Pedro Strop earns save in first game back from IL

June 5, 2019

Chicago Cubs — The Cubs activated Pedro Strop prior to Tuesday’s game. Strop immediately returned to his usual ninth-inning role, recording the final three outs of a 6-3 win. Steve Cishek may still get an occasional save chance, but Strop will once again be the primary source of saves for the Cubs.

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

Baltimore Orioles – What’s the best way for a former closer to try and get their job back? For Mychal Givens, it’s to watch your teammates Josh Lucas (2 BB, 3 ER) and Richard Bleier (4 H, 3 ER) combine to allow six runs in the bottom of the ninth. With a 12-5 lead now at 12-11 and the tying run on first, Brandon Hyde finally called on Givens to salvage a victory. Givens struck out Delino DeShields on three pitches before a failed pickoff attempt moved that tying run to second base. Givens then needed his catcher to make a perfect throw to first on a third strike that went all the way to the backstop to end the game. Shawn Armstrong, Paul Fry and Branden Kline had all pitched already, so Hyde didn’t have too many other options when the game got close again. It’s worth noting that Givens has put together two straight scoreless outings in high-leverage spots, so perhaps he is beginning to regain Hyde’s trust.

Hierarchy remains: *Armstrong | Fry | Kline.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s — Lou Trivino has struggled of late, having allowed seven earned runs over his last three appearances. Based on his recent ineffectiveness, it wasn’t too crazy to see Yusmeiro Petit in the seventh inning and Liam Hendriks in the eighth inning in Oakland’s 4-2 win on Tuesday. Bob Melvin said after the game that he just wanted to give Trivino an extra day of rest and that his role hasn’t changed. Hendriks, who was once a potential opener for Wednesday’s game but now won’t be, lowered his ERA to 1.62 but only picked up his second hold of the year. Petit, who has the ability to pitch multiple innings, now has eight holds this year. Both pitchers may find themselves earning more high-leverage work; we’ll monitor how much trust Melvin retains in Trivino and Joakim Soria.

Hierarchy remains: Treinen | Trivino | Soria.

Washington Nationals — Kyle Barraclough hasn’t pitched since May 28, and it seems like primary setup duties have somehow gone to Wander Suero despite his 5.96 ERA. One arm to keep an eye on however is flamethrower Tanner Rainey. He hasn’t allowed an earned run over his last five appearances and sports a K/9 of 15.96. 

Updated hierarchy: Doolittle | Suero | Rainey.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Steve Cishek – Pedro Strop threw 17 pitches in his first game back from the IL. There’s a chance he rests, though the Cubs do have Thursday off.
2. Jeurys Familia – Edwin Diaz (24 pitches) and Seth Lugo (29) were both busy last night and the Mets have a day game Thursday. Robert Gsellman got gshelled last night, so Familia may be the guy to lock down a save. Trust this bullpen at your own risk.
3. Joe Biagini/Daniel Hudson – Ken Giles threw 29 pitches in a four-out save last night. Biagini (21 pitches) and Hudson (20 pitches) were both busy last night as well, but they’re relatively well-rested.
4. Wander Suero – Sean Doolittle has pitched in three of four and the Nationals don’t have an off day tomorrow.

Thursday
1. Jared Hughes – If Raisel Iglesias pitches today that will be two straight and three of four.
2. Lou Trivino/Joakim Soria — Same goes for Blake Treinen.
3. Joe Biagini/Daniel Hudson/Tim Mayza — If Ken Giles pitches today, it’d be shocking if he gets the ball on Thursday. Mayza was activated from the IL yesterday and may get a spot save depending on everyone’s Wednesday workload.

Ryan Pressly keeps adding to his sterling season

June 4, 2019

Houston Astros – Roberto Osuna got the night off after pitching in two of the last three, leaving Ryan Pressly to pick up his third save of the season. Pressly’s ERA is 0.64, which we guess is fine.

Hierarchy remains: Osuna | Pressly | Rondon.

Seattle Mariners – He didn’t factor in to the decision, but we wanted to show some love for Wade LeBlanc’s performance yesterday. After Seattle’s opener, Cory Gearrin, got knocked around in the first inning, the veteran lefty came on for the second and proceeded to throw EIGHT innings of “relief,” allowing just four baserunners and one run against the mighty Astros.

