 home runs in 26 appearances for the Yankees, winding up as a nonroster invitee for Chicago in spring training. This season, easily Swarzak’s career-best, the White Sox flipped him to Milwaukee for a 25-year-old outfield prospect. The Brewers will use Swarzak alongside Jacob Barnes to set up Corey Knebel down the stretch, hoping this Cinderella story can keep rolling into the fall.

Updated hierarchy: Knebel | Barnes | Swarzak.

Los Angeles Dodgers — Three scoreless innings from Josh Ravin earned the 29-year-old righty his first save in a tumultuous career. If you can prove he was in your starting lineup for that save, we’ll sign you up for free Closer Monkey Premium!

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Baez | Morrow.

San Francisco Giants — Chris Stratton was called up from AAA Sacramento on Monday and threw 69 pitches in a four-inning save on Tuesday. Chances are he’ll be headed back down on Wednesday.

Hierarchy remains: Dyson | Strickland | Kontos.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Brandon Maurer — Kelvin Herrera has gone in three straight and four of five. Joakim Soria has gone in two straight and four of five. Maurer’s first appearance as a Royal could be with a ninth-inning lead.
2. Brett Cecil/Seung Hwan Oh — Trevor Rosenthal threw 34 pitches on Tuesday.
3. Cam Bedrosian — Bud Norris has gone in three of four, including a loss on a walk-off grand slam last night.
4. Bryan Shaw — Both Cody Allen and Andrew Miller have pitched in three of four.

Thursday:
1. Ryan Tepera/Joe Smith — Roberto Osuna has appeared in two straight games. It’s not totally clear whether Tepera or Smith is the best save handcuff and, as a pending free agent, Smith could be pitching for someone else by Thursday anyway.
2. Andrew Miller — If the Indians do use Allen again, he’ll get Thursday afternoon off.
3. Jerry Blevins — Addison Reed has pitched in two straight.

Anthony Swarzak moves to top of White Sox committee; Brandon Maurer dealt

July 25, 2017

Cleveland Indians – A month or so ago, following a stretch where Andrew Miller looked vaguely human, he and Cody Allen briefly switched roles to give Miller some lower-leverage opportunities. The Indians haven’t had a ton of save opportunities lately, but we’re comfortable saying that they’ve gone back to their traditional roles; last night, Allen got the 9th, where he’s pitched almost exclusively for the last few weeks, while Miller pitched two innings ahead of him. So we’re back to a no-asterisk Indians bullpen.

Updated hierarchy: Allen | Miller | Shaw. 

Chicago White Sox – Anthony Swarzak finished off the 8th inning last night, then stayed on to pick up his first career save. Five days ago, Rick Renteria named Tyler Clippard his new closer after David Robertson was dealt to the Yankees. But after two shaky outings, Renteria now seems to be leaning toward Swarzak, saying after yesterday’s game that he went with the guy pitching the best right now. This looks like a committee going forward, with Swarzak in the lead after his outing yesterday. Swarzak, however, has thrown 94(!) pitches over the last four days; all three of his outings crossed multiple innings. He’ll need the day off today, and might get Wednesday off as well.

Updated hierarchy: *Swarzak | Clippard | Jennings.
* = closer-by-committee

San Diego Padres – Brad Hand is now the likely closer in San Diego after the Brandon Maurer trade, though Hand will also probably be dealt soon, leaving the 9th inning to either Phil Maton, Kirby Yates, or Carter Capps. Yates has the better numbers right now, and hasn’t allowed a run in his last 12 appearances. Maton, 6 years younger, is the likely closer of the future for the Padres, and could get the call if the Padres want to see what he can do. Capps, meanwhile, hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last 13 AAA appearances as he makes his way back from injury. With no clear indication from Andy Green as of yet, we’ll watch this situation closely. By not immediately giving the job outright to Hand, it’s possible Green continues using him all over, which would provide a look at who is the favorite for the post-deadline 9th.

Updated hierarchy: *Hand | Maton | Yates.
* = closer-by-committee

Kansas City Royals – The resurgent Royals, who were looking like sellers a month ago, put together a scorching month and have transitioned to buyers, acquiring Brandon Maurer, Ryan Buchter, and Trevor Cahill from the Padres. Maurer will be the new set-up man for Kelvin Herrera, while Buchter will help Joakim Soria bridge the gap to the 8th.

Updated hierarchy: Herrera | Maurer | Soria.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Brandon Maurer – Kelvin Herrera has gone back to back and three of four.
2. Bruce Rondon – Justin Wilson has pitched back to back games (2.1 IP, 40 pitches) and three of four.

Tomorrow
1. Pedro Baez – If Kenley Jansen goes tonight, it’ll be three straight.
2. Kyle Barraclough – If AJ Ramos pitches tonight, it’ll be back to back and four of five, with a pretty high pitch count (65 pitches already so far).
3. Andrew Miller – If Cody Allen goes today, it’ll be back to back and three of four; he’s thrown 2.2 IP and 46 pitches already in that span.
4. Brandon Maurer – See above. If Herrera goes today, he’ll definitely be off tomorrow.
5. Bruce Rondon – See above. If Wilson goes today, he’ll definitely be off tomorrow.

Brad Hand, Anthony Swarzak, Luis Garcia all being showcased

July 24, 2017

Texas Rangers – Alex Claudio got the night off, but with Keone Kela still apparently not pitching in back-to-back games yet, it was Jose Leclerc who got the save chance for the Rangers. He converted, and the recently-shaky Rangers bullpen is rounding back into form, with even their fourth and fifth options pitching well of late.

Hierarchy remains: Claudio | Kela | Leclerc. 

Philadelphia Phillies – The Phillies took their usual approach to the 7th and 8th innings on Sunday (Pat Neshek, then Joaquin Benoit), but instead of using Hector Neris for the third straight day, they summoned Luis Garcia for the ninth inning. Against all odds, Garcia has been nails lately, and the Phillies might have been showcasing him to see if they could get someone to trade a prospect for a 30-year-old reliever who has never even been decent before the last month or so. Anyway, we’ll bump Garcia up to 2nd in line with the understanding that if Neris needs a game off in the future, any of three relievers could vulture a save.

Updated hierarchy: Neris | Neshek | Garcia. 

Chicago White Sox – Dating back to July 12, when his ERA was 1.73, Tyler Clippard has given up 16 earned runs in 10.2 innings. He didn’t add to that total yesterday, as he only faced one batter and allowed a walkoff base hit, but that now makes two bad appearances for his new team. If the White Sox succeed in trading Anthony Swarzak, we don’t know what’s going to become of the closer position, but lefty Dan Jennings might be worth an add if you have the roster space.

Hierarchy remains: Clippard | Swarzak | Jennings.

San Diego Padres – In what was likely an attempt to showcase him as they continue to field offers, the Padres gave Brad Hand the ninth inning last night, and the lefty responded with a perfect inning. The Padres are still holding firm on their high asking price for Hand, but regardless of what happens, we continue to think that the best reliever on the market is unlikely to see a big shift in value if he’s dealt. He’s a setup man now, and that’s what he’ll probably be come July 31, as well.

Hierarchy remains: Maurer | Hand | Maton.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Michael Lorenzen – Raisel Iglesias threw two innings last night, his second straight day of work.

Tomorrow
1. Brad Brach – If Zach Britton goes tonight, it’ll be back to back games, and we’re guessing he won’t go three straight just yet.
2. CJ Edwards – If Wade Davis goes today, it’ll be three straight.