Angels bullpen situation gets murkier as Bud Norris returns with save

August 21, 2017

Chicago White Sox — Juan Minaya still looks like the man to own for the White Sox, but he’s not making things easy. After Aaron Bummer walked a man on four pitches, in came Minaya. He walked the next guy, induced a double play, then gave up a two-run homer, but managed to retire Elvis Andrus to nail down a rocky save. Meanwhile, Gregory Infante has begun to get late-inning looks in a setup role, and the newly promoted Danny Farquhar is also someone to watch — last night he pitched a scoreless seventh.

Updated hierarchy: *Minaya | Bummer | Infante.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Angels — Angels committee leader Cam Bedrosian was used strangely again on Sunday. He pitched a clean seventh inning in a tied game, retiring the 8-9-1 hitters. When the Angels took the lead later in the game, it was old friend Bud Norris who picked up the save. Norris is apparently in good graces again, having “shown improvement lately.” Sunday’s clean inning was his second straight after he gave up runs in his previous three outings. Make of Sunday’s bullpen use what you will, but for now we’ll slide Norris back into the hierarchy and hope this situation sorts itself out.

Updated hierarchy: *Bedrosian | Norris | Parker.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago Cubs — Koji Uehara returned from the disabled list and pitched in a tight spot with the score tied in the tenth. He was charged with two runs, but the Cubs became the first team this season to win after trailing by multiple runs in extra innings, so he was spared the loss. We’ll return him to his normal hierarchy spot now, but we’ll track the Cubs bullpen closely this week to see if things change.

Updated hierarchy: Davis | Wilson | Uehara.

Texas Rangers — Matt Bush is in the concussion protocol after colliding with Joey Gallo during Sunday’s game. Bush suffered a knee bruise and won’t travel with the team unless tests confirm he didn’t suffer a concussion. No DL trip yet.

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

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Santiago Casilla — Blake Treinen went two innings for a save last night.
2. Bud Norris — Cam Bedrosian isn’t pitching back-to-back games yet.
3. Juan Nicasio/George Kontos — Felipe Rivero has gone in two straight (30 pitches) and hasn’t done three since he became the closer. Nicasio has also gone in two straight, while Kontos was rested on Sunday.
4. Aaron Bummer/Gregory Infante — Juan Minaya has gone in two of three, and the White Sox have a doubleheader today.

Tuesday:
1. Addison Reed/Joe Kelly — Craig Kimbrel has gone in two of three.
2. Anthony Swarzak — Corey Knebel has gone in two straight.

Betances records save after Chapman is demoted

August 20, 2017

New York Yankees — Dellin Betances struck out two batters in a scoreless inning yesterday against the Red Sox for his ninth save of the season.  Betances has been dominant against the Red Sox this season and should continue to see save chances while former closer Aroldis Chapman figures things out.  David Robertson will also be in the mix for saves, and Joe Girardi thinks Chapman could reclaim the role.

Updated hierarchy: *Betances | Robertson | Chapman.
* = closer-by-committee

Houston Astros – Ken Giles got the night off after a five out save on Friday night and the Astros went with newly acquired Tyler Clippard in the ninth inning.  Clippard converted the save chance, and now has recorded saves for three different teams this season.  After a really rough stretch at the end of June and beginning of July, Clippard has settled in and not allowed any earned runs in August.

Updated hierarchy: Giles | Devenski | Clippard.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Justin Wilson – Wade Davis has gone in two straight, and three of four.
2. Pat Neshek – Greg Holland has pitched in two straight, throwing a total of 43 pitches.
3. Tony Watson – Kenley Jansen has pitched in two straight and has yet to pitch in three straight this season.

Monday
1. Aaron Bummer – If Juan Minaya pitches Sunday, it will be two of three and four of six.  Also the White Sox have a doubleheader on Monday.

 

Dellin Betances and David Robertson likely to lead matchup-based closer committee for Yankees

August 19, 2017

New York Yankees — Before Saturday’s game, Joe Girardi announced that Aroldis Chapman will no longer be the team’s set closer, and that he would decide who pitches the ninth on the basis of matchups. Our belief is that those matchups will favor Dellin Betances and David Robertson, with Chapman himself still a possibility against lefties.

Updated hierarchy: *Betances | Robertson | Chapman.
* = closer-by-committee

Aroldis Chapman could lose his job today

August 19, 2017

New York Yankees — Aroldis Chapman was summoned in the eighth inning with the Yankees down by one. He did not pitch well, giving up two runs and effectively ending any chance for a comeback. This has been a brutal stretch for Chapman, who had an injury scare earlier this week, and has now given up runs in four straight games, which is bad, as Joel Sherman put it, “For himself. For the Yankees, For the present. For the future.” Joe Girardi wouldn’t say whether Chapman is still the closer, vowing to sleep on it. Dellin Betances picked up two saves while Chapman was ailing, and has given up only one hit in his last nine appearances. We’ll keep an eye on this situation, but if Chapman’s struggles continue, the Yankees won’t be able to afford to stick with him.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Betances | Robertson.

Los Angeles Angels — Cam Bedrosian looked like he could leave the committee behind earlier this week, but last night he was brought out to protect a two-run lead…in the sixth inning…against the bottom of the Orioles order. He pitched a clean inning, as did Blake Parker in the seventh. Yusmeiro Petit took the eighth and started the ninth, but when he put two men on, Keynan Middleton came out to try to convert the save. He gave up a single and then a walkoff grand slam (the third the Angels have given up this month!) to take the loss. The bullpen was well-rested, so these were managerial decisions; Mike Scioscia said after the game that he was trying to play matchups, an interesting decision given that anyone who bats in the sixth is all but guaranteed a later at bat (barring a pinch hitter of course, don’t @ me please). Bedrosian is still the best option for this team, although he won’t be pitching back-to-back. If you must own one Angel reliever, make it Bedrosian, and hope that Scioscia remembers the lineup turns over every three innings.

