Joakim Soria facing a possible calf injury

April 5, 2021

Arizona Diamondbacks — Joakim Soria was called on in the eighth inning to pitch to the middle of the Padres’ lineup, but the 36-year-old left the game with an apparent calf injury suffered while covering first base. With Arizona off on Monday, Soria will head back to Phoenix for tests, and we’ll wait for confirmation before making a move. The best-case scenario for Soria is probably a few days of rest, but if he has a serious calf strain, expect an alert for a committee comprising Stefan Crichton, Kevin Ginkel, and Chris Devenski — the latter of which grabbed Sunday’s save.

Hierarchy remains: Soria | Crichton | Ginkel.

Toronto Blue Jays — Julian Merryweather dominated the Yankees, again, to earn his second save of the season on Sunday afternoon. Merryweather’s impressive outing came after Jordan Romano handled the top of the New York order in the eighth, suggesting that Romano might get the highest-leverage looks regardless of the inning. There are plenty of caveats — GM Ross Atkins spoke over the weekend of the team’s “open-minded approach” to closing games, and (due to injuries) Merryweather has thrown only 21 innings at all levels over the past four seasons. But as long as Merryweather is pitching like this, we think he has to be considered the favorite for saves.

Updated hierarchy: *Merryweather | Romano | Dolis.
* = closer-by-committee

Atlanta Braves — Chris Martin left Sunday’s game with tingling in his fingers, and could wind up on the injured list. Tyler Matzek, who struck out the side on Sunday with high-90s heat, would likely move into the hierarchy if Martin has to miss any time.

Hierarchy remains: Smith | Martin | Minter. 

Los Angeles Dodgers — With Kenley Jansen unavailable after a five-out save on Saturday, it was Corey Knebel picking up a vulture save — his first save since the 2018 NLCS against the Dodgers.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Treinen | Knebel.

Los Angeles Angels — Ty Buttrey has been a mainstay in the Angels’ hierarchy ever since his 2018 callup, and he deserves a sendoff worthy of his insightful retirement post. Much respect and all the best to Buttrey as he moves into a more rewarding chapter of his life. We’ll always have that melting butter entrance video to remember him by.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Mayers | Cishek.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Archie Bradley — Hector Neris has pitched in two straight and three of four for the Phillies.
2. Andrew Chafin/Brandon Workman — Craig Kimbrel has pitched back-to-back and Monday could help clarify who is first in line behind him for the Cubs.
3. Mike Mayers — Raisel Iglesias threw 30 pitches (and one terrible toss in the vicinity of third) in Sunday night’s game for the Angels.

Tuesday:
1. Stefan Crichton/Kevin Ginkel — Whatever the tests reveal, we don’t expect Joakim Soria to be available for the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.
2. Tanner Scott — If Cesar Valdez pitches Monday for the Orioles, it will be three games in four days.

Chad Green (and the Vulture Save Watch) records first save of the season

April 4, 2021

New York Yankees — Chad Green got the final four outs of the Yankees’ victory yesterday to record his first save of the season.  More importantly, it was the first (of hopefully very many) for the Vulture Save Watch.  Aroldis Chapman should return to closing now that his two-game suspension is over.  

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Green | O’Day.

Baltimore Orioles — Cesar Valdez picked up his second save in two days for the Orioles and that moves him to the top of the committee.  Manager Brandon Hyde said that he didn’t want to use Valdez or Tanner Scott in back-to-back games early in the season, but admitted after the game that he “lied a little bit” about that.  And you wonder why the Monkey has trust issues…

Updated hierarchy: *Scott | Valdez | Armstrong.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers – After Gregory Soto recorded the save in the Tigers’ opening day victory, it was Bryan Garcia who got the call in the second game of the season.  Manager AJ Hinch has not named a closer yet, so this looks like a committee for now.  We will leave Soto at the top of the committee because we think he has the potential to be an elite reliever, but Soto was warming up to face the top of the Indians’ lineup yesterday so the Tigers may choose to use Soto before the 9th if the game dictates that.
 
