Playoff teams begin resting their closers; Alex Wilson’s season is over

September 25, 2017

Pittsburgh Pirates – Twice over the last three days, waiver wire acquisition George Kontos pitched the 8th inning ahead of Felipe Rivero. The Pirates only have six games remaining, but if anyone other than Rivero is needed for a save opp, Kontos is the best bet.

Updated hierarchy: Rivero | Kontos | Hudson.

Detroit Tigers – After taking a 104-mph line drive to the leg on Saturday, Alex Wilson’s year is over. Look for Drew VerHagen and Daniel Stumpf to get any remaining holds this season in Detroit.

Updated hierarchy: Greene | Stumpf | VerHagen.

Washington Nationals – It appears that the Nationals aren’t going to pitch Sean Doolittle back to back down the stretch — or, at least, that’s what they declined to do yesterday, despite having only a one run lead in the 9th. But while Ryan Madson has been the 8th inning man since coming over from Oakland, the Nats kept him in his spot and elevated Brandon Kintzler to the closer role, a move that Dusty Baker telegraphed earlier in the week. Though Madson is probably a better option for holds in the season’s final week, Kintzler is a good add for those shopping for last minute saves.

Updated hierarchy: Doolittle | Kintzler | Madson. 

Los Angeles Dodgers – Kenley Jansen pitched back to back games on Thursday and Friday, and the Dodgers opted to give him a second day off on Sunday, which opened the door for Brandon Morrow to get his second save of the season. Morrow is the clear 8th inning man in Los Angeles now and should get the call if Jansen needs any additional rest the final week.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Morrow | Watson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Archie Bradley – The D-Backs just clinched and Fernando Rodney has gone in two of the last three.
2. Andrew Miller – Cody Allen has pitched two of the last three; the Indians are still playing for home field but could easily just run Miller out there for the 9th tonight instead. I mean, he’s kinda good too.

Tomorrow
1. Jake McGee – If Greg Holland goes today, it’ll be back to back and three of four.
2. Addison Reed – If Craig Kimbrel goes today, it’ll be back to back and three of four, and the Sox could be Dormie 6 by the end of the day.
3. George Kontos – If Felipe Rivero goes today, it’ll be back to back and three of four.

Wade Davis blows first save in over a year

September 24, 2017

Chicago Cubs —  All-Star closer Wade Davis gave up a homer to the first batter he faced yesterday, and ended up with his first blown save since last September.  After the Cubs took the lead in the top of the 10th, Davis went back out to try and close out the game again.  Unfortunately, Davis gave up another homer, this time a walk-off two run shot.  Wade Davis will be fine, but it was certainly interesting to see him blow two leads in one game after converting his first 32 save opportunities this season.

Hierarchy remains: Davis | Edwards | Strop.

Washington Nationals – Remember when the Nationals bullpen was a mess to begin the season?  Well, the relievers acquired at the trade deadline have helped turn that around, and they were on full display Saturday. With the game tied, Brandon Kintzler pitched a scoreless seventh inning, and Ryan Madson struck out the side in a scoreless eighth.  After the Nationals took a one run lead in the tenth inning, Sean Doolittle came on and converted the save.  Doolittle is now 20-for-20 in save opportunities since joining the Nationals.

Hierarchy remains: Doolittle | Kintzler | Madson. 

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. C.J. Edwards – Wade Davis blew the save yesterday, and has pitched in two of the past three, throwing a total of 52 pitches.

Monday
1. Jose Ramirez – If Arodys Vizcaino pitches on Sunday, that will be two in a row and four of five.
2. Chris Hatcher/Santiago Casilla – Blake Treinen has pitched in two straight.  Chris Hatcher has also gone in two straight so if they both pitch on Sunday, Casilla could get the call on Monday in a save opportunity.

Jeurys Familia picks up first save since May 5th

September 23, 2017

New York Mets – When AJ Ramos struggled with a 1 run lead, the Mets went to Josh Smoker for one out before summoning Jeurys Familia for his first save opportunity since coming off the DL. He struck out Victor Robles to lock up his first save since May 5th. After the game Terry Collins said it was “nice to see” Familia back in the 9th inning, but did not say that Familia was the closer going forward. Familia has 4 straight scoreless appearances while Ramos has struggled recently, but this was still a 1 out save. We will keep an eye on the next save opportunity for the Mets, but for now Ramos still seems to have the inside track for the end of the season. Familia does make for a good speculative add at this point, as he could easily assume the closer role for the last week of the year.

Hierarchy remains: Ramos | Familia | Blevins.

Chicago White Sox – Al Alburquerque picked up his first hold for the White Sox since coming over from Kansas City. This is more due to lack of opportunities than it is to poor pitching, as he’s only given up 1 run in September. Alburquerque got the last out of the 8th inning before Juan Minaya picked up his 6th save on a classic 9-2-3-6 double play. Minaya has solidified himself as the best pitcher in the White Sox bullpen, but Alburquerque has pitched directly ahead of Minaya in his last two outings. That’s enough to bump Greg Infante off the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Minaya | Farquhar | Alburquerque.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Danny Farquhar – Juan Minaya has pitched in 3 straight games, and should get today as a rest.
2. Brandon Morrow – Kenley Jansen has pitched in back to back games, and with the Dodgers locking up a playoff spot (and holding a 6 game lead for best record in the NL) they may not run their closer out on 3 straight days.
3. Anthony Swarzak – Corey Knebel threw 34 pitches last night in taking the loss, and has pitched in 4 of the last 5 days. Swarzak has the same appearances but significantly fewer pitches.

