Kyle Barraclough and Ryan Tepera blow saves

July 29, 2018

Cincinnati Reds — Jared Hughes came on in the 8th inning with the Reds up 2 and got a double play to end the inning.  After the Reds added two runs in the bottom of the 8th to make it a 4 run lead, Hughes came back out to finish the game and record his seventh save of the season.  Closer Raisel Iglesias has been the subject of trade rumors, but with Iglesias under team control through 2021 the Reds will be looking for a big return and it remains to be seen if any teams are willing to pay that price.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Hughes | Garrett.

Miami Marlins — Kyle Barraclough couldn’t hold a one run lead in the ninth yesterday and blew his second consecutive save chance.  Barraclough is another closer who has drawn a lot of interest in the trade market, and although the Marlins are rumored to be asking for a lot in return, some teams may be willing to overpay to get him.

Hierarchy remains: Barraclough | Steckenrider | Ziegler.

Toronto Blue Jays — The Blue Jays’ bullpen had a day to forget yesterday.   Tyler Clippard gave up two runs in the 7th and Ryan Tepera followed up allowing four runs in the 8th without recording an out.  The Blue Jays don’t really have many other options after trading Seung-Hwan Oh so they will likely continue to send those two out there until Roberto Osuna is eligible to return in a week.

Hierarchy remains: *Tepera | Clippard | Loup.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Drew Steckenrider – Kyle Barraclough has pitched in two straight, including a 27 pitch blown save yesterday

Monday
1. Jordan Hicks/Luke Gregerson – Bud Norris and Jordan Hicks have both pitched in two straight heading into Sunday

 

Can Cody Allen get on a roll for Cleveland?

July 28, 2018

Cleveland Indians — Cody Allen pitched in the 7th inning of a tie game last night and ended up getting the win. Allen, who faced the 2-3-4 hitters, has been struggling for the past couple of months (7.41 ERA since the start of June) and manager Terry Francona has indicated that he plans to mix and match with the late innings for now to try to “get [Allen] on a roll.” With the acquisition of Brad Hand, and with Andrew Miller returning from the DL soon, the back end of Cleveland’s bullpen is about to get very crowded. Francona has stuck with Allen through many ups and downs, and Friday was a solid outing, but the leash is definitely getting shorter.

Hierarchy remains: *Allen | Hand | Cimber.
* = closer-by-committee

Texas Rangers — The trade market for Keone Kela seems to be heating up, as the Rangers have continued to slide out of the playoff picture. The latest rumor has him going to Pittsburgh, where he probably sets up Felipe Vazquez, at least initially. This deal has been in the works for a couple of days, but with the trade deadline looming it may happen this weekend. If Kela is traded, we expect Jake Diekman to have the inside track for save opportunities, but it will certainly be a committee that also includes Jose Leclerc.

Hierarchy remains: Kela | Diekman | Leclerc.

St. Louis Cardinals – In a move that has been brewing since April, Greg Holland was designated for assignment yesterday, meaning the Cardinals paid him almost $200,000 for each out he recorded. He ended his time in St. Louis with zero saves, two holds and a 7.92 ERA. The Cardinals also DFA’d Tyler Lyons, sent Sam Tuivailala to Seattle and placed Brett Cecil on the DL in one of the biggest bullpen restructurings in recent memory. Bud Norris and Jordan Hicks remain the best options for the Cardinals, and we expect Luke Gregerson to see an increased role now that the path has cleared, though Mike Mayers did get a seventh-inning hold last night. Keep an eye on Dakota Hudson, who was called up in the flurry of moves. He will start in the bullpen and was having an excellent year in Memphis.

Updated hierarchy: Norris | Hicks | Gregerson.

Boston Red Sox – With a two-run lead in the 7th inning, the Red Sox turned to Ryan Brasier to face the bottom of the Minnesota lineup. He gave up a run but earned his second hold of the year. Conspicuously absent from the late innings was Joe Kelly, who has given up eight runs in his last four outings. While Alex Cora has spoken highly of Brasier recently, we think Heath Hembree (four holds in his past six appearances) will take the 7th inning role from Kelly, at least for now. However, Brasier is an exciting young arm, and he may be a fixture for the Red Sox for years to come.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Barnes | Hembree.

