Roberto Osuna to get MRI, Craig Kimbrel on the hot seat

August 2, 2020

Houston Astros — Roberto Osuna left yesterday’s game with an injury and is headed back to Houston for an MRI. The Astros also placed Chris Devenski on the IL. Ryan Pressly pitched the 8th inning yesterday and although it wasn’t a great outing and he seemed to be dealing with a figure issue, Pressly should take over as closer if Osuna misses an extended period of time.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Pressly | Taylor.

Chicago Cubs – Kyle Ryan started the 9th inning with the Cubs up 4, but after he gave up a two-run homer and a double, Rowan Wick got the call.  Wick gave up an RBI groundout to cut the lead to one but he was able to finish off the Cubs’ win for his first save of the season.  Jeremy Jeffress had another solid outing, as he entered the 7th inning with the bases loaded and two outs and was able to get out of the jam before coming back out for a scoreless 8th.  Closer Craig Kimbrel has struggled in both his appearances this season and manager David Ross would not commit to Kimbrel getting the next save chance.  Jeffress is a good speculative add at this point in case Kimbrel can’t get back on track.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Jeffress | Wick.

New York Yankees — The Yankees rested their top bullpen arms on Saturday and that left David Hale to close out of the final two innings of a 5-2 victory for the save.  

Hierarchy remains: Britton | Ottavino | Green.

Minnesota Twins — Tyler Clippard will serve as an opener for the Twins on Sunday.  Cody Stashak struck out a pair in a scoreless 8th inning hold ahead of Taylor Rogers on Saturday and we will slide him into Clippard’s hierarchy spot.

Updated hierarchy: Rogers | Romo | Stashak.

Los Angeles Angels — Hansel Robles’ nightmare start to the season continued on Saturday.  Robles gave up three runs in a blown save and now has given up 9 runs in 4 appearances.  The entire Angels’ bullpen has been struggling, but Felix Pena threw two scoreless innings ahead of Robles yesterday and that is enough to earn him a spot on the hierarchy.

Updates hierarchy: Robles | Buttrey | Pena.

Chicago White Sox — Codi Heuer got the last out of the 8th and then after the Whie Sox added 4 more runs in the top of the 9th, he finished off the game for the save.

Hierarchy remains: Colome | Bummer | Marshall.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Ryan Pressly – Roberto Osuna is getting an MRI
2. Ty Buttrey – Hansel Robles has pitched in two of three, including a blown save yesterday
3. Sergio Romo – Taylor Rogers has pitched in two straight and three of four.

Monday
1. Drew Pomeranz – If Kirby Yates pitches Sunday, it will be two of three, including a 28 pitch outing on Friday.
2. Jake Diekman – Today would be two straight for Liam Hendriks and the A’s might be cautious with their closer early in the season

Kirby’s not in dream land anymore

August 1, 2020

San Diego Padres — Kirby Yates is on the hot seat after a wild ninth inning that saw him nearly give back a three-run lead the Padres had been gifted by Wade Davis. Drew Pomeranz stepped in to save the night, and is knocking on the door of the ninth inning, as Yates just looks like a totally different pitcher this season. Alarmingly, he’s given up half of the earned runs he allowed last season, in only 4% of the innings.

Hierarchy remains: Yates | Pomeranz | Pagan.

New York Yankees — Aroldis Chapman was cleared to return to play after his second negative test for COVID-19. Chapman had been quarantined in his Manhattan apartment, and may need a few days before he makes his first appearance. A few innings up the road, Tommy Kahnle hit the IL with an elbow injury that is likely to require surgery. Chad Green and Jonathan Loaisiga will inherit the seventh inning.

Updated hierarchy: Britton | Ottavino | Green.

Baltimore Orioles — It was curious, in a tight game against the Rays, to see Richard Bleier held out of action. After Baltimore picked up the win, news broke that Bleier had been traded to the Marlins, as bullpen support in the event that they play another game this year. Meanwhile, Cole Sulser picked up his second save; although his split-finger fastball makes him a valuable weapon against lefties, leaving Brandon Hyde unlikely to limit him to the ninth inning, Sulser clearly leads this committee. 

Updated hierarchy: *Sulser | Givens | Castro.
* = closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners — As we expected, Taylor Williams got the save chance on Friday (inasmuch as anyone ever expects a Mariners win this year). Another conversion and Williams probably seizes the top spot in the committee. 

Hierarchy remains: *Altavilla | Williams | Misiewicz.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers — Gregory Soto is off to a great start this season and appears to have surpassed Jose Cisnero in the surprisingly dominant Tigers bullpen.

Updated hierarchy: Jimenez | Farmer | Soto.

Chicago White Sox — Evan Marshall was Chicago’s seventh-inning guy for most of 2019, and he’s off to a hot start this year too (4.2 IP, 8 K, 0 ER). He and Aaron Bummer should continue setting up Alex Colome. 

Updated hierarchy: Colome | Bummer | Marshall.

Atlanta Braves — Mark Melancon got the rest we predicted yesterday, but it was Chris Martin, not Shane Greene, who filled in to pick up the save. Martin has moved ahead of at least Luke Jackson in the Atlanta pen.

Updated hierarchy: Melancon | Greene | Martin.

Houston Astros — IT’S HAPPENINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!! Also, Andre Scrubb picked up a vulture save while the top arms got the night off, and Ryan Pressly could pitch as early as today. But don’t lose focus: it’s almost Rodney time, baby!

Hierarchy remains: Rodney | Rodney | Rodney | Rodney | Rodney.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Miguel Castro — Cole Sulser and Mychal Givens have each gone in two straight games.
2. Carlos Estevez — Wade Davis threw 29 pitches in a blown save on Friday, and Jairo Diaz has gone in two of three.
3. Emilio Pagan — Both Yates and Pomeranz might need a break today.

Sunday:
1. Shane Greene/Chris Martin — If Mark Melancon pitches today, it’ll be three outings in four days.
2. Seth Lugo — The Mets probably aren’t riding Edwin Diaz too hard right now.