May 27, 2021
Houston Astros — The league’s most stable bullpen got a shock Wednesday night as Bryan Abreu was summoned to protect a three-run lead in the ninth instead of Ryan Pressly. Abreu walked two, but managed to strike out Albert Pujols to earn his first career save. After the game, Dusty Baker explained that Pressly had a stiff neck and couldn’t turn his head. No word on a possible IL stint, but Pressly owners may want to stash Ryne Stanek just in case.
Hierarchy remains: Pressly | Stanek | Smith.
Tampa Bay Rays — J.P. Feyereisen got the save chance, one day after Pete Fairbanks converted, but Feyereisen couldn’t shut down the Royals in the ninth. Feyereisen, who drove for Uber in Tampa as a Yankees minor-leaguer in 2018, did earn the win with a scoreless tenth. I guess what we’re saying is that the asterisk here looks permanent, and that Diego Castillo may not even be leading the committee. We’ll give it one more game before we make the move.
Hierarchy remains: *Castillo | Fairbanks | Feyereisen.
* = closer-by-committee
Detroit Tigers — More committee business in Detroit, where Michael Fulmer handled the top of the order in the eighth and Gregory Soto took the ninth (and some lefties) for his fifth save of the season. Maybe we should all move to drafting team bullpens instead of closers, like we do defenses in football. On second thought, that would render us irrelevant, so just forget we mentioned it, okay?
Hierarchy remains: *Fulmer | Soto | Cisnero.
* = closer-by-committee
St. Louis Cardinals — Blame it on Giovanny Gallegos’s dermatologist! An overzealous application of sunscreen led to the confiscation of the reliever’s hat, which didn’t sit well with manager Mike Shildt, martyred for the cause by Cowboy Joe West. “This is baseball’s dirty little secret, and it’s the wrong time and the wrong arena to expose it.” Who has to know? Even under a brand new cap, Gallegos managed to strike out two hitters to escape a jam, earning top honors in WPA for the game.
Hierarchy remains: Reyes | Gallegos | Helsley.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Lou Trivino (OAK) — Jake Diekman threw 30 pitches on Wednesday.
2. Andrew Chafin/Ryan Tepera (CHC) — Craig Kimbrel has gone in three of four; so has Chafin, although he’s thrown only nine pitches over the last two days.
3. Rafael Dolis (TOR) — Doubleheader Thursday for the Blue Jays…
4. Trevor May (NYM) — …Mets…
5. Jonathan Loaisiga (NYY) — …Yankees…
6. Carlos Estevez (COL) — …and Rockies.
7. Lucas Sims (CIN) — Meanwhile, the Reds will play a game and a half with…
8. Daniel Hudson (WAS) — the Nationals.
Friday:
1. Devin Williams (MIL) — If Josh Hader pitches Thursday, that will be three games in four days.
2. Keynan Middleton (SEA) — Same goes for Rafael Montero.