Colorado Rockies — Adam Ottavino shut the door on Oakland last night to pick up his fourth save of the year. After the game, manager Bud Black said that Wade Davis was getting some extra rest after a couple tough outings against the Astros. We expect that Davis will be available today.

Hierarchy remains: Davis | Ottavino | Oh.

Houston Astros — In an overnight trade, the Astros added Ryan Pressly from Minnesota. Pressly has been on a tear recently, riding a seven-game scoreless streak, and A.J. Hinch is impressed with his skills, even if he doesn’t know how he will use them just yet. Hinch may want to shake Pressly’s hand first, but we think Pressly jumps right into the hierarchy. Chris Devenski has been horrible lately, giving up eight runs without recording a single out over his past two appearances. Houston’s bullpen as a whole has bad recently, so they may not be done adding arms prior to the trade deadline.

Updated hierarchy: Rondon | McHugh | Pressly.

Minnesota Twins — The Twins traded Ryan Pressly to Houston last night. Pressly had been on a great run recently, but Minnesota is selling anybody it can at the moment. Look for Zach Duke and Matt Belisle to pick up the slack, at least until they find themselves traded as well. Also of note is the fact that Fernando Rodney, who had garnered interest from a few contenders, has not been sharp in his last two appearances. 

Updated hierarchy: Rodney | Hildenberger | Duke.

Cincinnati Reds — Amir Garrett hurt himself covering first base on Friday night, but thankfully for him X-rays were negative and he is just day-to-day with a mild Achilles sprain.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Hughes | Garrett.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Heath Hembree – Craig Kimbrel threw 33 pitches last night and Matt Barnes has gone back to back, leaving Hembree the best-rested option for Boston.
2. Trevor Hildenberger – Fernando Rodney has pitched in three straight and four of five.
3. Josh Hader – Corey Knebel has pitched in two straight and three of the last four.

Tomorrow
1. Lou Trivino – Blake Treinen was rested last night, but if he pitches today that would be four of the last five games.
2. Kyle Crick – Today would be two straight and three of four for Felipe Vazquez

White Sox bullpen roles murky after Joakim Soria trade

July 27, 2018

Chicago White Sox – Shortly after the Joakim Soria trade, the White Sox took the field for a day game, and sent Jace Fry out to get the last 2 outs of the 7th inning in a game they were losing by four. Though Fry was the pick of some beat guys to get the first look at closing, this usage immediately throws this bullpen into a committee status. Juan Minaya and Xavier Cedeno also pitched yesterday — both in the earlier innings — of the White Sox loss, so all of a sudden, former Phillies closer Jeanmar Gomez may have the inside track on this job. Consider pairing him with Fry if you’ve got the roster space.

Updated hierarchy: *Fry | Gomez | Minaya. 
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays – Sergio Romo got 5 outs yesterday, in the 7th and 8th innings against the top of the Orioles lineup. He then gave way to Austin Pruitt for the last four outs, and Pruitt picked up his second save of the year, though this is still Romo’s job on most nights.

Hierarchy remains: Romo | Alvarado | Stanek.

Atlanta Braves – The Braves reacquired old friend Jonny Venters from the Rays last night, and the 33-year-old lefty should be a candidate for holds in a bullpen that has struggled a bit as of late. We’ll hold off on putting him on the hierarchy, but expect to see him there quickly if usage dictates. The move also solidifies AJ Minter as the team’s full-time fill-in closer for the time being, as Venters will serve as another left-handed option in the later innings, allowing Minter — who has gotten 100% of Atlanta’s saves in July — to remain in the ninth.

Updated hierarchy: Minter | Winkler | Carle.

Milwaukee Brewers – The Brewers added to their already-strong bullpen today with the acquisition of White Sox closer Joakim Soria. We think Soria will start at second in line, but that’s no knock on Jeremy Jeffress, who has been near-unhittable in that role this season.

Updated hierarchy: Knebel | Hader | Soria.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Lou Trivino – Blake Treinen has pitched three straight, while Jeurys Familia threw 30 pitches yesterday and has now pitched 5 innings over the past 5 days.
2. Jose Alvarado – Sergio Romo has pitched 3 innings over the last two days.
3. Trevor Hildenberger – Fernando Rodney has gone back to back and three of four.