Hierarchy remains: *Elias | Bass | Brennan.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Sean Newcomb – There’s a chance that the Braves give Luke Jackson a second day off after a heavy weekend workload.

Jose Alvarado to miss a few days; Jordan Hicks on a short leash

June 3, 2019

San Francisco Giants – Reyes Moronta has electric stuff, but we can’t continue to ignore the steady presence that Tony Watson has provided the Giants in the 8th inning all season long. He’s almost always the last man to bridge the gap to Will Smith and would likely be the choice for a save chance if Smith were unavailable.

Updated hierarchy: Smith | Watson | Moronta.

Tampa Bay Rays – Jose Alvarado was placed on the family medical emergency list and will miss the next 3-7 days. Diego Castillo and Emilio Pagan will see the save chances in his absence.

Hierarchy remains: *Alvarado | Castillo | Pagan.
* = closer-by-committee

Minnesota Twins – Blake Parker struggled to navigate the 8th inning, allowing two runs, but Taylor Rogers had no such trouble finishing the game off in the 9th. Parker has been fine, so we don’t see a shift in this committee just yet.

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

Milwaukee Brewers – Josh Hader threw 34 pitches over a two-inning effort on Saturday, so he got Sunday off, leaving Alex Claudio and Corbin Burnes to split the 9th inning. Burnes retired both hitters he faced to earn his first save.

Hierarchy remains: Hader | Guerra | Jeffress.

St. Louis Cardinals – The Cardinals had a surprisingly quick hook for Jordan Hicks on Sunday, pulling him after he allowed a hit and a walk to two of the first three hitters he faced. John Gant came on and retired the next two hitters for his third save. With Carlos Martinez’s success over the weekend and Gant’s stellar season, the Cardinals certainly have options if they want to try someone else in the role. We’ll continue to monitor this one.

Updated hierarchy: Hicks | Martinez | Gant.

Boston Red Sox – Matt Barnes had one of his worst outings of the season on Sunday, allowing the Yankees to pull back within three runs in the 8th inning, but in the 9th, Brandon continued his Workmanlike season, nabbing his 2nd save of the year. Look for him to continue to get the occasional save chance going forward.

Hierarchy remains: *Barnes | Workman | Walden.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Tomorrow
1. Sean Newcomb – The Braves are off today, but they might give Luke Jackson the day off tomorrow, too, as he threw 2.2 innings over the past two days.

Carlos Martinez records save while Craig Kimbrel market should heat up very soon

June 2, 2019

St. Louis Cardinals — Jordan Hicks got Saturday off as we expected, and the Cardinals turned to their closer from the end of last year, Carlos Martinez.  Martinez responded with a perfect ninth for his first save of the season.  After missing the beginning of the season, Martinez is beginning to settle in and even though he had pitched the prior two games, the Cardinals knew he was going to get the ninth inning yesterday.   It looks like Martinez will be the most likely to see any save chances when Hicks is unavailable moving forward.

Updated hierarchy: Hicks | Martinez | Miller.

Atlanta Braves – After Jacob Webb allowed back-to-back doubles with one out in the eighth inning, the Braves went straight to their closer Luke Jackson.  Jackson struck out both batters he faced in the eighth and then after a leadoff single in the ninth, he went on to strike out the side.  Former Braves’ closer Craig Kimbrel will no longer cost a draft pick if signed after midnight tonight and this story picks the Braves as a likely landing spot for the free agent.

Hierarchy remains: Jackson | Newcomb | Webb.

Chicago Cubs — Pedro Strop will make another rehab appearance at AAA Iowa today and could be activated after that.  The Cubs are also rumored to be interested in Craig Kimbrel.  

Hierarchy remains: *Cishek | Kintzler | Chatwood.
* = closer-by-committee

Washington Nationals — The Nationals bullpen got it done last night as Wander Suero pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth inning for his fifth hold of the season and Sean Doolittle pitched a perfect ninth for his eleventh save.  However, they still have one of the worst bullpens in the league and at least one beat writer thinks the Nationals should keep an eye on the market for Kimbrel and make a play for him if the price drops.  

