Brad Brach is the new closer in Baltimore…for now

July 25, 2018

Baltimore Orioles — On the same night that the Orioles shipped Zach Britton to the Bronx, Brad Brach closed out a win for Baltimore. That may be one of the last saves Brach gets this season, as teams like the Rockies are interested in his services. With Brach potentially the next guy out of town, owners may wish to speculate on Mychal Givens.

Updated hierarchy: Brach | Givens | Fry.

New York Yankees — Zach Britton is coming to the Yankees, giving them an insanely deep bullpen that boasts 535 saves among the top four options. We expect Britton to slot in between David Robertson and Dellin Betances to start.

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Betances | Britton.

Boston Red Sox – Joe Kelly has been bad lately, allowing eight earned runs over his last four appearances. Both Kelly and manager Alex Cora know that the righty needs to get better, and that probably means fewer eighth-inning chances for the time being. Expect Matt Barnes to be the handcuff for Craig Kimbrel until Kelly returns to his early-season form.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Barnes | Kelly.

Chicago Cubs — Theo Epstein shared some good news for Brandon Morrow owners yesterday, as he said that he doesn’t think the team will acquire a replacement closer at the deadline. That doesn’t mean the Cubs won’t be in the market for some bullpen help, but Morrow’s job should be safe once his slow return from the DL is complete.

Hierarchy remains: *Cishek | Edwards | Strop.
* = closer-by-committee

Pittsburgh Pirates – The Pirates have won 11 in a row and all of a sudden are just three games back of the second Wild Card spot. This may make the buyers at the deadline, and one player they’re eyeing is Rangers closer Keone Kela. If the Pirates add Kela, it’s unlikely he’ll replace Felipe Vazquez as closer, but Kela will certainly give the Pirates another solid late-inning option.

Hierarchy remains: Vazquez | Crick | Santana.

Texas Rangers — Despite Jake Diekman’s awful night as part of his awful season pitching at home, he may soon have some fantasy value if Keone Kela ends up being dealt. Diekman himself still may be traded as well, which would give Jose Leclerc a boost. Also, if Diekman’s struggles continue, that alone may give Leclerc the edge for the ninth inning if Kela is shipped out of town.

Hierarchy remains: Kela | Diekman | Leclerc.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jordan Hicks – Bud Norris threw 18 pitches last night and has gone in three of four. Hicks has also pitched in two straight and three of four, but he’s been less busy in the last two games than Norris.
2. Jace Fry – Joakim Soria has also pitched in two straight and three of four.
3. Jared Hughes – Raisel Iglesias threw 32 pitches over two innings on Tuesday. Hughes was off last night.
4. Brandon Maurer – Wily Peralta tossed 21 pitches last night and has now appeared in three of four. Kevin McCarthy has also gone in two straight.
5. Scott Alexander – Kenley Jansen has thrown 19 pitches in each of the last two games while Erik Goeddel threw 36 pitches last night.
6. Jose Leclerc/Alex Claudio – Keone Kela threw 40 pitches in a brutal loss for the Rangers last night. Jake Diekman hurled 31 pitches in the defeat. Leclerc is the most well-rested, but if even he needs a night off, Alex Claudio is a real dark horse to pick up a save.

Tomorrow
1. Mychal Givens – Brad Brach will have pitched in two straight and three of four with a Wednesday appearance.
2. Kevin McCarthy/Brandon Maurer – If Peralta pitches tonight, he should get a breather on Thursday.
3. Erik Goeddel/Scott Alexander – If Jansen gets the ball today, he’ll most certainly have Thursday off.

Brad Brach likely to close with Zach Britton’s departure from the Orioles

July 24, 2018

Baltimore Orioles — With the departure of Zach Britton to the Bronx, Brad Brach is likely to step into the closer’s role. Brach may be the next guy out of town, however, so owners may wish to speculate on Mychal Givens.

Updated hierarchy: Brach | Givens | Fry.

New York Yankees — Zach Britton is coming to the Yankees, giving them an insanely deep bullpen that boasts 535 saves among the top four options. We expect Britton to slot in between David Robertson and Dellin Betances to start.

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Betances | Britton.

 

Jose Alvarado, Jace Fry worth a look as deadline approaches

July 24, 2018

Tampa Bay Rays – It wasn’t the prettiest outing (1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 0 K), but Jose Alvarado managed to lock down his 4th save of the season on Monday night. Sergio Romo was unavailable due to a stomach bug, and appears to be basically the full-time closer at this point, but Alvarado is the best player to own should Romo get dealt in the next seven days. Also, with Diego Castillo’s recent struggles, keep an eye on righty Ryne Stanek (1.91 ERA, 47 Ks in 37.2 IP) to potentially get paired with Alvarado in a would-be closer committee.

Updated hierarchy: Romo | Alvarado | Stanek.

