August 1, 2017
[EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re running our Donation Drive this week. As always, we are extremely grateful for your support!]
Oakland A’s – Blake Treinen picked up his first Oakland save last night, putting him firmly at the front of the team’s closer-by-committee. He’s allowed only one earned run and seven total baserunners (4 H, 3 BB) in 9.1 IP since joining the team, and is clearly the best reliever in the bullpen right now. If he converts his next opportunity, that might be enough for us to shed him of his asterisk.
Hierarchy remains: *Treinen | Casilla | Dull.
* = closer-by-committee
Texas Rangers – We thought Alex Claudio had seized control of the closer role in Texas, but last night he was summoned in a tie game in the 7th inning, which isn’t exactly the place you’d use your full-time closer. Claudio ended up pitching 2.2 innings and taking the loss after a balk-filled 9th. We’re slapping the committee tag back on here and will watch to see how Texas proceeds the next few days.
Updated hierarchy: *Claudio | Kela | Leclerc.
Cleveland Indians – Joe Smith is returning to the place where he enjoyed five years of success, as Cleveland reacquired him late Monday afternoon. Smith joins Bryan Shaw behind Cody Allen and Andrew Miller, giving the Indians an enviable group of late game relievers for their stretch run.
Hierarchy remains: Allen | Miller | Shaw.
Toronto Blue Jays – With Joe Smith gone, Roberto Osuna’s new handcuff is Ryan Tepera. Look for Joe Biagini to get a few more chances in the late innings as well.
Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Tepera | Biagini.
Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers picked up Tony Watson and Tony Cingrani at the deadline, giving them plenty of flexibility in the late innings. Watson is the more likely of the two to get late inning work, though we won’t bump Pedro Baez or Brandon Morrow out of their hierarchy positions yet.
Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Baez | Morrow.
Cincinnati Reds – With Tony Cingrani gone, Drew Storen returns to the Cincinnati hierarchy. Storen hasn’t been great lately (4.82 ERA in July), but the Reds aren’t exactly swimming in late-inning options right now.
Updated hierarchy: Iglesias | Lorenzen | Storen.
Pittsburgh Pirates – Despite moving on from Tony Watson, the Pirates weren’t selling by any stretch, as they also moved to acquire Joaquin Benoit from the Phillies. Benoit will take over Watson’s 7th inning role.
Updated hierarchy: Rivero | Nicasio | Benoit.
Philadelphia Phillies – With Joaquin Benoit gone, the Phillies don’t really have any major league caliber relievers left other than Hector Neris and Luis Garcia, so we’ll take our best guess and give Jesen Therrien the 7th inning job for now. The righty has only been in the bigs for a few days, but he had 9 saves in the minors.
Updated hierarchy: Neris | Garcia | Therrien.
Arizona Diamondbacks – Longtime fan favorite David Hernandez returned to the Diamondbacks on Monday, where he will likely serve as a late-inning option along with Archie Bradley. Hernandez has enjoyed a fine year with the Angels to this point, sporting a 2.23 ERA over 38 appearances.
Updated hierarchy: Rodney | Bradley | Hernandez.
Los Angeles Angels – David Hernandez is now a Diamondback, meaning in the rare instances that the rebuilding Angels have a lead, they’ll probably look to Blake Parker more often.
Updated hierarchy: Norris | Bedrosian | Parker.
Milwaukee Brewers – In one of the more minor moves of the day, the Brewers reacquired Jeremy Jeffress prior to the trade deadline. Jeffress doesn’t figure to supplant Jacob Barnes as the primary set-up man, but he’ll join Anthony Swarzak in bridging the gap in the 6th and 7th innings.
Hierarchy remains: Knebel | Barnes | Swarzak.
Houston Astros – For a time, the Astros seemed like the leaders in the Zach Britton sweepstakes, but they ended up standing pat. They did, however, have to put Will Harris back on the DL before he’d even made an appearance in the big leagues, meaning we welcome Luke Gregerson back to the hierarchy.
Updated hierarchy: Giles | Devenski | Gregerson.
Colorado Rockies – The Rockies already made their bullpen-bolstering move, adding Pat Neshek a few days ago, and as it turned out, the move couldn’t have come at a better time, as Jake McGee felt his back tighten up over the weekend and will need a short DL stint. Lefty Mike Dunn has settled in as of late (only 1 ER in 10 July appearances) and might get some matchup-based looks in the 7th and 8th in McGee’s absence.
Updated hierarchy: Holland | Neshek | Dunn.
Minnesota Twins – The Twins shipped Brandon Kintzler off, leaving the cupboard pretty bare when it comes to 9th inning options. The team hasn’t said much, and beat writers don’t have a good guess, so we’ll make split our bets on veteran Matt Belisle and 26-year-old righty Trevor Hildenberger. Belisle has been pitching the best as of late, with 13 straight scoreless outings, but durability is an issue, while Hildenberger had a strong outing Sunday and averages more than a strikeout per inning. Taylor Rogers seemed the best option as recently as a week ago, but he’s been hit around as of late (his last five appearances: 3 IP, 9 ER) and is probably in third place at the moment; however, if the Twins do employ a full committee, he could get the 9th when a lefty-heavy part of the lineup is due.
Updated hierarchy: *Belisle | Hildenberger | Rogers.
* = closer-by-committee
Washington Nationals – Brandon Kintzler adds to a cadre of veterans the Nationals have assembled over the last few weeks. Sean Doolittle has done a great job so far — nabbing another save last night before Kintzler got to town — but GM Mike Rizzo wouldn’t name a full-time closer after the trade. We think Doolittle keeps the job and Kintzler is first in line for chances if the lefty falters, but will leave the committee tag on until things are certain.
Updated hierarchy: *Doolittle | Kintzler | Madson.
* = closer-by-committee
New York Mets – Addison Reed is headed to the Red Sox in exchange for three minor leaguers. AJ Ramos takes over as closer for the Mets, while Jerry Blevins and Paul Sewald continue to be the team’s main source of holds.
Updated hierarchy: Ramos | Blevins | Sewald.
Boston Red Sox – Addison Reed fills a big need for the Red Sox, who have struggled to bridge the gap to Craig Kimbrel on several occasions this year (including their last game). Reed still retains a good deal of value in Holds leagues, as he’s likely to rack up 8th inning chances in Boston.
Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Reed | Barnes.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Brad Brach – Zach Britton, who is still an Oriole, has gone three straight.
2. Brandon Kintzler – Sean Doolittle has gone in back to back games and has yet to pitch in three straight all season.
3. Jesen Therrien – Hector Neris and Luis Garcia have gone three straight. Buy us a coke if we actually get this one right.
Tomorrow
1. Brandon Kintzler – See above. If Doolittle does go today, he’ll be off tomorrow.
2. Santiago Casilla – If Blake Treinen gets a save today, we’ll probably give him the full time job, but it’ll be three straight appearances.
