Claudio emerges from Rangers’ committee, Doolittle moves to top for Nationals

July 23, 2017

Texas Rangers — Keone Kela started the eighth inning last night with the Rangers up one run.  He recorded two outs, but also gave up a hit and a walk, and Alex Claudio came on to finish the inning.  Claudio came back out to pitch a scoreless ninth and pick up his fourth save of the year.  Claudio has finished the Rangers last four wins, and has earned the closer’s job.  We will remove the asterisk, but there still could be some times Claudio is needed before the ninth because of the Rangers’ current bullpen condition.

Hierarchy remains: Claudio | Kela | Leclerc.

Washington Nationals – Sean Doolittle picked up his second straight save since being traded to the Nationals.  Ryan Madson again pitched the eighth inning ahead of Doolittle.  Dusty Baker also said he would have used Doolittle on Friday if they had a lead in the ninth, so it appears clear Doolittle is the head of the committee for now.  Doolittle has issued a leadoff walk and given up a run in both of his save chances, and that is the only thing keeping us from removing the committee completely.

Updated hierarchy: *Doolittle | Madson | Albers.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins — With the rumors still swirling about closer AJ Ramos being dealt, manager Don Mattingly offered his thoughts on who could close if Ramos is dealt.  Kyle Barraclough would be Mattingly’s preference to close.  Claw is a good speculative add if you are looking for help in the saves category.

Hierarchy remains: Ramos | Barraclough | Tazawa.

Toronto Blue Jays – Blue Jays’ set-up man Joe Smith has been activated from the disabled list.  The veteran should jump right back in to a late inning role.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Smith | Tepera.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Kyle Barraclough – AJ Ramos has pitched in two straight, throwing a total of 42 pitches.  Barraclough has also pitched in two straight but thrown a lot less pitches.
2. George Kontos – Sam Dyson has pitched in two straight, and four of five.  Hunter Strickland has also pitched in two straight, throwing a total of 48 pitches.
3. Keone Kela – Alex Claudio has gone in two straight, working a total of 3.1 innings over that span.

Monday
1. Archie Bradley – If Fernando Rodney pitches on Sunday, that will be three of four.
2. Andrew Miller – Cody Allen threw 31 pitches on Saturday so if he goes again on Sunday, he will likely get Monday off.
3. Pat Neshek – Hector Neris has pitched in two straight.

 

Not a great first impression from Tyler Clippard

July 22, 2017

Chicago White Sox —  Tyler Clippard’s first appearance with the White Sox didn’t go as planned. Entering a tie game in the tenth inning, he loaded the bases with no outs, taking the loss on a sacrifice fly. If Clippard isn’t more effective in Chicago than he was in New York, he won’t be the closer for long.

Hierarchy remains: Clippard | Swarzak | Jennings.

New York Mets — With the Mets up four in the eighth, they turned to Erik Goeddel. He got himself into trouble, giving up a run and putting two men on, so in came Addison Reed. After a walk and a single, Reed was pulled for Jerry Blevins, who retired five straight to earn his first save of the year. Blevins’s solid performance should cement him in the role of Reed’s handcuff if the closer gets traded.

Hierarchy remains: Reed | Blevins | Sewald. 

Miami Marlins — Don Mattingly likes how Junichi Tazawa has pitched since his return from the disabled list, and will continue to use him in the seventh inning. With trade rumors continuing to swirl around AJ Ramos, Tazawa could earn even greater responsibilities soon.

Updated hierarchy: Ramos | Barraclough | Tazawa.

San Diego Padres — The bad Brandon Maurer showed up last night. Up three in the ninth, he got two quick outs, raising the Padres’ win expectancy to 99.6%. Then came a walk, single, and three-run homer. San Diego ultimately came back to win in 11, thanks to two perfect innings from Phil Maton. If Maurer hasn’t killed his value — and if the Padres aren’t asking too much for Brad Hand — Maton and Kirby Yates could be the last arms left here very soon.

Hierarchy remains: Maurer | Hand | Maton.

