Jordan Hicks likely down for the season with torn UCL

June 25, 2019

St. Louis Cardinals – The Cardinals announced that Jordan Hicks has a torn UCL and will likely miss the rest of the season. John Gant and Carlos Martinez are the two relievers who could inherit the job. The Cardinals’ president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said that Gant would be the one to step in to the role, so we’ve shifted our expectations and will give him the nod for now, but will see how the Cardinals adapt in the week ahead before we consider removing the asterisk.

Updated hierarchy: *Gant | Martinez | Miller.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies – Wade Davis pitched a 1-2-3 inning last night for his second save since returning from the IL, but count us among those who are still concerned about his recent performance. Since returning, he’s posted a 9.82 ERA, a 2.32 WHIP over 7.1 innings, and he has struck out six batters against five walks. Perhaps most concerning of all is that his velocity is down, suggesting that his poor performance isn’t just bad luck. Scott Oberg might be worth a roster spot if he’s available in your league.

Hierarchy remains: Davis | Oberg | Shaw.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today/tomorrow
1. Tyler Clippard – Brad Hand has gone in four of five and Nick Wittgren pitched two innings last night.
2. Archie Bradley – Greg Holland has pitched in back to back games.

Tomorrow
1. Zack Britton – Aroldis Chapman threw 25 pitches last night; another long outing and he’ll likely be off Wednesday.
2. Scott Oberg – If Wade Davis goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.

Rays lose another reliever as Diego Castillo hits the IL

June 24, 2019

Tampa Bay Rays — Diego Castillo is going on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation. Emilio Pagan should be next in line for saves until Jose Alvarado is back in action.

Updated hierarchy: *Pagan | Alvarado | Roe.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins – The Marlins gave Sergio Romo a second night off after he’d gone four in a row, allowing Nick Anderson to pick up his first save of the season.

Updated hierarchy: Romo | Guerrero | Anderson.

Kansas City Royals – Kevin McCarthy came on in the 7th inning with two runners on and the Royals up by 4 runs, escaping the jam by inducing a groundout. The Royals would tack on a run, and McCarthy stayed out for the 8th and 9th innings, earning his first save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Kennedy | Peralta | Diekman.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Pedro Baez – Kenley Jansen has gone back to back and three of four.

Tomorrow
1. Anthony Swarzak/AJ Minter – If Luke Jackson goes tonight, it’ll be three straight. Same for Swarzak and Minter, so monitor usage tonight to see who will be available tomorrow.

Blake Treinen placed on IL while Jordan Hicks leaves with injury

June 23, 2019

Oakland A’s – Blake Treinen was placed on the IL with a strained rotator cuff.  Liam Hendricks will get the first chance at closing and it went well yesterday with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.  

Updated hierarchy: Hendriks | Trivino | Petit.

St. Louis Cardinals – Jordan Hicks left the game with two outs in the ninth yesterday and that allowed Tyler Webb to pick up the save.  Right now the Cardinals are saying it is triceps tendinitis and Hicks is expected to miss at least a couple of days.  They will do more tests today to see if it is worse than they originally thought.  Carlos Martinez should close while Hicks is out and could be a top-tier closer if Hicks misses an extended period of time.

Hierarchy remains: Hicks | Martinez | Gant.

Texas Rangers — Shawn Kelley got the day off yesterday and Chris Martin pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save of the year.  Jose Leclerc pitched a scoreless eighth inning ahead of Martin.  Leclerc has had an up and down season and although it looked like he was close to moving back into the closer’s role, yesterday’s usage shows that as of right now, he is behind both Kelley and Martin.

Updated hierarchy: Kelley | Martin | Leclerc.

Miami Marlins — The Marlins gave Sergio Romo the day off yesterday and used lefty Jose Quijada for the last two outs of the game.  Quijada was just recently called back up, but he has recorded two holds and a save in his three appearances so we will move him onto the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Romo | Guerrero | Quijada.

New York Yankees — As we predicted in the Vulture Save Watch yesterday, Zack Britton got the call in the ninth inning with Aroldis Chapman getting the day off.  Britton made it interesting with three walks but was able to close it out for his third save of the season.  Britton should continue to see any save chances when Chapman is unavailable.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Britton | Ottavino.

Minnesota Twins — Taylor Rogers came on in the 8th inning yesterday to protect a two-run lead but could not get the job done.  He gave up a couple of hits to allow two inherited runners to score along with one of his own.  The Twins took the lead again in the 10th inning and Blake Parker pitched a perfect bottom of the inning for his 10th save of the season.  

Hierarchy remains: *Rogers | Parker | May.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Carlos Martinez – Jordan Hicks will miss at least a couple of days with triceps tendinitis.
2. Brandon Workman – Matt Barnes has pitched in two straight and four of five, including a 36 pitch outing yesterday.
3. Nick Wittgren/Tyler Clippard – Brad Hand has pitched in three straight. Nick Wittgren has gone in two straight.
4. Tayron Guerrero – Sergio Romo could get a second day off after going in four in a row.

Monday
1. Jake Diekman – If Ian Kennedy goes on Sunday, it will be two in a row and three of four.
2. Pedro Baez – same for Kenley Jansen.
3. Tony Watson/Reyes Moronta – If Will Smith pitches on Sunday, it will be three in a row. Same goes for Tony Watson.