Tomorrow
1. Archie Bradley – Fernando Rodney threw 24 pitches in locking up a save last night, so another long outing could mean he gets Sunday off.
2. Daniel Hudson – Pitching today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for Felipe Rivero.
3. Nick Vincent – Same for Edwin Diaz.

A new king of the ninth inning for the Royals?

September 22, 2017

Kansas City Royals — Mike Minor picked up his second save of the season in a tight 1-0 win Thursday. Minor also had the Royals’ previous save in their now-historic win over the Indians last week. Given the usage, we’ll slide him ahead of Scott Alexander, who last had a save on Sept. 12, pitching in three losses since.

Updated hierarchy: *Minor | Alexander | Maurer.
* = closer-by-committee

Texas Rangers – On a night when Cole Hamels tossed the first eight innings, Keone Kela got the call in the ninth inning Thursday and converted his second save of the season (he did allow a solo HR). Alex Claudio was unavailable, as forecast by the Vulture Save Watch. Matt Bush had gone in three of the previous four. Tony Barnette, meanwhile, was well-rested but nowhere to be seen. We’ll slide Kela into the mix of a messy situation.

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

Cleveland Indians — When you’re 27-1 over your last 28 games (a streak matched only by the 1884 Providence Grays), you’re going to use your best relievers a lot. As a result, Terry Francona elected to rest closer Cody Allen for a second straight day Thursday after he went in four of the previous six games. This decision came after starter Danny Salazar only lasted 2.2 innings, forcing Francona to mow through five bullpen arms (including Andrew Miller) before handing the ball in the ninth inning to Tyler Olson, who picked up his first career save. Olson hasn’t allowed a run yet this season. Impressive, but he probably won’t tally another save before the end of the season. Allen, meanwhile, will be available on Friday.

Hierarchy remains: Allen | Shaw | Miller.

Milwaukee Brewers — Up 3-2 in the ninth inning, the Brewers opted to go with former closer Jeremy Jeffress, who gave up a run to blow the save. As we predicted, Corey Knebel and Anthony Swarzak needed rest, but Milwaukee elected to go with Jeffress instead of Josh Hader, who had gone in two of the previous three and also needed rest, according to manager Craig Counsell. For now, consider Jeffress third in line to the throne.

Hierarchy remains: Knebel | Swarzak | Hader.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Darren O’Day — Brad Brach, who nailed down the save Thursday after Zach Britton was shut down for the rest of the season, has gone in four of the last five (82 pitches).

Saturday:
1. Jose Ramirez –If Arodys Vizcaino goes Friday, that’ll be three straight games for him.
2. CJ Edwards/Pedro Strop –Wade Davis threw 29 pitches Thursday. Heading into Friday, he has gone in two of three and five of the last seven. Edwards, too, has had the same string of appearances, but he has thrown fewer pitches. Strop has been busy, too, but less busy than the other two.
3. Danny Farquhar — Juan Minaya has pitched in two straight. Friday would make three in a row.

Brad Brach to close for Baltimore to end the season

September 21, 2017

Baltimore Orioles — If you missed our alert late last night, Zach Britton will have an injection in his knee and miss the rest of the season with an MCL strain. Brad Brach should get any Baltimore save chances over the final nine games, with Darren O’Day his primary backup.

Updated hierarchy:  Brach | O’Day | Givens.

New York Yankees — Dellin Betances has been struggling, and Joe Girardi has no shortage of high-quality bullpen options to replace him. For now, we think David Robertson will get any save chances if Aroldis Chapman is unavailable but, like Chapman earlier this season, Betances could still earn his job back by the time the Yankees hit the postseason.

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Robertson | Betances.

Boston Red Sox — The Red Sox are preparing for the playoffs by talking up their new $31 million middle reliever. Don’t be surprised to see David Price get a seventh, eighth, or ninth inning in the next week to prepare him for high-leverage relief work in October.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Reed | Price.

Cleveland Indians — Bryan Shaw picked up a two-inning save on Wednesday, saving Cody Allen some work heading into the postseason.

Hierarchy remains: Allen | Shaw | Miller.

Oakland A’s — We warned you to expect a deep vulture save from Oakland on Wednesday, but what we didn’t know is that they’d try to ride Ryan Dull for two innings to get it. Dull made things exciting by giving up two quick runs in the ninth, so Aussie Liam Hendriks came on to bail him out and earn his first career save.

Hierarchy remains: Treinen | Hatcher | Casilla.

Houston Astros — Joe Musgrove’s journey to the bullpen is allowing the Astros to give a little more rest to Ken Giles and Chris Devenski ahead of the playoffs. Wednesday night, Musgrove picked up another save in a tight spot, and he could wind up challenging for the closer job next spring.

Hierarchy remains: Giles | Devenski | Musgrove.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Edubray Ramos — Both Hector Neris and Luis Garcia have pitched in three straight and four of five.
2. Josh Hader — Corey Knebel blew a save in his third straight day of work. Anthony Swarzak has also gone three in a row.
3. Tony Barnette — Alex Claudio has pitched in two straight (43 pitches), including two innings on Wednesday.
4. Michael Lorenzen — Raisel Iglesias was out on Wednesday with flu-like symptoms.

Friday:
If Neris, Knebel, or Claudio pitch on Thursday, they’ll almost certainly sit on Friday.