Clippard likely to close for White Sox after Yankees acquire Robertson and Kahnle

July 18, 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.

With the Nats still shopping, Ryan Madson isn’t closing just yet

July 18, 2017

Washington Nationals – In case you didn’t see our updated post from yesterday, we jumped the gun a bit on Ryan Madson, though we still think he’s the most likely candidate to grab hold of the 9th inning. However, the Nationals are still apparently looking for additional bullpen help, so Madson’s spot as the top dog in the committee could be short-lived. In other news, Koda Glover was moved to the 60-day DL, meaning he can’t pitch again until Aug. 9 at the earliest. Also, the Nationals won by 5 last night, using Matt Grace for the 9th inning, so despite his consecutive saves this weekend, he’s still probably below at least three other players in the committee.

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

Baltimore Orioles – With Zach Britton still working his way back from injury, Brad Brach got another save last night. Our guess is this was Brach’s last opportunity for now, though he could quickly regain the job if Britton gets dealt.

Hierarchy remains: Britton | Brach | O’Day.

St. Louis Cardinals – Undaunted by Brett Cecil’s blown save on Sunday, the Cardinals sent him back out for the 9th inning again on Monday. This time, the lefty converted. Look for him to continue to get opportunities when the matchups make sense.

Updated hierarchy: *Rosenthal | Cecil | Oh.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Chris Devenski/Luke Gregerson – Ken Giles has gone back to back and three of four; so has Chris Devenski, though his pitch count has been lower.
2. Tony Zych/James Pazos – Edwin Diaz and Nick Vincent have both pitched in FOUR straight. Steve Cishek has gone in three straight. It’ll be matchup roulette in the 9th inning tonight.

Tomorrow
1. Koji Uehara – Wade Davis threw 28 pitches last night; another extended outing today and he could get Wednesday off.
2. Michael Lorenzen – If Raisel Iglesias goes today, it’ll be back to back and three of four.
3. Chris Devenski/Luke Gregerson – See above. If Giles goes today, he’ll definitely be out tomorrow.
4. Pat Neshek/Joaquin Benoit – If Hector Neris goes today, it’ll be three straight.
5. Ryan Tepera/Danny Barnes – If Roberto Osuna goes tonight, it’ll be three straight.

Nationals leaning toward Ryan Madson as their new closer

July 17, 2017

Washington Nationals – It’s been nearly a full day since the Nationals traded for Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle, and finally this morning, we got some insight into how they’ll be used: GM Mike Rizzo told MLB Radio in an interview that the team initially targeted Madson and would not use a closer-by-committee. The inference there was that Madson would get the first crack, but Rizzo might not be done trading, and with a handful of other lefties in the pen, Doolittle could get a look as well.

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

Oakland A’s – Santiago Casilla is unaffected by the Madson/Doolittle deal, but the other relievers in this bullpen just got a major boost in value, as Casilla remains a viable trade target over the next few weeks. Blake Treinen, just acquired from the Nationals, might get a new shot at the 9th inning if he can work out his issues. Liam Hendriks has the stuff (50 Ks in 38.1 IP) to be a closer sooner rather than later, though he has some control issues. Lefty Daniel Coulombe is also a possibility if they go the committee route.

Updated hierarchy: Casilla | Hendriks | Coulombe.

St. Louis Cardinals – The Cardinals took their new closer-by-committee for a spin, giving Brett Cecil a chance at the 9th inning. Three batters later, the score was tied; three more, and the Cardinals had lost. Trevor Rosenthal, who pitched a clean 8th, would be the next reliever in line for a shot, but he pitched in all three games over the weekend and won’t be available today.

Updated hierarchy: *Rosenthal | Oh | Cecil.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Steve Cishek – Edwin Diaz and Nick Vincent have pitched in three straight.
2. Dellin Betances – Aroldis Chapman has pitched on three straight days.

Tomorrow
1. Cam Bedrosian – If Bud Norris goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.
2. Pedro Baez – Kenley Jansen pitched 1.1 innings last night.
3. Tommy Kahnle/Anthony Swarzak – Both David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle have gone back to back; watch today’s usage to see who will be available tomorrow.
4. Joakim Soria – Kelvin Herrera has pitched back to back games.
5. Matt Barnes – Craig Kimbrel has pitched back to back games.

