April 14, 2019
Atlanta Braves – The Braves placed Arodys Vizcaino on the IL with shoulder inflammation. AJ Minter is the likely choice to close in his absence.
Updated hierarchy: Minter | Sobotka | Biddle.
Wily Peralta and Blake Parker record saves
April 14, 2019
Kansas City Royals — Wily Peralta pitched a perfect ninth inning for his first save of the season yesterday. Ian Kennedy pitched a perfect eighth inning with two strikeouts ahead of Peralta. Kennedy got the ninth inning in the Royals’ win on Friday and even though it wasn’t a save opportunity the Royals clearly wanted to use their best pitchers to finish the game off and end their ten-game losing streak. Kennedy has been the better pitcher so far this year and while Peralta is still in the mix for saves as evidenced by yesterday’s outing, we like Kennedy better and will leave him atop the committee for now.
Hierarchy remains: *Kennedy | Peralta | Diekman.
* = closer-by-committee
Minnesota Twins — Protecting a one-run lead, t
Updated hierarchy: *Parker | Rogers | Hildenberger.
* = closer-by-committee
San Francisco Giants – Will Smith and the rest of the Giants’ hierarchy got the night off yesterday after the 18 inning marathon on Friday. That left Reyes Moronta for the eighth, where he struck out the side, and our old friend Sam Dyson for the ninth, where he recorded his first save of the season. The Vulture Save Watch correctly predicted Will Smith would get the night off and we mentioned that Dyson was the most well-rested so hopefully that helped a few people steal a save.
Hierarchy remains: Smith | Watson | Melancon.
Milwaukee Brewers — Former starter Junior Guerra has been solid out of the Brewers’ bullpen this season and that continued on Saturday. Guerra pitched the final two innings of a three-run Brewers’ victory to earn his first save of the season. We will reward Guerra’s good work with a spot on the hierarchy, but it probably won’t last long. Jeremy Jeffress made what could be his last rehab appearance yesterday and could re-join the Brewers soon.
Updated hierarchy: Hader | Wilson | Guerra.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Craig Stammen – Kirby Yates has pitched in two straight and three of four.
2. Joe Biagini – Ken Giles has appeared in two of three, throwing a total of 46 pitches.
3. Kyle Barraclough – Sean Doolittle has pitched in two straight and the Nationals might be cautious with him this early in the season.
4. Paul Fry – Mychal Givens has pitched in two of three, including 1.2 innings yesterday
Monday
1. Ty Buttrey – Cody Allen threw 33 pitches on Saturday so if he pitches again on Sunday, he would likely get Monday off.
2. Wily Peralta/Jake Diekman – If Ian Kennedy pitches on Sunday, it will be three in a row.
Ryan Brasier grabs another save for the Red Sox
April 13, 2019
Boston Red Sox — Boston turned to Matt Barnes to get the last out of the seventh inning — and he had to do it twice, striking out Hanser Alberto on a wild pitch, then striking out Jesus Sucre to achieve a robust 54 K/9 for the game. Boston added a couple runs, but Tyler Thornburg gave them back in the ninth, and the save was left for Ryan Brasier. Barnes and Brasier are splitting high-leverage work so far, but Brasier now has the last three saves, so we’ll move him up in this committee. Brandon Workman, who pitched a clean eighth inning last night, has a perfect ERA on the season, and has seen the late innings more frequently recently.
Updated hierarchy: *Brasier | Barnes | Workman.
* = closer-by-committee
Chicago White Sox – Mother Nature stayed perfect in save opportunities last night, and gave the credit to Nate Jones, who got the last out of the sixth inning before rain forced an early end to the game.
Hierarchy remains: Colome | Herrera | Jones.
New York Yankees — Dellin Betances suffered a setback in a simulated game yesterday; he’ll get a cortisone injection and be out for at least 6 weeks. The Yankees have 12 players on the IL, but their bullpen has been mostly unaffected, so they’ll be careful not to rush Betances back.
Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Britton | Ottavino.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Tony Watson — An 18-inning marathon forced all of San Francisco’s relievers into use, but for Will Smith, it was also three in a row. Watson is the best rested of the SF hierarchy, but Sam Dyson is the best rested overall.
2. Alex Wilson — Josh Hader threw 38 pitches last night, and may need a day to recover.
Sunday:
1. Joakim Soria — Today would be three in a row for Blake Treinen.
2. Keone Kela/Richard Rodriguez — Today would be back to back and three of four for Felipe Vazquez, Kela and Rodriguez. Whoever doesn’t pitch today would likely get the ball on Sunday.
3. Craig Stammen — Today would be back to back and three of four for Kirby Yates.
4. Joe Biagini — Ken Giles threw 26 pitches on Thursday, so another long outing could earn him a day off on Sunday.
Sixth Mariners reliever earns save through first 15 games
April 12, 2019
Seattle Mariners — Both Anthony Swarzak and Roenis Elias have been busy lately and were held out of Thursday’s matchup against the Royals, leaving Connor Sadzeck to pitch a clean 10th inning for his first save. He has been impressive in the early going (4 IP, 4 K, 0 R) since being called up and could be the mix for future opportunities behind Swarzak and Elias. Brandon Brennan, who got the win yesterday after striking out three Royals in the ninth inning, has also been impressive so far this season in 9.2 IP (0.00 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, 10 K).
