August 4, 2017
[EDITOR’S NOTE: Our Donation Drive continues through this week. As always, we are extremely grateful for your support!]
Texas Rangers – And that’s why we call it a committee, folks! Until Thursday, Jose Leclerc had the team’s most recent save, and recent usage suggested Alex Claudio may have fallen out of favor as the preferred 9th-inning option. But then on Thursday night, it was Claudio pitching a clean ninth for his fifth save. Leclerc, who had gone in two straight games, did not pitch and was possibly getting a breather. There was no postgame indication as to who had the upper-hand in this situation, though Rangers fans on Twitter generally seem to like Claudio. In all of this drama, keep an eye on Matt Bush, who has pitched better of late (six straight scoreless appearances with seven Ks).
Hierarchy remains: *Leclerc | Claudio | Kela.
* = closer-by-committee
Boston Red Sox – As the Red Sox are the team who discovered Andrew Miller, it should be of no surprise that they’re employing the Indians’ strategy now that they have a late-game ace of their own in Addison Reed. Reed tossed the seventh inning Thursday, facing the heart of the White Sox batting order. “Addison knows it’s going to be seventh inning or later,” manager John Farrell said after the game. Matt Barnes, meanwhile, pitched in the eighth inning, but don’t read into that too much. Reed should be in line for any saves not converted by Craig Kimbrel. Meanwhile, more arms are on the way back, as Joe Kelly will likely be activated this weekend, and Carson Smith, who hasn’t pitched since 2015, will begin a rehab assignment on Saturday.
Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Reed | Barnes.
Colorado Rockies — Day-to-day with a cut on his pitching hand (the knuckle of the forefinger) after a kitchen accident, Greg Holland pitched in a tie game in the ninth inning Thursday and got the win when the Rockies scored in the bottom half. Manager Bud Black was willing to wait for Holland to heal, but said he wasn’t too worried, as the two had a conversation about an upcoming roast instead of the cut before Thursday’s game.
Hierarchy remains: Holland | Neshek | Dunn.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Alex Wilson — Shane Greene has gone in three straight games.
2. Tommy Hunter — Alex Colome has pitched in three straight and four out of the last five.
3. Pat Neshek — Greg Holland has the aforementioned cut on his pitching knuckle and is technically day-to-day. He may get a rest Friday if the Rockies have a comfortable lead.
4. Archie Bradley — Forty-year-old Fernando Rodney has gone in two straight, throwing 34 pitches (including 25 Thursday night). He hasn’t pitched in three straight games since mid-April.
Saturday:
1. Anthony Swarzak — A Friday appearance would be three out of four for Corey Knebel.