Hierarchy remains: *Soto | Garcia | Farmer.
* = closer-by-committee

Houston Astros – Brooks Raley recorded an unlikely save for the Astros yesterday. Raley came on with the Astros up 4 in the 8th inning and the bases loaded. He got out of the jam and then after the Astros added 4 more runs in the top of the 9th, he came back out to finish off the Astros’ victory. 

Hierarchy remains: Pressly | Smith | Paredes.

San Diego Padres — The Padres recorded their third save in three days, but this one was of the three-inning variety with the Padres cruising to a 7-0 win.  Ryan Weathers, son of former reliever David Weathers, struck out three over three scoreless innings to pick up his first career save.  

Hierarchy remains: *Melancon | Pagan | Pomeranz.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Tanner Scott – Cesar Valdez has pitched in two straight games
2. Yimi Garcia – Anthony Bass has also pitched in two straight games

Monday
1. Mychal Givens – If Daniel Bard pitches today, it will be two straight and three of four.
2. Blake Treinen – Kenley Jansen recorded 5 outs yesterday so if he pitches again today, he will get Monday off.
3. Kendall Graveman – If Rafael Montero pitches today, it will be two straight and three of four.

Diego Castillo and Mark Melancon are clear committee leaders

April 3, 2021

Tampa Bay Rays — These are the Rays we know and love! Pete Fairbanks got the high-leverage final out in the sixth; Chaz Roe collected a hold, but was instrumental in blowing the lead; and the save chance wound up with Diego Castillo, his second in as many days. While Tampa’s bullpen will continue to be unpredictable, they are a good source of holds if your league counts them, and Castillo could make a run as a more traditional closer while Nick Anderson is out. 

Hierarchy remains: *Castillo | Fairbanks | Roe.
* = closer-by-committee

San Diego Padres — For the second day in a row, Mark Melancon got the save opportunity, with Emiliano Pagan in a setup role. Manager Jayce Tingler has said the Padres will use different combinations in the late innings, but he’s turned to Melancon for the first two save chances, and Melancon may be creating some separation from the other options. He could produce significant value for this very strong Padres team. 

Hierarchy remains: *Melancon | Pagan | Pomeranz.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins – Yimi Garcia pitched a scoreless eighth with the Marlins up one to pick up his first hold of the season.  Garcia also got the call in the eighth of a tie game on Opening Day, although that outing didn’t go as well as he took the loss after giving up a go-ahead homer.  Based on this early usage, we will move Garcia to first in line behind closer Anthony Bass.

Updated hierarchy: Bass | Garcia | Curtiss.

Baltimore Orioles — John Means turned in a gem to open the season for the Orioles, and turned the ball over to Tanner Scott for a scoreless eighth, leaving the first save chance of the Baltimore committee to Cesar Valdez. Valdez was warming up in the seventh in case Means ran into trouble, but Brandon Hyde ultimately opted to save him for the ninth. Valdez was one of Baltimore’s best relievers in 2020, but the Orioles say they want to stretch him out as a starter. As long as he’s in the bullpen, he has a chance at saves, so we’ll add him to the committee.

Hierarchy remains: *Scott | Valdez | Armstrong.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Chad Green — Aroldis Chapman is still serving his suspension, so any save chance will likely go to Green.
2. Drew Pomeranz — Mark Melancon and Emiliano Pagan have both pitched in back-to-back games.
3. Pete Fairbanks — Diego Castillo has pitched back-to-back, while Fairbanks only threw seven pitches yesterday.
4. Aaron Bummer — Liam Hendriks threw 34 pitches in logging his first save yesterday.

Sunday:
1. Yimi Garcia — Anthony Bass threw 15 pitches in a blown save yesterday, so another outing today could earn him a rest on Sunday. 
2. Joe Smith — Today would  be two straight games for Ryan Pressly.

A busy Opening Day across Major League Baseball

April 2, 2021

St. Louis Cardinals – Is Alex Reyes the closer? Let’s look at the evidence. Reyes pitched the ninth with a five-run lead, allowing a hit and a walk with a strikeout in a scoreless inning to secure the win. Before the game. beat writer Derrick Goold says he believes Reyes is the team’s closer to open the season, even if the Cardinals won’t publicly say that. This could make sense if they hope to ease Jordan Hicks back into the role slowly. Let’s adjust the hierarchy accordingly, for now.