Texas Rangers — Alex Claudio has been impressive as the head of the Rangers’ committee. While he didn’t earn a save last night, he pitched a clean ninth in a tie game, then returned to protect a one-run lead in the tenth. The biggest thing keeping the asterisk next to Claudio’s name is that he’s the only lefty in the Texas pen, which may lead to some situational usage. It remains to be seen how Jeff Banister will deploy Keone Kela, who just returned from the DL, but Claudio may be able to hold the job.

Hierarchy remains: *Claudio | Kela | Leclerc.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers — With a killer slider and a 100 MPH fastball, Bruce Rondon is making a strong case to take over the closer role in the likely event that Justin Wilson gets moved.

Hierarchy remains: J. Wilson | Rondon | Greene.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Jerry Blevins/Paul Sewald — Reed has gone in three straight, and Blevins was used for five outs Friday.
2. Phil Maton/Kirby Yates — Maurer and Hand have gone in two straight, and Maton pitched two innings last night.

Sunday:
1. Archie Bradley — If Fernando Rodney pitches today, that would be three in a row. Bradley threw 34 pitches last night and likely won’t pitch today.
2. Hunter Strickland — A Sam Dyson appearance would be two straight and four of five.
3. Bruce Rondon — Justin Wilson pitched yesterday and in two of three.
4. Joakim Soria — Same for Kelvin Herrera.

David Phelps traded to Mariners; will AJ Ramos be next Marlin dealt?

July 21, 2017

Seattle Mariners — The Mariners have played good baseball as of late to get back to .500 (48-48) and made a trade Thursday to bolster the bullpen, acquiring David Phelps from the Marlins for four minor leaguers. A Seattle reporter suggests Phelps will typically work the sixth or seventh innings. Nick Vincent has been very good in the eighth for Seattle this year, so expect Phelps to begin his stint in Seattle by trying to get the ball to Vincent and Edwin Diaz.

Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Vincent | Phelps.

Miami Marlins — With David Phelps shipped to Seattle, expect Kyle Barraclough to step into the primary eighth-inning role. Jarlin Garcia and Junichi Tazawa may get looks in the seventh inning behind Barraclough and A.J. Ramos, who’s still a Marlin, for now.

Updated hierarchy: Ramos | Barraclough | Garcia.

Texas Rangers — Keone Kela has been activated from the disabled list. He probably won’t be thrown into the ninth inning right away, but many suspect it’ll only be a matter of time before he starts getting save chances.

Updated hierarchy: *Claudio | Kela | Leclerc.
* = closer-by-committee

St. Louis Cardinals – The Cardinals bullpen blew another game Thursday, with Brett Cecil giving up the lead in the eighth and Trevor Rosenthal losing the game in the ninth after he somehow forgot to cover first base. His teammate Matt Carpenter wasn’t happy. There’s no indication the mental lapse will lead to a job change, as he’s still at the top of a messy committee.

Hierarchy remains: *Rosenthal | Cecil | Oh.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Tony Watson — Felipe Rivero has pitched in three of the last four. Juan Nicasio has been busier — he has gone in four of five. Watson has been busy lately, too, but he had Thursday off.
2. Ryan Tepera — Roberto Osuna has pitched in four of the last five.

Saturday:
1. Jerry Blevins — Addison Reed pitched Wednesday and Thursday. Friday would be three straight for him.
2. David Robertson — Aroldis Chapman has pitched in two of three and three of five.
3. Brad Brach —  Zach Britton threw 23 pitches Thursday (2 ER in a non-save situation) and has pitched in two of three and three of the last five. Another outing Friday could lead to rest for him on Saturday.

 

Kelvin Herrera blows save, leaves game with illness

July 20, 2017

Kansas City Royals — Before Wednesday’s game, Ned Yost mentioned that Kelvin Herrera had been ill, with a 102-degree fever and a sore throat. Yost called on Herrera anyway, only to see the closer give up the go-ahead home run, then leave the game with a trainer. After the game, Yost announced that Herrera was still ailing, not injured. Herrera himself said that he “ran out of energy.” The Royals won the game off Justin Wilson in the ninth, marking two blown saves for Nationals trade targets in the same inning. Joakim Soria remains the handcuff here.

Hierarchy remains: Herrera | Soria | Minor.

Atlanta Braves — Arodys Vizcaino gave up three hits in a rocky return from the disabled list, but we expect him to slide right back into his role as Jim Johnson’s understudy and presumptive heir.

