Lucas Sims picks up first save; Cubs bullpen hit with COVID

April 13, 2021

Cincinnati Reds – Lucas Sims picked up a 1-out save on Monday, entering with a runner on and two out with the Reds up by 3. This is the first indication that Cincinnati may actually use something of a committee, as all the other consequential 9th innings had gone to Amir Garrett thus far. We’ll keep the hierarchy as is and continue to monitor this situation going forward.

Hierarchy remains: *Garrett | Sims | Doolittle.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins – Yimi Garcia continues to get things done for Miami, earning a win in yesterday’s extra-inning game, and in recent days, another former Dodger has been the one to bridge the gap. We’re removing Garcia’s asterisk and adding Dylan Floro (5.1 IP, 7 Ks, 0 ER) to the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Garcia | Bleier | Floro.

Kansas City Royals – Jesse Hahn was placed on the IL on Monday with a right shoulder issue. Look for Josh Staumont and Kyle Zimmer to get some more late inning action as a result.

Updated hierarchy: *Holland | Staumont | Zimmer.
* = closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners – Anthony Misiewicz was placed on the IL on Monday for undisclosed reasons. We’ll add Drew Steckenrider, who has bounced back from a tough season debut, to the hierarchy in his place.

Updated hierarchy: Montero | Graveman | Steckenrider.

Chicago Cubs – Three Cubs relievers — Brandon Workman, Dan Winkler, and Jason Adam — were placed on the COVID-19 IL, so we’re shaking up the hierarchy a bit. And so for the first time since 2017, we welcome Rex Brothers, who has two holds so far this season, back to a major league hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Chafin | Brothers.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Sean Newcomb (ATL) – Will Smith has gone three straight.
2. Daniel Hudson (WAS) – Brad Hand has pitched back to back games following his activation and should get today off.
3. Chad Green (NYY) – Aroldis Chapman has gone back to back.
4. Ryan Thompson/Andrew Kittredge (TB) – Diego Castillo and Cody Reed will both be down today so the Rays will mix and match if they have a lead.
5. Tanner Scott (BAL), Kendall Graveman (SEA), Jose Alvarado (PHI), Trevor May (NYM) – These teams all have doubleheaders today, making a possible save chance for one of the set-up men much more likely.

Tomorrow
1. Devin Williams (MIL) – Josh Hader finally got his first save of the year yesterday; if he pitches today, he’ll be off Wednesday.

Emmanuel Clase picks up second save

April 12, 2021

Cleveland Indians – Emmanuel Clase picked up his second save in three days on Sunday. James Karinchak (0.00 ERA through four outings) has also pitched well in the early going, but one more save for Clase and we’ll likely remove his asterisk.

Hierarchy remains: *Clase | Karinchak | Wittgren.
* = closer-by-committee

San Francisco Giants – The Giants placed Reyes Moronta on the IL with a right flexor strain. Wandy Peralta figures to get a few more hold chances in his absence.

Updated hierarchy: McGee | Rogers | Peralta.

Philadelphia Phillies – Archie Bradley was placed on the IL with a strained oblique. Sam Coonrod slides on to the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Neris | Alvarado | Coonrod.

Kansas City Royals – With the game in extra innings and with the rest of the Royals hierarchy having already pitched, Kyle Zimmer closed out the win for his first career save. Zimmer has been stellar so far this season and could find his way on to the hierarchy soon if the Royals start using him in higher-leverage spots more consistently.

Hierarchy remains: *Holland | Hahn | Barlow.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Kendall Graveman (SEA) – Rafael Montero has gone back to back.
2. Aaron Bummer (CHW) – Liam Hendriks threw 28 pitches in a rough outing last night and could get the day off.

Tomorrow
1. Cody Reed (TB) – Diego Castillo threw 1.2 innings last night; if he goes again today he’ll be off Tuesday.
2. Chad Green (NYY) – If Aroldis Chapman goes today, it’ll be two straight.

Yimi Garcia picks up his first save and could be in line for more

April 11, 2021

Miami Marlins – We suggested in our previous Marlins update to keep an eye on Yimi Garcia and sure enough, it was Garcia who got the call in the 9th inning with the Marlins protecting a three-run lead yesterday.  Garcia pitched a perfect inning to pick up his first save of the season.  Manager Don Mattingly said that Anthony Bass would still have a big role moving forward but for now, it might not always be protecting a 9th inning lead.  We will move this to a committee with Garcia at the top.  Lefty Richard Bleier was also mentioned as an option to close based on matchups.

