Joe Musgrove picks up first career save

September 17, 2017

Houston Astros – As predicted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Ken Giles got the night off.  However, instead of Chris Devenski getting the save chance, the Astros went with Joe Musgrove.  Musgrove pitched the final two innings to record his first career save.  Since moving to the bullpen, Musgrove has stellar numbers and should continue to see time in the later innings down the stretch.

Updated hierarchy: Giles | Devenski | Musgrove.

Cincinnati Reds — Kevin Shackelford almost rewarded Vulture Save Watch followers with a save yesterday, as he started the ninth inning with the Reds up two runs.  Shackelford recorded two outs, but also gave up a homerun and a walk, and lefty Cody Reed come on to get the last out and record the save.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Lorenzen | Shackelford.

Los Angeles Angels – Blake Parker picked up a six out save on Friday so on Saturday night, it was Yusmeiro Petit’s turn.  Petit pitched a perfect ninth inning for his fourth save of the season.  Meanwhile, Cam Bedrosian hasn’t recorded a save in a month, and seems to have fallen behind Parker and Petit for saves.  Petit has certainly earned the save chances, as he has given up zero runs and only two hits over ten innings so far in September.

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

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Joe Kelly – Craig Kimbrel and Addison Reed have both pitched in three straight.
2. C.J. Edwards/Pedro Strop – Wade Davis has pitched in back-to-back games, throwing a total of 43 pitches.  C.J. Edwards has also pitched in two straight but with far fewer pitches.  If both Edwards and Davis get the day off, Pedro Strop could get the save chance.

Monday
1. Archie Bradley – Fernando Rodney has pitched in two straight.
2. Brandon Morrow – If Kenley Jansen pitches on Sunday, that will be two in a row and Jansen has only pitched in three in a row once this season.

The third member of the Royals closer committee gets his first save

September 16, 2017

Kansas City Royals — Mike Minor has been repeatedly mentioned as an option in the Royals’ closer committee, but it wasn’t until last night that he got his first save — by striking out the side to end the Indians’ historic winning streak. He’s been better than Brandon Maurer and Kelvin Herrera, so it only makes sense to slot him in with Scott Alexander as the save favorites.

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

Cincinnati Reds — Wandy Peralta hasn’t pitched in two weeks, sidelined with a hip injury. Kevin Shackelford, who led the Reds’ AAA affiliate in saves this season, has stepped up in Peralta’s absence with eight straight scoreless appearances.

Updated hierarchy: Iglesias | Lorenzen | Shackelford.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Alex Wilson — Shane Greene has pitched in two in a row (45 pitches).
2. Kevin Shackelford — The top two Reds options both got five outs on Friday night.
3. Chris Devenski — Ken Giles has gone in three straight.

Sunday:
1. Addison Reed — Craig Kimbrel has gone in two straight (39 pitches). He’s still likely to pitch if needed on Saturday because none of the top options are well-rested.
2. C.J. Edwards/Pedro Strop — Wade Davis threw 25 pitches on Friday and probably won’t go three in a row.
3. Tommy Hunter — Same with Alex Colome (31 pitches).

Kelvin Herrera gets another chance to close, extends Cleveland’s win streak instead

September 15, 2017

Kansas City Royals — Recently removed closer Kelvin Herrera got another chance to earn his job back Thursday, and he blew his second straight save chance since getting removed from the role, yielding a run in the ninth to tie the game and keep the Indians’ win streak alive. Brandon Maurer did the honors in the tenth, allowing the game-winning run. Given Herrera’s usage, we’ll slide him to the bottom of the hierarchy even though he blew his chance, because it seems Ned Yost is one of those “he’s got experience closing, so let’s use him as a closer” managers. As for Maurer, he has been dreadful since arriving in Kansas City. The fact that Ned Yost considered Herrera the best option for the ninth is concerning for Maurer. Scott Alexander likely benefits. He had pitched two straight heading into Thursday, so a night off makes sense. Expect him to get the next save chance.

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

Cleveland Indians — Is it bad luck to have Andrew Miller back? The Indians were 21-2 without him entering Thursday’s game, yet in his return (a scoreless seventh inning) they picked up their first extra-innings win and first walk-off win during the streak. We guess that guy can stick around. And even better for Cleveland, Terry Francona said Miller “looked much, much closer to Andrew than the last time.” That’s a good sign. He won’t crack our hierarchy quite yet, as he will likely get a couple days off and be eased back into a high-leverage role, as Cleveland wants to ensure he is ready for the postseason.

Updated hierarchy: Allen | Shaw | Smith.

Boston Red Sox — Speaking of Andrew Miller, the Red Sox may have finally found their replacement, albeit an insanely expensive one. David Price was activated from the DL Thursday and will pitch out of the bullpen for the rest of the season. It remains to be seen how the lefty will be used, but ESPN’s Scott Lauber thinks it may be in the Miller mold. Price can only hope to follow in the footsteps of Hall-of-Fame starter-turned reliever Dennis Eckersley, who Price once called “the greatest pitcher who ever lived.”

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Reed | Kelly.