Updated hierarchy: Johnson | Vizcaino | Ramirez.

Baltimore Orioles — As trade rumors continue to swirl around Zach Britton, Buck Showalter confirmed that Britton will get the next save opportunity. It will wait for another day, however, as the Orioles’ seven-run seventh put the game well out of reach.

Hierarchy remains: Britton | Brach | O’Day.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Tony Zych/Steve Cishek — It’s been five saves in six days for Edwin Diaz, and Nick Vincent has pitched on each of those days as well. A save opportunity on Thursday could settle the question of who’s really second in line in Seattle.
2. Joakim Soria — Kelvin Herrera probably gets tomorrow off.
3. Hunter Strickland — Sam Dyson has gone in two straight, including a two-inning outing on Tuesday.
4. Jacob Barnes — Corey Knebel needed 31 pitches in a blown save on Wednesday and might get the day game off.

Friday:
1. Michael Lorenzen/Tony Cingrani — Raisel Iglesias got five outs on Wednesday, his second outing in three days.
2. Ryan Tepera — An appearance for Roberto Osuna would be four out of five.
3. Juan Nicasio/Tony Watson — Same for Felipe Rivero, except three out of four.

White Sox, Yankees shuffle bullpens in monster trade

July 19, 2017

Chicago White Sox — Both David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle were traded to the Yankees late Tuesday night, with Tyler Clippard part of the package that came back to the White Sox. Clippard has struggled lately, but he has experience as a closer and is likely to take over the ninth inning for Chicago. Anthony Swarzak will be next in line for save chances if he also doesn’t eventually get traded.

Updated hierarchy: Clippard | Swarzak | Jennings.

New York Yankees — The Yankees bolstered their bullpen by trading for both David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle. Robertson instantly becomes one of the top setup men in baseball, and should be first choice to close if Aroldis Chapman is unavailable. Kahnle and Dellin Betances will get the ball ahead of Robertson and Chapman – we’ll keep an eye on how Joe Girardi deploys those two arms.

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Robertson | Betances.

Washington Nationals – Prior to Tuesday’s game, Dusty Baker made clear that he won’t have a traditional closer/setup situation. He wasted no time practicing what he preached, using Ryan Madson in the eighth inning before Sean Doolittle got the ninth and the save. Matchups probably played a part in this decision, as two lefties were due up in the ninth. However, Baker also said that Madson felt more comfortable in the eighth. It truly could be either Doolittle or Madson in the ninth if the Nats have a lead, which means frustration for fantasy owners.

Hierarchy remains: *Madson | Doolittle | Albers.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s – Blake Treinen impressed on Tuesday, pitching a clean eighth inning in a one-run game before Santiago Casilla blew the save in the ninth. It’s early in his tenure with Oakland, but Treinen appears to have quickly earned Bob Melvin’s trust.

Updated hierarchy: Casilla | Treinen | Hendriks.

Houston Astros – The Vulture Save Watch picked a winner in Luke Gregerson on Tuesday, but it was not a conventional save. Gregerson entered the eighth inning with the tying run on deck in a 6-2 game, picked up the final out of the frame, and then stayed on to complete the ninth for his first save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Giles | Devenski | Gregerson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Andrew Miller/Bryan Shaw – Cody Allen has pitched in three straight games. Miller needed 28 pitches yesterday, so Bryan Shaw may be an option depending on the game situation.
2. Pat Neshek/Joaquin Benoit – Hector Neris has pitched in three straight. Neshek has gone in three of four, so Benoit may get the call.
3. Ryan Tepera  – Roberto Osuna has pitched in three straight games.

Thursday
1. Matt Barnes/Heath Hembree – If Craig Kimbrel pitches tonight, it will be back-to-back and four of five. Matt Barnes will also need a day off if he pitches on Wednesday.
2. David Robertson – The Yankees acquired Robertson to win, so no sense in holding him back if Aroldis Chapman needs a day off. That may be on Thursday – Chapman will have gone in back-to-back games and four of five if he gets the ball on Wednesday.
3. Juan Nicasio – If Felipe Rivero pitches on Wednesday it will be three straight.