April 23, 2019
Tampa Bay Rays – With Diego Castillo having pitched 2 innings on Sunday and Jose Alvarado coming off a back-to-back, the Rays turned to Emilio Pagan for the save opportunity. Pagan converted, and has only allowed one baserunner through his first five innings this season.
Hierarchy remains: *Alvarado | Castillo | Roe.
* = closer-by-committee
Milwaukee Brewers – Jeremy Jeffress logged his third straight scoreless outing since his return from the IL. The Brewers have struggled to find a good bridge to Josh Hader in his absence, so we think this is good enough to move him up on to the hierarchy.
Updated hierarchy: Hader | Jeffress | Wilson.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Seung Hwan Oh/Carlos Estevez – Wade Davis and Scott Oberg have both gone back to back and four of five.
2. Zack Britton – Aroldis Chapman has gone back to back, throwing 45 pitches.
Cody Allen, Jose Leclerc struggling
April 22, 2019
Minnesota Twins – With Blake Parker under the weather, Taylor Rogers pitched a clean 9th inning for his 3rd save of the season. Parker remains the preferred choice for saves here, but Rogers may continue to get an opportunity now and again.
Hierarchy remains: *Parker | Rogers | Hildenberger.
* = closer-by-committee
Detroit Tigers – Joe Jimenez has struggled out of the gate this season, so bridging the gap to Shane Greene yesterday was a combination of Buck Farmer, Blaine Hardy, and Victor Alcantara. Jimenez’s last outing was his best of the season, but we’ll still drop him behind Alcantara for now, until he gets higher-leverage spots again.
Updated hierarchy: Greene | Alcantara | Jimenez.
Texas Rangers – Jose Leclerc allowed a leadoff home run, and then walked four of the next six hitters before being pulled for Shawn Kelley, who got the game’s last out for his first save of the year. Leclerc has an inflated ERA (7.88) after a few bad outings, but Chris Woodward is still giving him a little bit of leash. We’ll keep an eye on this one.
Hierarchy remains: Leclerc | Martin | Kelley.
Los Angeles Angels – The Angels joined the “opener” trend, starting Hansel Robles on Sunday against Seattle, but the main news was another bad outing by Cody Allen, who allowed a home run and a walk to the two hitters he faced before being yanked for Luis Garcia, who picked up the save. After five scoreless outings to open the season, Allen has now given up runs in four consecutive outings. Brad Ausmus might not be worried, but we are.
Hierarchy remains: Allen | Buttrey | Robles.
Chicago Cubs – Brandon Morrow experienced some elbow soreness, so his rehab has been temporarily shut down. There is no timetable for his return as of yet.
Hierarchy remains: Strop | Cishek | Kintzler.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Brandon Workman/Heath Hembree – Ryan Brasier and Matt Barnes have gone three straight.
Tomorrow
1. Scott Oberg – If Wade Davis goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and four of five.
2. Ty Buttrey – If Cody Allen goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and four of five.
3. Alex Wilson/Junior Guerra – If Josh Hader goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.
Hector Neris and Ryan Brasier record saves
April 21, 2019
Philadelphia Phillies — Hector Neris recorded the last five outs yesterday for his third save of the season. Neris struck out two and did not allow a base runner. That is now nine straight scoreless appearances for Neris. In other Phillies’ bullpen news, Victor Arano was placed on the IL and we expect Pat Neshek to fill his role in the later innings.
Updated hierarchy: *Neris | Dominguez | Neshek
* = closer-by-committee
Minnesota Twins – With the Twins up two in the first game of the doubleheader yesterday, Taylor Rogers came on for the eighth inning. He allowed a run but was able to strand runners on second and third to preserve the lead. Rogers then came back out for the ninth inning and struck out a pair in a perfect inning to pick up his second save of the season. Blake Parker was battling illness, which could explain why Rogers got the two-inning save. We expect Blake Parker to see the most save chances, but Rogers and Hildenberger have recorded the last two saves so this looks like it is still very much a committee for now.
Hierarchy remains: *Parker | Rogers | Hildenberger.
