May 24, 2019
New York Mets — One day after saying the “three-out rule” would no longer apply to Edwin Diaz, Diaz wasn’t even warming up as Robert Gsellman turned a 3-1 lead into a 4-3 deficit in the eighth inning. The Mets then scored three of their own, giving Diaz the save and Gsellman a very cheap win. After the game, manager Mickey Callaway explained that the decision to not use Diaz early “was an easy one,” arguing that Diaz had warmed up frequently over the last few days. Diaz did warm up before heading in for the ninth, of course. Ahead of Gsellman and Diaz, the much-maligned Jeurys Familia tossed a perfect seventh inning as he works to fully regain Callaway’s trust.
Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Gsellman | Familia.
Washington Nationals — The good news: gifted a one-run lead in the eighth, Wander Suero struck out the side! The bad news: he also gave up a double, an intentional walk, and a home run! Oops! You win some, you lose some — but if you’re Washington’s league-worst bullpen, you mostly just lose some. Fun fact: Sean Doolittle has saved as many bookstores (8) as he has baseball games this season.
Hierarchy remains: Doolittle | Barraclough | Suero.
New York Yankees — Zach Britton preserved a one-run lead with a scoreless ninth inning on Thursday to record his second save. As the Vulture Save Watch predicted, Aroldis Chapman had pitched on three of the previous five days and got some rest.
Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Britton | Ottavino.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Adam Conley/Tayron Guerrero — Sergio Romo has pitched in three straight.
2. Jeurys Familia/Drew Gagnon — Edwin Diaz, Robert Gsellman, and Familia have all pitched in three of four and four of six. Familia has thrown the fewest pitches of the group, but has also struggled lately. Gagnon could get a shot to close.
3. Sean Newcomb — Luke Jackson threw two innings Thursday and has pitched in three of five, throwing 83 pitches!
4. Craig Stammen — Even with the off-day Thursday, Kirby Yates has gone in three of four.
5. Paul Fry — Mychal Givens has only gone in two of four, but he threw 34 pitches last night.
Saturday:
1. Robert Gsellman — If Diaz pitches Friday, that would be four appearances in five days.
2. Joe Jimenez — A Friday outing would be three of four for Shane Greene, who allowed five unearned runs in a loss on Thursday (25 pitches).
3. Kelvin Herrera — Alex Colome was off Thursday, but a Friday outing would be three of four for him.