Chicago White Sox – After a rough stretch in early July, Jace Fry has rebounded with two scoreless outings after the All Star Break, including an 8th inning hold last night. Fry should be among those considered for 9th inning duties in the event of a Joakim Soria trade, though the White Sox might look to a committee in the early going.

Hierarchy remains: Soria | Fry | Cedeno.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today/tomorrow
1. Jordan Hicks – Bud Norris successfully hazed rookie Daniel Poncedeleon by blowing his win last night, but racked up 26 pitches in the process and might get tonight off. If he does go today, count on him being unavailable Wednesday.

Tomorrow
1. Jace Fry – If Joakim Soria goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.

Blue Jays seem content with committee until Osuna’s return

July 23, 2018

Toronto Blue Jays – Tyler Clippard picked up his 7th save of the season on Sunday afternoon, bouncing back from an atrocious outing on Friday. Ryan Tepera and Seung-Hwan Oh had pitched in the previous two games, and Tepera remains atop this committee for now, but the Blue Jays — perhaps with an eye on increasing trade value — seem content on giving multiple players opportunities in the 9th until Roberto Osuna’s return.

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

Los Angeles Dodgers – After three rough starts to begin in major league career, 22-year-old Caleb Ferguson has thrived in long relief for the Dodgers. Since being moved to the bullpen, he’s allowed just 2 ER in 16 innings, and has struck out 20 hitters against just 2 walks. Yesterday, he picked up his second save of the season with three scoreless innings.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Goeddel | Alexander.

Kansas City Royals – Sunday brought another save for Wily Peralta, and he should be in the clear for all future opportunities, so long as he’s rested. We’re removing his asterisk. Also, if you like high-risk holds, sidearmer Tim Hill has a 5.59 ERA but has gotten 8th inning holds each of the past two nights.

Updated hierarchy: Peralta | Maurer | McCarthy.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Drew Steckenrider/Adam Conley – Kyle Barraclough has pitched two straight including a disastrous, 40-pitch outing last night, and should be off today.
2. Brandon Maurer – Wily Peralta has pitched in three straight.

Tomorrow
1. Ryan Madson – Kelvin Herrera threw 1.2 innings last night. He should be fine today, but we’d bet he gets Tuesday off if he goes again tonight.

Ryan Tepera is back to closing for the Blue Jays and Zach Britton could be on the move soon

July 22, 2018

Toronto Blue Jays – Ryan Tepera pitched a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts for his seventh save of the season.  Seung Hwan Oh pitched a perfect eighth inning ahead of Tepera, and the Blue Jays seem content to use Oh in a set-up role.  We will move Tepera back to the head of the hierarchy, and he should see the bulk of the save opportunities until Roberta Osuna is eligible to return on August 5th.

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

Baltimore Orioles – Zach Britton threw a scoreless inning for the Orioles yesterday, but he could be pitching for somebody else soon.  The Orioles want to get a deal done this weekend or early next week.  The Astros, Cubs, and Dodgers are among the teams interested in Britton.  Brad Brach would likely take over as closer if Britton is dealt, but Brach is also a trade candidate and the Orioles could turn to Mychal Givens or Tanner Scott if both are traded.

Hierarchy remains: Britton | Brach | Givens.

New York Yankees – Aroldis Chapman had a tough outing on Saturday as he faced five batters and recorded zero outs.  16 of his 19 pitches were balls, including his last 11.  Chasen Shreve came on with the bases loaded and nobody out and got a double play and groundout to record his first save of the season.  Chapman has been battling tendinitis in his knee, but it’s hard to know if that had any impact on his performance yesterday.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Betances | Robertson.

Kansas City Royals – Wily Peralta bounced back last night with a perfect inning for the save.  Peralta is three for three in save chances and is close to kicking the asterisk.

Hierarchy remains: *Peralta | McCarthy | Maurer.
* = closer-by-committee

Cleveland Indians — If you checked the Indians box score this morning, you may have been surprised to see Cody Allen threw 0.1 innings in the seventh inning of an eventual 16-3 blowout win.  We aren’t reading too much into this as manager Terry Francona said Allen needed to work on some things with his mechanics.  Despite Allen’s high ERA, Friday night was only his second blown save of the season and it also ended a streak of 15 consecutive saves converted.  We expect Francona to stay true to his word to use Allen as the primary closer but it will be worth monitoring if he continues to struggle with giving up home runs.

Hierarchy remains: Allen | Hand | Ramirez.

New York Mets — After an evening of speculation on Friday, Jeurys Familia was officially traded to Oakland Saturday afternoon. Mickey Callaway said that he’ll prefer to use a committee as opposed to one main closer. Robert Gsellman should be the leader of a pack that includes Anthony Swarzak and Seth Lugo.

Updated hierarchy: *Gsellman | Swarzak | Lugo.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Kevin McCarthy – Wily Peralta has pitched in two straight, including a 35 pitch outing on Friday.

Monday
1. Brad Hand – If Cody Allen pitches on Sunday, that will be three in a row.