Tomorrow
1. Josh Hader/Joakim Soria – If Corey Knebel goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.
2. Archie Bradley – If Brad Boxberger goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.

 

Joakim Soria heads to Milwaukee; Jace Fry should close for White Sox

July 26, 2018

Chicago White Sox — Looks like it’s Jace Fry time. With Joakim Soria moving to Milwaukee and Nate Jones still on the DL, the young lefthander is the favorite to move into the closer’s role, ahead of Xavier Cedeno, Juan Minaya, and Luis Avilan. Jeanmar Gomez (37 saves in 2016) is also a longshot to return to the ninth.

Updated hierarchy: Fry | Cedeno | Minaya.

Milwaukee Brewers — The Brewers added to their already-strong bullpen today with the acquisition of White Sox closer Joakim Soria. We think Soria will start at second in line, but that’s no knock on Jeremy Jeffress, who has been near-unhittable in that role this season.

Updated hierarchy: Knebel | Hader | Soria.

Pedro Strop, Brad Hand, and Anthony Swarzak each earn a save

July 26, 2018

Chicago Cubs — Another save opportunity for Pedro Strop moves him to the top of the Cubs’ pecking order. Brandon Morrow is not expected to return anytime soon, so if the Cubs fail to add a big-name reliever, Strop may be able to make the job his own.

Updated hierarchy: *Strop | Edwards | Cishek.
* = closer-by-committee

Cleveland Indians — Both of the Indians’ recent bullpen acquisitions came up big on Wednesday. Adam Cimber induced a double play in the eighth and Brad Hand finished the inning with a strikeout. After Cleveland scored twice in the bottom of the inning, Hand stayed on to finish the game and earn his 25th save and first for the Tribe. It’s still Cody Allen’s job; this was just one of those situational matchups Francona warned about. With Neil Ramirez’s recent struggles, however, we’ll slide Cimber into the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Allen | Hand | Cimber.

New York Mets — The Mets used Robert Gsellman in a tight spot in the seventh, leaving Anthony Swarzak to pick up his second save of the season with an impressive two-inning appearance. Swarzak is better than his numbers suggest (though not nearly as good as his contract suggests), and if Gsellman is going to be used in high-leverage spots before the ninth, Swarzak could grab some more save opportunities. Over the long-long-term, however, advanced stats suggest you might want to look into Bobby Wahl (subscription).

Hierarchy remains: *Gsellman | Swarzak | Lugo.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays — When the recently returned Johnny Venters replaced Sergio Romo to start the ninth inning of a one-run game against the Yankees yesterday, it looked like the Rays might be easing back into some kind of committee mode. Until, that is, one took a closer look at third base, where the Rays had stashed Romo while Venters retired lefty Greg Bird. With Bird out of the way, Romo jogged back to the mound to pick up the save and deliver a most unusual box score.

Hierarchy remains: Romo | Alvarado | Stanek.

Toronto Blue Jays — The Blue Jays have traded Seung-Hwan Oh to Colorado. Replacing him in the middle innings should be a combination of Aaron Loup, John Axford, and maybe even Jaime Garcia.

Updated hierarchy: *Tepera | Clippard | Loup.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies — We expect newly-acquired Seung-Hwan Oh to shore up the seventh inning for the Rockies. Oh might not be “The Final Boss” anymore, but he’s still a pretty tough one: think Mouser or Bald Bull.

Updated hierarchy: Davis | Ottavino | Oh.

Texas Rangers — We accurately predicted a Jose Leclerc vulture save opportunity last night, but the young righty couldn’t capitalize, giving up two runs on a Khris Davis home run to set up Blake Treinen instead.

Hierarchy remains: Kela | Diekman | Leclerc.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Pat Neshek — Seranthony Dominguez has gone in three of four (27 pitches yesterday) and Victor Arano has pitched in two straight.
2. Ryan Madson — Kelvin Herrera hasn’t thrown many pitches, but he’s worked in three of four games.

Friday:
1. Jose Alvarado — Romo threw 32 pitches on Wednesday.
2. Lou Trivino — Blake Treinen has gone in two straight.