Hierarchy remains: Doolittle | Barraclough | Suero.

Colorado Rockies — After a ninth-inning error extended the game and a double cut the Rockies lead to two, Scott Oberg was summoned for the last out of the game.  He was able to induce a ground out from the only batter he faced to pick up his second save of the season.  Meanwhile, Wade Davis had no problems after his bullpen session, which was the first since his injury.   Although there is no exact timetable for his return, it should be relatively soon barring any setbacks.

Hierarchy remains: Oberg | Shaw | Estevez.

Seattle Mariners — Brandon Brennan was used in a tie game yesterday but ended up taking the loss after being charged with a run.  Brennan has now given up at least one earned run in three of his past four outings.  Veteran Anthony Bass has been pitching well and should see more time in the later innings with Brennan struggling.

Updated hierarchy: *Elias | Bass | Brennan.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jose Leclerc – Shawn Kelley has pitched in two straight and three of four.
2. Bryan Shaw – Scott Oberg has pitched in three of four and five of seven.
3. Kyle Crick – Felipe Vazquez has gone in two straight, including a 21 pitch blown save yesterday.

Monday
1. Archie Bradley – If Greg Holland pitches on Sunday, it will be three in a row.

Seth Lugo sets up Robert Gsellman for a vulture save

June 1, 2019

New York Mets — With Edwin Diaz having thrown 30 pitches on Wednesday, the Mets opted to give him another night of rest and send out Robert Gsellman to protect a one-run lead in the ninth. Gsellman gave up a walk, but locked down his first Gsave of the year. Diaz had a brutal outing on Wednesday, which led to some speculation that he was wearing down, but prior to his last blown save he had not given up an earned run in eight straight appearances. The Mets did get some good news as Seth Lugo was activated from the IL and immediately picked up a hold last night, pitching a clean eighth ahead of Gsellman. It’s safe to say the Mets expected more out of Diaz when they brought him over from Seattle, but it seems he still has the closer’s job for now. 

Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Lugo | Gsellman.

Baltimore Orioles – With Baltimore holding a three-run lead, it turned to Richard Bleier to get the last two outs of the eighth inning. Shawn Armstrong was warming up in case Bleier got in trouble, but with a three-run lead to play with, Bleier stuck around for the ninth to record his second save of the year. Bleier’s numbers are pretty bad overall, but pretty average for the Orioles, who are still in search of a consistent closing option. Bleier will have to get his ERA under 7 before he can be trusted with the late innings, but his progress is worth monitoring if you’re desperate for potential holds.

Hierarchy remains: *Armstrong | Fry | Kline.
* = closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners — Seattle had burned through its bullpen options in the past few days, leaving Austin Adams, Jesse Biddle and Anthony Bass as the only well-rested options. Bass got the last out of the eighth and then pitched a clean ninth inning to record his first save since April 2014, when he briefly had more saves on the year than strikeouts. Bass has only appeared in five games this year and has only given up one run in that time. He will probably need to show a bit more before he can crack the hierarchy, but with Seattle’s bullpen in disarray he may get some looks as the hot hand. . 

Hierarchy remains: *Elias | Brennan | Sadzeck.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies — The Rockies won in a blowout last night, but the news from the bullpen is that Wade Davis is close to returning. He has started a throwing program and is only a couple days away from a bullpen session. Davis will resume closing for the Rockies once he returns, so it’s time to squeeze any last value out of Scott Oberg and company. 

Hierarchy remains: Oberg | Shaw | Estevez.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Andrew Miller — Jordan Hicks has gone in back-to-back games, including 35 pitches last night.
2. Emilio Pagan — The Rays pitched both Jose Alvarado and Diego Castillo last night and will look to get both of them some rest. Pagan also threw yesterday, but is comparatively well-rested. 

Sunday:
1. Pedro Baez/Julio Urias — Today would be three in a row for Kenley Jansen. It would also be back-to-back and three of four for Pedro Baez, while Julio Urias is well-rested. 
2. Jose Leclerc — Today would be back-to-back and three of four for Shawn Kelley.