 

Alex Claudio moves to the top of the committee in Texas

July 16, 2017

Texas Rangers — Alex Claudio notched his second consecutive save for the Rangers.  Jose Leclerc got the last out of the eighth and came back out to start the ninth.  However, after Leclerc walked the leadoff man, Claudio came on to face the lefty Hosmer.  Claudio struck Hosmer out and then got Salvatore Perez to ground into a game-ending double play.  Claudio still has some pretty significant splits (Lefties are only hitting .143 on the season while righties are hitting .287), but he moves to the top of the committee for now.

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

Washington Nationals — Another night, another awful showing by the Nationals’ bullpen.  They were up 10-0 going into the eighth inning, but had to hold on for a 10-7 victory.  It was Matt Grace for the second straight game recording the save.   Both of Grace’s saves were not your normal save situations, so we won’t quite move him to the top of the committee yet.   Either way, none of the relievers currently on the hierarchy figure to be a source of saves in a few weeks as we approach the trade deadline.

Updated hierarchy: *Albers | Grace | Romero.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox — The Red Sox placed Joe Kelly on the disabled list with a sore hamstring.  Matt Barnes should handle set-up duties, and Heath Hembree should see more time in the seventh inning while Kelly is out.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Barnes | Hembree.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Matt Barnes – Craig Kimbrel threw 26 pitches yesterday and the Red Sox have a doubleheader today.
2. Chad Greene – Aroldis Chapman and Dellin Betances have both pitches in two straight and the Yankees are the other part of the doubleheader.
3. Nick Vincent – Edwin Diaz has gone in back-to-back games, including a 26 pitch outing yesterday.  Vincent has also pitched in both games but was much more efficient (only 21 total pitches)

Monday
1. Jose Ramirez – Jim Johnson has pitched in two straight.
2. Jacob Barnes – Corey Knebel has also pitched in two straight.
3. Brad Hand – Brandon Maurer too.

The Nationals are ever more desperate for a closer

July 15, 2017

Washington Nationals — When Matt Albers loaded the bases in the ninth inning with a five-run lead, it gave Matt Grace a chance to earn his first career save. Albers’s struggles highlight Washington’s continuing weakness in the bullpen, which we expect to be addressed through trade in the next two weeks. K-Rod, it seems, will not be the answer.

Hierarchy remains: *Albers | Romero | Treinen.
* = closer-by-committee

Houston Astros – Will Harris has been placed on the disabled list with inflammation in his throwing shoulder, and will be out until at least next Friday.

Updated hierarchy: Giles | Devenski | Gregerson.

Arizona Diamondbacks — Jake Barrett has made a few successful appearances since his return from a shoulder injury, reclaiming his old role at the back end of the Arizona bullpen.

Updated hierarchy: Rodney | Bradley | Barrett.

Pittsburgh Pirates — Tony Watson pitched a clean seventh inning in a tie game last night. The Pirates may simply be showcasing him for a trade, but Watson has responded by giving up a run in only one of his last twelve appearances, earning a place in the late-inning mix and our hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Rivero | Nicasio | Watson.

Baltimore Orioles — Zach Britton pitched the eighth ahead of Brad Brach on Friday. Speculators should target Brach and his owners should hold him; the floundering Orioles may move Britton either to the Nationals (as a closer) or the Dodgers (as a world-class setup guy, giving Kenley Jansen goose bumps).

Hierarchy remains: Britton | Brach | O’Day.

St. Louis Cardinals — Seung Hwan Oh came on in a tied ninth and gave up a three-run homer for his fifth loss of the year. This season, The Final Boss is less of a Mike Tyson and more of a Birdo.

Hierarchy remains: Oh | Rosenthal | Cecil.

Texas Rangers — With two lefties due up in the ninth, Texas turned to their committee lefty, Alex Claudio, to protect a two-run lead. He pitched a perfect inning for his second save of the season, and will continue to be a major part of the Rangers committee until and unless they bring in some outside help.

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

Milwaukee Brewers — Rookie Josh Hader picked up his second hold of the season, striking out the last two batters of the seventh inning. Hader is a solid prospect who has transitioned well to the majors since his callup on June 9, sporting a 0.69 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP to go with a solid strikeout rate. While he won’t crack the hierarchy just yet, and he projects as a starter long-term, he’s still a hard-throwing lefty on a contender that should give him plenty of hold chances.

Hierarchy remains: Knebel | Barnes | Hughes.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. David Phelps — AJ Ramos threw 29 pitches in a loss on Friday.

Sunday:
1. Dellin Betances/Chad Green — Aroldis Chapman threw 23 pitches on Friday, making three straight appearances unlikely. Betances was used for 20 pitches himself. Green should get Saturday off after a 30-pitch outing on Friday.
2. Hunter Strickland — Sam Dyson also ran up his pitch count on Friday.