Updated hierarchy: *Reyes | Gallegos | Hicks.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s — Closer Trevor Rosenthal was placed on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation. Expect Jake Diekman to take over as closer in the interim, with Sergio Romo another possible option. Yusmeiro Petit and Lou Trivino should move into the seventh inning.

Updated hierarchy: Diekman | Romo | Petit.

Cleveland Indians – James Karinchak looked a little shaky in his first outing of 2021. He tossed a scoreless eighth inning with his team trailing, but threw just nine of his 17 pitches for strikes. Emmanuel Clase was seen warming in the bullpen in the event Cleveland took the lead in the ninth. Also, earlier this week, manager Terry Francona said he spoke to Karinchak, Clase and Nick Wittgren about bullpen roles, saying he would “keep workloads pretty even,” which could indicate a committee, at least to start the campaign.

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

San Diego Padres – While “club sources” hinted that Emilio Pagan would likely be the closer to start the year, manager Jayce Tingler seemed to indicate something very different Thursday. Pagan pitched the seventh inning in a tie game and Drew Pomeranz went into the game with a one-run lead in the eighth inning, leaving Mark Melancon with a clean save chance, which he converted with a seven-pitch ninth inning. Pagan’s appearance suggests he’ll still see high-leverage looks, but perhaps as a relief ace type and not necessarily as the save-getter. After the game, manager Jayce Tingler said as much, citing who would pitch the seventh inning as the most important bullpen decision he made. He added, “You may see some different combinations (in the ninth inning).” We’ll slide Melancon to the top for now, and because of the relative uncertainty, let’s put a committee tag on this until we see Melancon (or someone else) take hold of the closer role. 

Updated hierarchy: *Melancon | Pagan | Pomeranz.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays — Diego Castillo was given the first save chance of the season for the Rays and he converted with two strikeouts. Ryan Thompson pitched the seventh and Pete Fairbanks pitched the eighth ahead of Castillo. It’d be nice if it always worked this way, wouldn’t it? But it won’t. We’ll move Castillo to the front, for now, but expect Fairbanks to get his share of chances, too.

Updated hierarchy: *Castillo | Fairbanks | Roe.
* = closer-by-committee

Kansas City Royals – In a wild Opening Day tilt with the Texas Rangers, Greg Holland was called into the game with the bases loaded in the eighth inning and KC clinging to a 13-9 lead. He stayed on to pitch the ninth after the Royals tacked on a run but ran into trouble, allowing a single, two walks and throwing a wild pitch. Wade Davis of all people came on to strike out Nick Solak and Nate Lowe to close things out to earn his first save with the Royals since 2016. Holland is likely the closer, but an old Royal (Davis) finding form in his return to KC wouldn’t be all that surprising. Remember Holland last year?

Hierarchy remains: Holland | Barlow | Staumont.

Toronto Blue Jays — In a tie game on the road, the Blue Jays went with Tyler Chatwood, David Phelps, Rafael Dolis and Jordan Romano through nine innings. When the Jays took the lead in the 10th, Julian Merryweather did the honors, striking out the side for his first save. Romano was used in a traditional spot for a closer, but we’ll monitor Merryweather as his outing was terrific and he touches 99 mph with his fastball.

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

Pittsburgh Pirates – Richard Rodriguez looked impressive Thursday in nailing down his first save, walking one and striking out two. David Bednar, who turned heads in spring training, pitched nicely in a seventh-inning appearance, striking out two in a scoreless frame. Kyle Crick, meanwhile, was unavailable as he is on paternity leave and will be away from the team to start the year.

Hierarchy remains: *Rodriguez | Crick | Stratton.
* = closer-by-committee

Baltimore Orioles — Opening Day was rained out for the Orioles. When the season starts Friday, they’ll be without committeeman Shawn Armstrong, who is on paternity leave.

Hierarchy remains: *Scott | Armstrong | Fry.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Chad Green – Aroldis Chapman is still serving his suspension. The Yankees seemed to indicate they will use a committee approach when Chapman is unavailable, but Green remains the top choice in our eyes.