August 22, 2020
Pittsburgh Pirates — Keone Kela left the mound in the middle of the ninth inning Friday night, accompanied by a trainer and holding his pitching arm. The postgame comments blamed the dreaded “forearm tightness,” although it’s not clear how serious it might be. We expect Kela to miss at least some time, potentially ruining the Pirates’ chief trade chip.
Updated hierarchy: *Rodriguez | Stratton | Hartlieb.
* = closer-by-committee
Boston Red Sox — Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree were traded to Philadelphia on Friday night, giving Matt Barnes an immediate save opportunity to convert. Barnes will get the first chance to close for Boston down the stretch — unless he too gets traded — but Ron Roenicke wouldn’t commit to save him exclusively for the ninth. A committee tag could be in his future.
Updated hierarchy: Barnes | Brasier | Weber.
Philadelphia Phillies — Brandon Workman should close immediately for Philadelphia, sliding Hector Neris back to a setup role. Adam Morgan should back them up after Jose Alvarez’s testicular contusion.
Updated hierarchy: Workman | Neris | Morgan.
San Diego Padres — As we warned you Friday morning, Drew Pomeranz wound up on the IL with a shoulder strain. The Padres will play matchups in the ninth, turning to Emilio Pagan, Craig Stammen, Matt Strahm, or Cal Quantrill. Pagan is at the front of that list for a reason; he converted the first opportunity last night.
Updated hierarchy: *Pagan | Stammen | Quantrill.
* = closer-by-committee
Seattle Mariners — With a clean ninth inning, Taylor Williams picked up his fifth save and second in three days. The Brewers outcast is having a storybook season, and Friday night is enough to kick his asterisk and call him the de facto guy in Seattle. Meanwhile, Yoshihisa Hirano has been activated from the IL and could be back in the hierarchy soon.
Updated hierarchy: Williams | Magill | Altavilla.
Buffalo Blue Jays — Jordan Romano picked up the tenth-inning save, Anthony Bass and Rafael Dolis having pitched earlier in a tied game.
Hierarchy remains: *Bass | Dolis | Romano.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Joakim Soria/Jake Diekman — It’s been back-to-back-to-back appearances for Liam Hendriks. Soria has pitched in two of three.
2. Brad Boxberger/Nick Vincent — Brandon Kintzler has gone in two of three, and the Marlins have a doubleheader on Saturday.
3. Ryan Brasier — New closer Matt Barnes has worked in two of three (51 pitches).
4. Nate Jones — Raisel Iglesias has pitched in two straight games.
5. Matt Magill — Taylor Williams has appeared in two of three and three of five.
Sunday:
1. Brad Boxberger/Nick Vincent — See above.