* = closer-by-committee
Seattle Mariners — Anthony Swarzak returned to the ninth inning yesterday, and despite this great reaction to allowing a homer to Albert Pujols, he was able to hang on for his third save of the season.
Hierarchy remains: *Swarzak | Elias | Sadzeck.
* = closer-by-committee
Arizona Diamondbacks – Taylor Clarke picked up a save in his major league debut yesterday by pitching the final three innings in a Diamondbacks’ six-run victory. Clarke also made history, by becoming the first player ever to record a save and get a hit in his major league debut.
Hierarchy remains: Holland | Bradley | Hirano.
Cleveland Indians – Nick Wittgren pitched a scoreless eighth inning ahead of Brad Hand in game one of the doubleheader yesterday. Meanwhile, in game two of the doubleheader, Adam Cimber could not protect a four-run lead in the ninth inning and took the loss. At this point, Nick Wittgren is pitching as well as any other reliever in the Tribe’s bullpen and should continue to see time in the eighth inning.
Updated hierarchy: Hand | Wittgren | Cimber.
Boston Red Sox — Matt Barnes was used in the eighth inning yesterday and that left Ryan Brasier for the ninth inning again. Brasier converted the save chance and now has five saves in the Red Sox eight wins so far this season.
Hierarchy remains: *Brasier | Barnes | Workman.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jared Hughes – Raisel Iglesias has pitched in three straight.
2. Matt Barnes/Brandon Workman – Ryan Brasier has pitched in two straight and three of four. Barnes has also pitched in two straight.
3. Seranthony Dominguez – Hector Neris has pitched in two straight, including 1.2 innings yesterday.
4. Roenis Elias – Anthony Swarzak has pitched in three of the past four games.
Monday
1. Ty Buttrey – If Cody Allen pitches today, it will be three of the past four.
Roenis Elias picks up his fourth save; Cody Allen struggles again
April 20, 2019
Seattle Mariners — Roenis Elias closed out another game last night, pitching a clean bottom of the ninth after Seattle took the lead in the top. That makes four saves on the year for Elias, most on the team. We still see Anthony Swarzak as the best bet for saves — he was unavailable last night after throwing back-to-back games — but Elias is perfect in save chances, and is likely to get a few more while Hunter Strickland is out.
Hierarchy remains: *Swarzak | Elias | Sadzeck.
* = closer-by-committee
Los Angeles Angels — Cody Allen took the loss for the second day in a row, giving up two runs without recording an out. Allen started the year 4-for-4 in save opportunites, but has now given up runs in three straight games, while Ty Buttrey has remained perfect. Allen isn’t in immediate danger of losing the closer’s spot, but with the Angels in a five-game slide, his seat is getting warmer.
Hierarchy remains: Allen | Buttrey | Robles.
Cincinnati Reds — The Reds used Raisel Iglesias and Jared Hughes to get through the tied ninth and tenth innings, so when the Reds scored two in the eleventh, they used Zach Duke and Michael Lorenzen to close things out. Duke retired two, but Fernando Tatis Jr. scored on a walk, two stolen bases, and a groundout. Lorenzen came in and got the last out after a single. Lorenzen has gotten into a lot of games for the Reds — not always as a pitcher — but he’s not in the hierarchy at this point.
Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Hughes | Garrett.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Scott Alexander/Pedro Baez — Kenley Jansen has pitched in three in a row and four out of five, and will get a rest today. Joe Kelly has also gone back-to-back and in three of four, so Alexander or Baez may get the call.
2. Jared Hughes — Raisel Iglesias has pitched in two straight, and even though his pitch count is low, the Reds haven’t used any reliever for three games in a row this year.
3. Buck Farmer — Shane Greene might get a second day of rest after pitching three straight, and Farmer is more rested than Joe Jimenez.
