Josh Fields and Chris Beck collect random saves on a slow night for bullpens

April 24, 2018

Los Angeles Dodgers — As predicted in Monday’s Vulture Save Watch, Kenley Jansen got a night off and Josh Fields collected the save for the Dodgers.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Fields | Baez.

Chicago White Sox — Chris Beck earned a three-inning save, the first of his career, in a 10-4 White Sox win last night.

Hierarchy remains: *Soria | Jones | Rondon.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Cam Bedrosian — Keynan Middleton has pitched in three straight games.
2. Tony Watson/Sam Dyson — Both Hunter Strickland (45 pitches) and Watson (35) have gone in two straight.

Wednesday:
1. Andrew Miller/Nick Goody — Cody Allen has gone in two straight, and so has Miller.

Josh Hader impressing; Chris Devenski moves atop the Houston committee

April 23, 2018

Kansas City Royals – Lefty Brian Flynn got a 2-inning hold on Sunday afternoon, pitching the 7th and 8th innings ahead of Kelvin Herrera. It’s unclear to us who would step in for Herrera if he were injured or unavailable, but Flynn’s 3.60 ERA on the season puts him near the front of the pack in Kansas City’s beleaguered bullpen.

Updated hierarchy: Herrera | Hill | Flynn.

Milwaukee Brewers – Josh Hader continues to impress, striking out three hitters over two innings to earn his third save of the season — all of which have come in the past nine days. Hader’s emergence has been a nice surprise for the fantasy owners who were quick enough to grab him after Corey Knebel’s injury, though those paying closer attention know that some Brewers superfans have been talking him up since April 20 of last year.

Hierarchy remains: *Hader | Albers | Barnes.
* = closer-by-committee

Houston Astros – The Astros were up by 6 runs yesterday, but still opted to use their best relievers to nail down the win, and it was Ken Giles who emerged from the bullpen in the 8th inning, leaving the 9th to Chris Devenski. This will likely be a committee for the foreseeable future, but recent usage suggests Devo is a little bit more likely than Giles to get a save on any given night.

Updated hierarchy: *Devenski | Giles | Peacock.
* = closer-by-committee

Arizona Diamondbacks – Brad Boxberger was used on three consecutive days Wednesday through Friday, and he didn’t fare particularly well, nabbing a save sandwiched by two losses. So with four outs left to go on Sunday, the DBacks elected to give him a second night off, summoning Archie Bradley, who converted the save. We’ll keep an eye on this one to see if there’s anything more going on here.

Hierarchy remains: Boxberger | Bradley | Hirano.

Los Angeles Dodgers – Though his control still leaves a lot to be desired (6 BB in 10 IP), Pedro Baez is getting results, and the Dodgers’ confidence in him has returned. Last night, Baez got the last two outs of the 8th inning ahead of Kenley Jansen to pick up his 2nd hold of the year. If anything were to happen to Jansen, Baez or Josh Fields would be the likely beneficiaries.

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Fields | Baez.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Josh Fields/Pedro Baez – Kenley Jansen has gone in back to back games.

Tomorrow
1. Chris Martin – If Keone Kela goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.
2. David Robertson – If Aroldis Chapman goes tonight, it’ll be back to back games.
3. Tony Watson – If Hunter Strickland goes tonight, it’ll be back to back games.

 

Almost a meaningful Greg Holland sighting, plus Corey Knebel throws a bullpen

April 22, 2018

St. Louis Cardinals — For a minute, it looked like we might finally see a Greg Holland save opportunity.  With the Cardinals clinging to a one-run lead in the 9th inning, rookie Jordan Hicks gave up a couple walks and hit a batter to load the bases with one out.  Holland was warming in the bullpen, but Hicks got a double play to end the inning.  It shouldn’t be too much longer before Greg Holland finally gets a chance to do what he was signed to do.

Hierarchy remains: *Norris | Holland | Lyons.
* = closer-by-committee

Milwaukee Brewers — Corey Knebel threw a bullpen on Saturday, his first time on the mound since injuring his hamstring.  There is still no timetable for Knebel’s return, but it would make one Brewers fan extremely happy if they cut Brent Suter to make room for Knebel on the active roster.

Hierarchy remains: *Hader | Albers | Barnes.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers – Warwick Saupold picked up his first career save on Saturday.  Saupold recorded the last seven outs of a 12-4 Tigers win.  Although Saupold has a 0.00 ERA so far this season, he isn’t quite ready to crack the Tigers’ hierarchy

Hierarchy remains: Greene | Jimenez | Wilson.

Chicago White Sox — Danny Farquhar suffered a brain hemorrhage during the game on Friday.  Our thought and prayers are with Danny and his family.

Updated hierarchy: *Soria | Jones | Rondon.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Juan Nicasio – Edwin Diaz threw 40 pitches yesterday in recording the save and also pitched on Friday so he will almost certainly get Sunday off.
2. Robert Gsellman – Jeurys Familia has pitched in back-to-back games, including a blown save yesterday.  AJ Ramos has also pitched in back-to-back games and three of four.
3. Luis Garcia/Adam Morgan – Hector Neris has pitched in two straight, including a four out save yesterday.  Garcia and Morgan have also both pitched in two straight but thrown far fewer pitches so they could still be available today.