Updated hierarchy: *Garcia | Bass | Bleier.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox — Matt Barnes continued his torrid start to the season, striking out a pair in a perfect 9th inning of a tie game.  Barnes now has 11 strikeouts in 5 innings so far this season and has yet to allow a hit.  He also picked up the win yesterday after the Red Sox took the lead in the 10th inning.  Matt Andriese ended up with the save in extra innings.

Hierarchy remains: Barnes | Ottavino | Sawamura.

Atlanta Braves — Chris Martin has been placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation.  Manager Brian Snitker mentioned Sean Newcomb could get a chance in the set-up role while Martin is out.  Newcomb picked up the win yesterday, pitching 1.2 scoreless innings with 4 strikeouts, and also picked up a save last week.  He has gotten off to a strong start to the season with 9 strikeouts in 3.1 innings.

Updated hierarchy: Smith | Newcomb | Minter. 

Toronto Blue Jays — The Blue Jays crushed the Angels yesterday 15-1 and that allowed Tommy Milone to pitch the last three innings and pick up a save.  Milone was impressive, striking out six while only allowing one hit over those three innings, but he does not factor into the Blue Jays’ normal late-inning plans.  

Hierarchy remains: *Merryweather | Romano | Dolis.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Anthony Bass (MIA) – Yimi Garcia has pitched in two of the past three.
2. Trevor May (NYM) – Edwin Diaz struggled yesterday and has pitched in two of the past three.
3. Tyler Rogers (SF) – Jake McGee has also pitched in two straight and three of four.

Monday
1. Sean Newcomb (ATL) – If Will Smith pitches today, it will be two straight.
2. Adam Ottavino (BOS) – If Matt Barnes pitches today, it will be two straight and three of four.

Emmanuel Clase records first save for Cleveland

April 10, 2021

Cleveland Indians – With a 3 run lead in the ninth, Emmanuel Clase got the ball for the Indians. He continued his dominant start, striking out 2 in a clean inning to earn his first save of the year. Clase has yet to allow a baserunner due mostly to his triple-digit cutter. We still like James Karinchak as a high-leverage option with great strikeout potential, and Nick Wittgren is still in the mix, but Clase looks like the best reliever to own for saves right now. 

Updated hierarchy: *Clase | Karinchak | Wittgren.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s — We got the first real look at the Athletics Hierarchy when Yusmiero Petit pitched a clean 7th to get the win last night. Lou Trivino, who Bob Melvin has flagged as a potential closing option, pitched the 8th for the first Oakland hold of the year, while Jake Diekman was saved for the 9th. It wasn’t a save situation as the A’s scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th, but it was a good window into how the Athletics will play with a lead this year. We will bump Trivino to 1st in line based on this usage, but Melvin’s comments make it seem like he will be at least splitting closing duties with Diekman, and may even have the inside track at this point.

Updated hierarchy: *Diekman | Trivino | Petit.
* = closer-by-committee

Washington Nationals – The Nationals activated Brad Hand from the COVID list, and it’s safe to assume he will resume closing duties as nobody else converted a save while he was out. 

Updated hierarchy: Hand  | Hudson | Rainey.

Los Angeles Dodgers — With a 1 run lead in the 9th, the Dodgers turned to Cory Knebel for the save opportunity. He converted for his second of the year. After the game, Dave Roberts said that he didn’t want to use Kenley Jansen because it would have been his 3rd outing in 4 days. The Dodgers are stacked so they can afford to rest their bullpen, but Knebel’s two saves are enough to move him to first in line.

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Knebel | Treinen.

Tampa Bay Rays — The Rays bullpen got hit with another injury. This time it is Pete Fairbanks, who has a strained rotator cuff. The injury could keep him out into June. Fairbanks joins Chaz Roe and Nick Anderson on IL, leaving Diego Castillo as the best option the Rays have. Cody Reed and Ryan Thompson will also be options for saves, but with all the injuries, Castillo has a chance to establish himself as the primary closer.  We will leave the committee tag for now given the Rays history but that could change if Castillo converts a couple more save chances.  