Updated hierarchy: *Swarzak | Elias | Sadzeck.
* = closer-by-committee
Kansas City Royals — Brad Boxberger’s run in Kansas City continues to be bumpy. After allowing a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning of a tie game on Wednesday, Boxberger was handed the keys to a ninth-inning save opportunity Thursday. He blew it, giving up two runs on three hits to the red-hot Mariners. Ian Kennedy had pitched in two of three, including a 34-pitch outing on Wednesday, so he likely was held out of Thursday afternoon’s game. And while the use of Boxberger in a tight spot is still notable, it’s difficult to imagine him getting (or converting) a save chance anytime soon. Plus, the Royals have lost 10 straight games, so perhaps this isn’t the bullpen situation you want to mess with anyway.
Hierarchy remains: *Kennedy | Peralta | Diekman.
* = closer-by-committee
San Diego Padres — As predicted by the Vulture Save Watch, Kirby Yates got Thursday off. Craig Stammen did pitch, but it was in a fireman role after the Diamondbacks crawled back from a 6-1 deficit to tie the game. So no save for him unfortunately… but don’t complain too much! He ended up recording one out and got credit for the win when the Padres took the lead in the next half inning. Trey Wingenter cleaned things up in the ninth for his first save.
Hierarchy remains: Yates | Stammen | Wingenter.
Chicago Cubs – Now that’s how they drew it up! Pedro Strop polished off a tidy 2-0 win with his first save after a perfect ninth inning Thursday against the Pirates. Steve Cishek was handed the eighth inning, as expected. If this scenario continues to play out this way, we may kick that asterisk — that is, until Brandon Morrow returns.
Hierarchy remains: *Strop | Cishek | Kintzler.
* = closer-by-committee
Baltimore Orioles – The Orioles placed Richard Bleier on the injured list with shoulder tendinitis, an injury the team believes is related to a torn left lat from last year. There’s no timetable for his return. In his place, let’s turn to the one remaining player with a hold or save AND an ERA under 10.00: Jimmy Yacabonis (1-0, 1 HLD, 2.25 ERA). Others like Mike Wright (12.79 ERA) and Miguel Castro (11.57 ERA) could ascend if they start pitching better.
Updated hierarchy: *Givens | Fry | Yacabonis.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Joe Biagini/Tim Mayza — Ken Giles has appeared in three of the last five games and threw 26 pitches in a blown save Thursday. He could get a breather Friday. Biagini has gone in two of three and threw 20 pitches Thursday, so the Blue Jays could turn to Tim Mayza, who has gone in four of six but has only thrown 15 pitches over his last two outings.
Friday:
1. Tony Watson — Will Smith has pitched in two straight games. Friday would make it three in a row.
2. Jeurys Familia — Same for Edwin Diaz.
Seattle’s closer committee keeps on humming
April 11, 2019
Los Angeles Angels — We correctly anticipated Cody Allen’s night off, but Ty Buttrey got one too, leaving the save to Hansel Robles and his awe-inspiring entrance video. Call him Rambo.
Hierarchy remains: Allen | Buttrey | Robles.
Seattle Mariners — Anthony Swarzak bailed out the Mariners with a runner on in a tied eighth, so Roenis Elias came on once Seattle took the lead back against Brad Boxberger. Elias didn’t make things easy, loading the bases with two outs, but he induced a popup to escape with his second career save. The Mariners, predicted by PECOTA to win 75 games, are already 10 games over .500.
Hierarchy remains: *Swarzak | Elias | Festa.
* = closer-by-committee
Cincinnati Reds — David Hernandez has struggled, allowing runs in his last three appearances and striking out only one batter in five games. On Wednesday, Amir Garrett picked up a win after pitching a scoreless eighth in a tight game, and Raisel Iglesias followed it up with his first save of the year.
Updated hierarchy: Iglesias | Hughes | Garrett.
Houston Astros — As we predicted, Ryan Pressly was given the save opportunity after three straight days of work for Roberto Osuna. Pressly converted to complete the sweep of the Yankees.
Hierarchy remains: Osuna | Pressly | Rondon.
Texas Rangers — Jose Leclerc didn’t have it on Wednesday, but lefty Kyle Bird was there to get him out of a bases-loaded jam and earn a save.
Hierarchy remains: Leclerc | Martin | Kelley.
Tampa Bay Rays — Lefty Jalen Beeks earned a three-inning save in a 9-1 Tampa victory on Wednesday. Did you start him on your fantasy team? The first two readers who did, and send us proof, win free Premium for the season!
Hierarchy remains: *Alvarado | Castillo | Roe.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Craig Stammen — Kirby Yates has pitched in two of three and four of six.
Friday:
1. Keone Kela — Felipe Vazquez needed 28 pitches in a five-out save on Wednesday.