Monday
1. Cam Bedrosian – Keynan Middleton needed 28 pitches to get the save on Saturday so if he pitches again today, he will likely get Monday off.
2. Juan Nicasio – Diaz might get Monday off also after throwing 59 pitches over the past two games.

 

Baltimore moves into committee status; Hector Neris free and clear in Philly

April 21, 2018

St. Louis Cardinals — Okay, we can’t keep pretending that Greg Holland is at the top of this bullpen when he never sniffs a save chance. We’ll adjust when and if he gets a role commensurate with his paycheck, but for now, Bud Norris and his five saves have earned the slot. The Cardinals have a lot of good late-inning options behind those two, but Tyler Lyons has three eighth-inning holds in his last three appearances, so we’ll give him the nod.

Updated hierarchy: *Norris | Holland | Lyons.
* = closer-by-committee

Baltimore Orioles — With a two-run lead over the Indians, Darren O’Day converted the save opportunity. Brad Brach hadn’t pitched in three days, so this wasn’t a traditional vulture save. After the game, Buck Showalter said that he liked the matchups for O’Day, and wanted to give him a chance to bounce back after a rough outing on Wednesday. These comments, coming after Brach pitched the seventh on Tuesday, mean this should be considered a committee at least until Zach Britton returns in about a month. Meanwhile, Richard Bleier pitched two perfect innings ahead of O’Day for his third hold of the year (0.61 ERA). Bleier has earned a place in the hierarchy over Mychal Givens.

Updated hierarchy: *Brach | O’Day | Bleier.

Philadelphia Phillies — Hector Neris picked up his third save last night, with Adam Morgan and Luis Garcia getting him the ball. The roles in the Philadelphia pen seem solid enough to pull the committee asterisk.

Updated hierarchy: Neris | Garcia | Morgan.

Houston Astros — Ken Giles pitched the ninth inning with a lead for the first time since April 9th. Sure, it was a 10-run lead, but with Giles hurting, it had to be a relief for his owners to see him put together a clean inning. The next save opportunity will provide some clarity in Houston, but with Chris Devenski so valuable in a more flexible role, we think Giles still has the inside track to keep the closer’s job if he can stay healthy.

Hierarchy remains: *Giles | Devenski | Peacock.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Joe Jimenez — Shane Greene threw 38 pitches in Friday’s doubleheader and has gone in four of the last five games.
2. Archie Bradley — Brad Boxberger had a rough outing last night, and he has pitched in three straight.

Sunday:
1. Sergio Romo — An appearance today would be four out of five for Alex Colome.
2. Addison Reed — If Fernando Rodney pitches today, it will be three out of four.

Ken Giles is hurting, but how badly?

April 20, 2018

Houston Astros — Manager A.J. Hinch revealed before Thursday’s game that Ken Giles has been dealing with back tightness that has “gotten a bit worse.” The tightness was the reason for his absence for the last couple days. Giles said after Thursday’s game that he believes he must have slept wrong, but he’ll be “ready to go” on Friday. So has his tightness gotten worse, or is he ready to go? We’ll see what happens Friday night, but consider handcuffing yourself with Chris Devenski in the meantime, if he’s available.

Hierarchy remains: *Giles | Devenski | Peacock.
* = closer-by-committee

St. Louis Cardinals – Likely future closer Greg Holland got in some work with his team down three in the seventh inning Thursday night and held the Cubs to no hits with just one walk in a clean frame. He’ll need to string a few appearances like this one together before he is given the full reins as closer.

Hierarchy remains: *Holland | Norris | Hicks.
* = closer-by-committee

Baltimore Orioles — Injured closer Zach Britton is scheduled to throw off a half-mound on Friday — a big step in the rehabilitation process. Britton still projects to be out until at least late May.

Hierarchy remains:  Brach | O’Day | Givens.

San Diego Padres – Kirby Yates was activated off the disabled list on Thursday when first eligible. He should resume his role at the back end of the Padres bullpen going forward.

Updated hierarchy: Hand | Yates | Stammen.

San Francisco Giants — Manager Bruce Bochy said Mark Melancon is about a week away from playing catch. Sure, it’s a good sign, but he still has a long way to go.

Hierarchy remains: Strickland | Watson | Dyson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Santiago Casilla/Ryan Buchter – Blake Treinen threw three innings on Wednesday and probably needs another rest today. As we mentioned yesterday, this could offer some insight into what the A’s hierarchy really looks like. All it requires is Oakland having a lead against the 16-2 Red Sox — and protecting it.

Saturday:
1. Archie Bradley/Yoshihisa Hirano – Brad Boxberger and Archie Bradley have each pitched in two straight entering today’s games.
2. CJ Edwards/Steve Cishek – Brandon Morrow, CJ Edwards and Steve Cishek have all pitched in two of the last three. Usage today will determine rest for someone in this trio for Saturday. If they all make an appearance again today, perhaps Justin Wilson, Pedro Strop or Brian Duensing would get a look on Saturday.
3. Joe Jimenez – If Shane Greene throws today, that’ll be three out of four for him.