July 24, 2019
Boston Red Sox — Alex Cora tasked Brandon Workman to get a six-out save with the Sox leading the Rays, 5-2, on Tuesday. Workman breezed through the eighth inning on 12 pitches and got two outs in the ninth, but he ran into trouble and eventually exited the game with the bases loaded and the Rays trailing by two. Marcus Walden came on and threw four straight balls before inducing a game-ending groundout to get the save. Meanwhile, Nathan Eovaldi’s first appearance off the IL on Monday was not great; he allowed five hits and three earned runs to turn an 8-0 eighth-inning lead into an 8-3 advantage. Eovaldi was available yesterday despite throwing 24 pitches, but Cora had his reasons to not go to Eovaldi in the ninth. We should see Eovaldi in the ninth inning today if there’s a save chance, especially because Cora said that Workman is unavailable Matt Barnes likely will be available for only one out.
Hierarchy remains: *Workman | Eovaldi | Barnes.
* = closer-by-committee
Pittsburgh Pirates – Keone Kela, who concluded his extended stint on the IL this week, has also finished his two-game suspension due to an altercation with a club staffer and will be activated today. Clint Hurdle said that they’ll look to use Kela in a non-leverage situation right off the bat, but expect Kela to eventually play a big role for the Pirates in the late innings.
Updated hierarchy: Vazquez | Crick | Kela.
St. Louis Cardinals — As predicted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Carlos Martinez got the night off and Andrew Miller picked up the save. Miller has established himself as the handcuff for Martinez.
Hierarchy remains: Martinez | Miller | Gant.
New York Yankees — It was not the best night for the Yankees’ hierarchy, as Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman both blew late-inning leads. Adam Ottavino nearly joined that list after he loaded the bases with two outs in a 14-12 game, but Chad Green Aaron Hicks made sure the Yankees hung on for the 10-inning win. A truly well-earned save for Green and an even more well-deserved hold for Ottavino.
Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Britton | Ottavino.
Cincinnati Reds – While we did have the Reds as part of yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, we unfortunately did not predict Sal Romano’s three-inning save in a 14-6 win. Shame on us.
Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Lorenzen | Garrett.
Chicago White Sox — It’s worth noting that Jace Fry has been sharp of late, posting a 0.79 ERA over his last 14 appearances. If Fry keeps pitching like this, it will be hard for the White Sox to keep him away from more consistent high-leverage work.
Hierarchy remains: Colome | Bummer | Marshall.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Nathan Eovaldi – As we noted above, Brandon Workman is unavailable after throwing 44 pitches.
2. Blake Parker – Parker had a rough outing yesterday, but Taylor Rogers has pitched in two straight and three of four.
3. Zack Britton – Aroldis Chapman threw 29 pitches yesterday and may get a day off heading into a four-game series with the Red Sox.
4. Sam Dyson – Will Smith went two innings yesterday, but he only threw 19 pitches. The Giants are off on Thursday, but Smith may rest today anyway.
Tomorrow
1. Joe Jimenez/Buck Farmer – If Shane Greene pitches today, that would be two straight and three of four. Joe Jimenez enters today having pitched in three of the last four.
2. Seth Lugo – The same for Shane Greene is true for Edwin Diaz.
3. Ty Buttrey/Cam Bedrosian – A second straight day of 20 or more pitches may mean Hansel Robles gets Thursday off. Ty Buttrey probably has today off after throwing 30 pitches yesterday, but if both he and Robles are rested, Bedrosian should get any save chance that arises.
4. Zack Britton/Adam Ottavino – If Aroldis Chapman goes today, it will be two straight and three of four.