Updated hierarchy: *Castillo | Reed | Thompson.
* = closer-by-committee

Texas Rangers — The Rangers became the answer to a trivia question last night, ending up on the receiving end of the first no-hitter in Padres history after managing to only get one man on base (via HBP) against Joe Musgrove. To make matters worse they also lost Matt Bush, who was placed on the IL with elbow inflammation. Bush was just beginning a comeback after missing the better part of 3 seasons, so this is concerning news and we are hoping for a good diagnosis. In the meantime look for the Rangers to lean on John King to help get the ball to Ian Kennedy.  Also, since Bush was Kennedy’s primary competition for the closer role, we will drop the committee tag.

Updated hierarchy: Kennedy | Sborz | King.

New York Yankees — Finally some good news on the injury front, where the Yankees got Justin Wilson back from the IL. Wilson was set to be a prominent part of the group that got the ball to Aroldis Chapman, although both Chad Green and Darren O’Day have pitched well in the early going. We will see how the Yankees deploy Wilson going forward. 

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Green | O’Day.

Vulture Save Watch:
Today
1. James Karinchak (CLE) – Emmanuel Clase has thrown 29 pitches over the last 3 days, leaving Karinchak as the best rested option. 

Tomorrow:
1. Lucas Sims/Sean Doolittle (CIN) – Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for Amir Garrett and Lucas Sims, so if either go today expect them to get Sunday off.
2. Lou Trivino/Yusmiero Petit (OAK) – Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for Diekman, Trivino, and Petit, so anyone pitching today will get a rest Sunday. 

Anthony Bass blows second save on controversial HBP

April 9, 2021

Miami Marlins – Anthony Bass blew his second save in as many tries on Thursday, coughing up a game-tying home run before “hitting” Michael Conforto with a pitch with the bases loaded to end it. Some — including the home plate umpire — think Conforto was struck because he hung over the plate, which if true would result in a strike and not a HBP. You be the judge. Either way, Bass has not been impressive to start things. Bass might have a little more rope for now, but keep an eye on Yimi Garcia. Perhaps he snags the next save chance?

Hierarchy remains: Bass | Garcia | Curtiss.

New York Mets – On the other side of the controversial call, Edwin Diaz pitched in his first game and secured the win. Setting up him were Trevor May and Miguel Castro. Dellin Betances, meanwhile, was placed on the IL with a shoulder impingement. He was terrific and reliable from 2014-2018, but injuries continue to plague this stage of his career.

Updated hierarchy: Diaz | May | Castro.

Oakland A’s — Trevor Rosenthal underwent thoracic outlet surgery and will be out for at least the next 12 weeks. He had a rib removed as part of the procedure and will visit with his doctor in eight weeks for a check-up. Meanwhile, a potential late-innings candidate, A.J. Puk, is now on the IL with a strained left biceps injury. 

Hierarchy remains: Diekman | Romo | Petit.

Toronto Blue Jays — It wasn’t a save situation, but Julian Merryweather was used in a traditional situation for a team’s closer on Thursday, pitching scoreless ninth and 10th innings in a tie game Toronto eventually lost. Jordan Romano, meanwhile, entered the seventh inning to get his team out of a jam. He was charged with a blown save after allowing an inherited runner to score. We’ll need a little more evidence that Merryweather’s the guy before removing the asterisk. 

Hierarchy remains: *Merryweather | Romano | Dolis.
* = closer-by-committee

St. Louis Cardinals – Alex Reyes now has all three Cardinals saves this year after slamming the door shut Thursday. He hasn’t allowed a run yet this season and appears to firmly have a grasp on the job. Let’s kick that asterisk.

Hierarchy remains: Reyes | Gallegos | Hicks.

Chicago Cubs – Craig Kimbrel looked dominant Thursday, striking out three across 1.2 IP to pick up his second save and the 350th of his Hall of Fame career. Aside from any time he was injured — or those few months in 2019 he spent waiting for a free agent contract — Kimbrel has appeared on a hierarchy for the entirety of Closer Monkey’s existence. 

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Chafin | Workman.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Steve Cishek (LAA) — Raisel Iglesias has pitched in three of five and Mike Mayers has gone in three of four.
2. Jordan Romano (TOR) — Julian Merryweather threw 31 pitches across two innings Thursday and might get some rest Friday to keep him fresh.

Saturday
1. Mychal Givens (COL) — If Daniel Bard goes on Friday, that would be three of four for him.