Hierarchy remains: *Bedrosian | Parker | Middleton.
* = closer-by-committee

Cleveland Indians — All-Star reliever Andrew Miller was activated from the DL as expected on Friday, and immediately found himself putting out a fire in the sixth inning. He stranded two inherited runners for a successful return. Look for him to continue to get the highest-leverage spots for the Tribe going forward.

Updated hierarchy: Allen | Miller | Smith.

St. Louis Cardinals — St. Louis wanted to rest their top relievers last night, and Matt Bowman was primed to get a vulture save, but when the Pirates came storming back to load the bases, Mike Matheny turned to a very tired Seung Hwan Oh to get the last two outs of the ninth. We thought Tyler Lyons would get the vulture save chance, but Matheny seemed set on trying to rest both him and Oh. The committee got the job done last night, so look for it to continue with Tyler Lyons and John Brebbia carrying the late innings today. In other news, Trevor Rosenthal is seeking a second opinion on his elbow, which could require surgery.

Hierarchy remains: *Oh | Lyons | Brebbia.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago White Sox — The White Sox bullpen finally managed to pull out a save last night, and you can thank Juan Minaya for that. Earlier in the game, Aaron Bummer pitched out of a two-on, one out jam in arguably the highest-leverage spot. Although Bummer also had a runner score, he’s still a better option than Jake Petricka and his 9.00 ERA and 2.05 WHIP. If you’re desperate enough for saves to look at the second option in Chicago, we think it’s Bummer.

Updated hierarchy: *Minaya | Bummer | Petricka.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins — Drew Streckenrider picked up his third seventh-inning hold in a week (striking out the side!) and is a solid second in line for the Marlins.

Updated hierarchy: Ziegler | Barraclough | Steckenrider.

San Francisco Giants — Mark Melancon is considering arm surgery, but wants to finish the season out first to “set the tone.” With the second-worst record in the NL and $62 million in sunk costs, Giants fans would probably prefer Melancon sit down today.

Hierarchy remains: Dyson | Melancon | Strickland.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Tyler Lyons — Seung Hwan Oh has now gone in three straight, while Lyons got the night off and should be ready to go today.
2. Michael Lorenzen — Raisel Iglesias has pitched back-to-back and in three of four, throwing 69 pitches in that span.
3. Jake Petricka — If you pick him up, you’ll probably regret it, but he’s the best rested reliever in the White Sox pen right now. Minaya and Bummer have each pitched in three of four.

Sunday:
1. Justin Wilson — A Wade Davis appearance today would be back-to-back and three of four.
2. Addison Reed — Same with Craig Kimbrel.
3. Chris Devenski/Luke Gregerson — And Ken Giles, who got five outs last night.

Oh likely to get first crack at saves with Rosenthal injured

August 18, 2017

St. Louis Cardinals — If Thursday’s game is any indication, Seung Hwan Oh is the most likely guy to grab saves in St. Louis with closer Trevor Rosenthal on the shelf. Oh was warming in the bullpen with the Cards up 7-5, but entered the 9th with an 11-5 lead, so there was no save chance to be he had. With the increased cushion, Oh allowed two runs before shutting the door. Lefty Tyler Lyons pitched the eighth inning ahead of Oh, and should get any save chances when Oh needs a breather. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are holding their breath as they brace for news about Rosenthal’s elbow. An MRI is scheduled for Friday.

Hierarchy remains: *Oh | Lyons | Brebbia.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Yankees — Aroldis Chapman threw a bullpen session Thursday and did not appear to show discomfort with his leg. As for now, he is not on the disabled list, but consider him day-to-day until further notice. Dellin Betances made the most of the save opportunity Thursday, shutting the door in the ninth on 11 pitches for his eighth save.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Betances | Robertson.

Minnesota Twins – An old friend was back in the bullpen for the Twins on Thursday. Glen Perkins made his long-awaited return from a 2015 surgery to reattach the labrum in his left shoulder. The 34-year-old said it felt like his major league debut again. For now, he’s obviously rusty (0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB in Game 1 of a doubleheader Thursday), but congratulations are due for his big league return. It’ll remain to be seen how he factors into the late-inning plans for the Twins, who are still competing for one of the Wild Card spots in the American League. In the nightcap, Matt Belisle closed the door for his third save.

Hierarchy remains: *Belisle | Rogers | Hildenberger.
* = closer-by-committee

Washington Nationals — Ryan Madson was placed on the disabled list Thursday because of a sprained finger. Shawn Kelley was activated to take his spot on the roster. It’s a big blow for the Nationals to lose Madson, who hadn’t allowed a run in nine innings of work with his new team. Expect Matt Albers, Enny Romero and perhaps Kelley to see more late-inning chances.

Updated hierarchy: Doolittle | Kintzler | Albers.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Michael Lorenzen— Raisel Iglesias has thrown 53 pitches over two of the last three games.
2. Ryan Tepera — Roberto Osuna has gone in three of four, throwing 41 pitches.
3. Tyler Lyons — Seung Hwan Oh has pitched in two straight and could need some rest. He threw 28 pitches Thursday.
4. David Robertson — Dellin Betances has pitched in four of the last five days, while Aroldis Chapman may still need rest.

Saturday:
1. Brandon Kintzler — Sean Doolittle has pitched three of the last five days. Friday would make four of six.
2. Jose Leclerc — Alex Claudio hasn’t been that busy lately, but over his last three outings since Aug. 11, he has pitch counts of 35, 21 and 28 (Thursday). If he throws a lot in an appearance Friday, that’d be two straight stressful outings for him.