Houston Astros – Closer Ken Giles secured his second hold of the season against the Angels on Thursday. Wait, what? Giles was used in the eighth inning of a 3-1 game and escaped with a clean inning. Giles did face the top of the order in a pretty important and tight spot of the game (gee, is everyone trying to be Andrew Miller these days?). He did his job and his not in jeopardy of losing his actual job.

Hierarchy remains: Giles | Devenski | Harris.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Kyle Barraclough — Is Brad Ziegler (back problems) ready to return?

As for the others… It’s mid-September though, and some managers could choose to rest guys more often if a playoff spot is already clinched (like for Cleveland, see below). For other teams fighting for their playoff lives (see Minnesota below), they may push their best relievers as much as possible. For Houston, they basically have clinched (magic number is 3) so they may choose to rest Ken Giles Friday instead of doing so on Saturday.

Saturday:
1. Bryan Shaw — Cody Allen has pitched in two straight. Given the 22-game streak, he may be needed again Friday. If so, look for Bryan Shaw to get a crack on Saturday.
2. Trevor Hildenberger/Taylor Rogers — The entire late-inning crew has pitched two straight for the Twins. If Matt Belisle goes again Friday, perhaps the Twins turn to Trevor Hildenberger on Saturday, assuming he gets a rest the day before. If both men are unavailable, the Twins may turn to Taylor Rogers.
3. Chris Devenski — Ken Giles has gone in two of three. If he pitches Friday, that’ll almost certainly mean rest for Saturday.

Maybe a healthy Andrew Miller can give the Indians a spark

September 14, 2017

Cleveland Indians — Andrew Miller will be activated on Thursday, but he’ll spend some time reacclimating to high-leverage work as the Indians coast into the playoffs. The Tribe is 37-11 in games where Miller pitches, and 29-7 when he’s on the disabled list.

Hierarchy remains: Allen | Smith | Shaw.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. David Robertson — Aroldis Chapman needed 34 pitches in a four-out save on Wednesday, and Dellin Betances has gone in three of four.
2. Brad Brach — Zach Britton hasn’t thrown a lot of pitches, but he’s appeared in three of four games.
3. Kyle Barraclough — Brad Ziegler is having back problems.

Friday:
1. Luis Garcia — Hector Neris threw 35 pitches on Tuesday. If he goes again on Thursday, he might get Friday off. But hey, please don’t bet your playoff survival on Luis Garcia saving a game for the Phillies.

Scott Alexander, Chris Rusin collect saves

September 13, 2017

Kansas City Royals — With his bullpen “running on fumes,” Ned Yost tabbed Scott Alexander for the save on Tuesday. It was a shaky save, but Alexander got the job done. Brandon Maurer had pitched the day before, and it’s likely that Yost wanted to try and rest him. Maurer and Alexander are the clear 1-2 in the Royals’ bullpen, and Yost has now shown trust in both relievers to close games.

Hierarchy remains: *Maurer | Alexander | Minor.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies – The Vulture Save Watch correctly predicted that Greg Holland would be unavailable on Tuesday. However, the Rockies also rested Jake McGee and Pat Neshek. Scott Oberg pitched the eighth inning and then got the first out of the ninth before ceding to Chris Rusin. The lefty recorded the final two outs for his second career save. Bud Black calls Rusin the team’s “Swiss Army knife,” and while he hasn’t officially cracked our hierarchy, don’t be too surprised if he gets more high-leverage looks over the final weeks of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Holland | McGee | Neshek.

Miami Marlins — Brad Ziegler has been nursing a bad back and is awaiting results from a recent MRI. He is hopeful to pitch this week. In the meantime, Kyle Barraclough blew the Marlins’ first save chance on Tuesday in the ninth inning before Brian Ellington blew another one-run lead in the 10th. Barraclough should see any remaining save chances for the duration of Ziegler’s absence, though Drew Steckenrider may get a chance or two as well.

Hierarchy remains: Ziegler | Barraclough | Steckenrider.

Texas Rangers – Keone Kela was activated from the DL on Tuesday. He probably won’t challenge Alex Claudio for the ninth inning, but we’ll monitor how quickly Kela is thrust into a high-leverage role.

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

San Francisco Giants — Mark Melancon underwent surgery Tuesday to relieve compression in his forearm, and is expected to be ready for spring training. Cory Gearrin enters the hierarchy as the Giants look to close their miserable season.

Updated hierarchy: Dyson | Strickland | Gearrin.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Luis Garcia – Hector Neris threw 35 pitches over two innings on Tuesday. Garcia also tossed two innings, but threw just 24 pitches.

Tomorrow
1. Brad Brach/Mychal Givens – If Zach Britton pitches tonight, it will be two straight and three of four. Brad Brach has pitched in two straight and three of four entering Wednesday, so if both him and Britton get the ball tonight, Mychal Givens may get a save chance Thursday.
2. Luis Garcia/Edubray Ramos – If Neris gets the ball tonight, either Garcia or Edubray Ramos should get Thursday’s save chance depending on who is more well-rested. Ramos also went two innings on Tuesday.