May 16, 2021
Minnesota Twins — The Twins scored four runs in the 8th to take a one-run lead into the 9th inning, and Hansel Robles got the call to try and close it out. Robles worked around a one-out double to pitch a scoreless inning and record his first save of the season. Taylor Rogers has struggled recently, giving up at least one run in three of his last four outings, while Robles has only allowed one run in his last eight outings. Those stats along with Robles getting the save over Rogers yesterday are enough for us to move him to the head of this committee.
Updated hierarchy: *Robles | Rogers | Duffey.
*closer-by-committee
Cincinnati Reds — Tejay Antone pitched the 8th and 9th innings of a tie game yesterday and responded with two perfect innings. Since allowing 4 runs on May 2nd, Antone has responded with 5.1 hitless innings, striking out 8. Lucas Sims got the extra-innings save opportunity in the 11th inning, but he could not convert. After the Reds took the lead again in the top of 12th, it was Heath Hembree who got the call and picked up his first save of the season. Hembree has yet to allow an earned run in 9.1 innings so far this season. We are going to shake things up based on yesterday’s usage and recent results and switch Anotone to head of the committee and slide Hembree into 2nd in line.
Updated hierarchy: *Antone | Sims | Hembree.
* = closer-by-committee
Detroit Tigers — With the game tied in the top of the 9th inning, a spot where a team will typically use its closer, the Tigers sent Michael Fulmer to the mound. Fulmer threw a scoreless 9th and then came back out for the 10th with the game still tied. He allowed the extra-innings runner to score but nothing else and ended up with the win after the Tigers rallied for two in the bottom of the inning. Fulmer is certainly trending up and we will slide him up one spot on the hierarchy. We will continue to monitor this and see how the Tigers use Fulmer and Gregory Soto moving forward.
Updated hierarchy: *Soto | Fulmer | Cisnero.
* = closer-by-committee
St. Louis Cardinals – The Cardinals used five “pitchers” in their blowout loss yesterday and only one of them did not allow an earned run. The reason for the quotes around pitchers is because the one person who did not allow a run was actually position player Matt Carpenter. Carpenter is only hitting .111 on the season so maybe he should consider a change to a relief pitcher and try to become a Closer Monkey cult hero like the one and only Fernando Rodney.
Hierarchy remains: Reyes | Gallegos | Helsley.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. AJ Minter/Tyler Matzek (ATL) – Will Smith has pitched in three in a row. Chris Martin has pitched in two of three and just got back from injury. AJ Minter has also pitched in two of three so it could be Tyler Matzek if they want to rest all three.
2. Andrew Chafin (CHC) – Craig Kimbrell has pitched in two straight and took the loss yesterday.
3. Mychal Givens/Justin Lawrence (COL) – Daniel Bard has pitched in two straight and three of four. Mychal Givens and Robert Stephenson have both pitched in three of four so if the Rockies want to rest all three, Justin Lawrence could get a shot.
4. Greg Holland (KC) – Josh Staumont has pitched in two straight and three of four.
5. David Bednar (PIT) – Richard Rodriguez has pitched in two straight and four of five. Christ Stratton has pitched in two of three, throwing a total of 61 pitches.
6. Tyler Rogers (SF) – Jake McGee has pitched in two straight.
Monday
1. Aaron Bummer (CHW) – If Liam Hendriks pitches on Sunday, it will be four out of five.