4. Alex Wilson — Josh Hader threw 34 pitches last night and might get a day off.
5. Joe Biagini — Ken Giles has pitched in three of four.
Sunday:
1. Seunghwan Oh — Today would be three straight for Wade Davis and Scott Oberg.
2. Ty Buttrey — An appearance today would be three straight for Cody Allen.
3. Kyle Barraclough — Today would mark three appearances in four days for Sean Doolittle.
Roenis Elias records another save
April 19, 2019
Seattle Mariners — Staked with a one-run lead in the eighth inning and the 9-1-2 hitters (including Mike Trout) due up, committee leader Anthony Swarzak got the call, but he promptly allowed a game-tying blast to 9-hole man David Fletcher. Of course, the Mariners took the lead again the top half of the ninth, giving Roenis Elias a chance to earn his third save, which he did. The M’s hit a bit of a skid recently but they are never truly out of a game given how well their bats have hit, so save chances will be plentiful for this bunch. Connor Sadzeck may get another opportunity soon (see below), but keep an eye on Brandon Brennan, who has been dubbed the “secret weapon” thanks to a filthy changeup.
Hierarchy remains: *Swarzak | Elias | Sadzeck.
* = closer-by-committee
Atlanta Braves — Chad Sobotka has allowed runs in three straight appearances, including two more earned runs Thursday to inflate his ERA to 12.38. He’s probably not in line for save chances these days. Luke Jackson, who recorded a hold earlier this month, has good swing-and-miss stuff (13.5 K/9) and could be used in higher-leverage spots. Keep an eye, too, on Dan Winkler, who was called up from Triple-A earlier this week and tossed a scoreless sixth inning Thursday. Both pitchers should be ahead of Sobotka at this point.
Updated hierarchy: Minter | Biddle | Jackson.
Toronto Blue Jays – Ryan Tepera was activated from the injured list Thursday and was immediately thrust into game action, throwing a scoreless sixth inning on just nine pitches. Tepera will probably factor into the team’s late-inning plans right away, but he might still be behind Tim Mayza, who pitched the seventh, and Joe Biagini, who pitched the eighth ahead of closer Ken Giles.
Hierarchy remains: Giles | Biagini | Mayza.
Arizona Diamondbacks – As the Vulture Save Watch predicted, Yoshihisa Hirano was called upon in the ninth inning Thursday and nailed down his first save of the season. Greg Holland, who had pitched in three of four, and Archie Bradley (36 pitches Wednesday) each got a day of rest.
Hierarchy remains: Holland | Bradley | Hirano.
Kansas City Royals — In yesterday’s update, we moved Wily Peralta a tick ahead of Ian Kennedy in the team’s hierarchy, as Kennedy appears to be the team’s fireman based on recent usage. Peralta has one save under his belt this season and could be in line for another chance today after Kennedy pitched part of the eighth and closed out the ninth Thursday with a five-run lead, giving him 57 overall pitches thrown over two straight outings.
Hierarchy remains: *Peralta | Kennedy | Diekman.
* = closer-by-committee
Baltimore Orioles – Mychal Givens had a chance to finally pick up his first save on Thursday, but he blew it by allowing a game-tying homer. The Orioles still won the game, but Givens will have to give it a go another time. Chances will be few and far between for the O’s this season.
Hierarchy remains: *Givens | Fry | Yacabonis.
* = closer-by-committee
Cincinnati Reds – Raisel Iglesias looked more comfortable on the rubber Thursday, striking out the side for his third save. His numbers are still ugly (5.87 ERA, 1.70 WHIP), but this latest outing is encouraging.
Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Hughes | Garrett.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Joe Kelly — Kenley Jansen has pitched in three of four.
2. Joe Jimenez — Shane Greene has gone in three straight.
Saturday:
1. Kyle Barraclough — Friday would be a third straight appearance for Sean Doolittle. The same is true for Barraclough, though he only threw two pitches Thursday.
2. Joe Biagini — An appearance Friday would be three of four for Ken Giles. Biagini has already pitched in three of four, so a night off Friday would be an indicator that he’d be called upon Saturday, if needed.
3. Diego Castillo/Chaz Roe — Entering Friday, Jose Alvarado and Diego Castillo have each pitched in two of three.
4. Connor Sadzeck — Entering Friday, Anthony Swarzak has gone in two straight and Roenis Elias has already pitched in three of four.
