Ryan Pressly is in an undisclosed location, staring straight ahead

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.

Paul Fry in line for more save chances in Baltimore

May 26, 2021

Baltimore Orioles – Cesar Valdez got roughed up on Monday, giving up three runs to blow the save. Valdez’s ERA has grown from 1.23 to 3.93 over his last five outings. Brandon Hyde said on Tuesday that his closer choice will be a “mixed bag,” but it sounds like Paul Fry will get some more opportunities to close games. We’ll move Fry to the top of what is now a committee based on Hyde’s comments and Valdez’s struggles.

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

Seattle Mariners – Perhaps being cautious with Keynan Middleton after his IL stint, the Mariners went to the roller coaster ride that is Rafael Montero for the ninth inning on Tuesday after Middleton’s successful save on Monday. Montero retired the first two hitters he faced before allowing a pair of singles. He got out of the jam however, inducing a ground out to himself to close out a one-run victory. Montero’s shaky reign atop the committee continues, for now, but don’t be surprised if Middleton gets the next save chance.

Hierarchy remains: *Montero | Middleton | Misiewicz.
* = closer-by-committee

Minnesota Twins – Protecting a three-run lead in the seventh, the Twins went to Hansel Robles to retire the 2-3-4 hitters in the Baltimore lineup, which he did in order. That led to Alex Colomé getting the eighth, but he gave up a leadoff homer and only got two outs before Taylor Rogers finished off the frame. Rogers returned for the ninth to pick up the save. With all three hierarchy members having pitched a lot lately, it made sense for at least one of them to be held back for a potential save chance on Wednesday, and that guy appears to be Tyler Duffey. Colomé had worked his way back into the high-leverage conversation with a strong May, but he’s now allowed an earned run in two of his last three appearances.

Hierarchy remains: *Robles | Rogers | Duffey.
* = closer-by-committee

Kansas City Royals – It was Kyle Zimmer, not Josh Staumont, who closed out Tuesday’s victory over the Rays, with Zimmer recording the final two outs of the ninth inning to earn his second save of the season. In fact, none of the Royals’ hierarchy members pitched on Tuesday, as lefty Jake Brentz threw a scoreless inning and a third ahead of Zimmer. Mike Matheny did say that some guys weren’t available, but it’s a little concerning that Staumont hasn’t pitched since Saturday and Greg Holland hasn’t pitched since Friday, even with the Royals in the middle of a three-game win streak. Matheny, who has a specific approach to how he navigates the late innings, clearly trusts Zimmer in important moments, and Zimmer is someone to stash in case he becomes a bigger factor in high-leverage spots.

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

Cincinnati Reds — Tejay Antone entered the sixth inning to face the Nationals’ No. 3 hitter with a runner on first. Antone induced an inning-ending double play and then stayed on to pitch the seventh and eighth, striking out three in the process. With two lefties and a switch hitter due up in the ninth, Amir Garrett, looking for his first save since April 9, came on to face the 2-3-4 hitters with a 2-0 lead and allowed a solo homer between a pair of outs. Lucas Sims then got the call for the final out of the contest and he delivered to earn his second save of the season. Tuesday made it clear that while Antone is the team’s best reliever, David Bell will often use him early in games over multiple innings just to get to the ninth, where he’ll then play matchups. 

Hierarchy remains: *Antone | Sims | Hembree.
* = closer-by-committee

Cleveland Indians — After Emmanuel Clase closed out Monday’s win, James Karinchak collected the save on Tuesday. With Terry Francona having to manage the heavy workloads both Clase and Karinchak have experienced lately, it’s no surprise we’re seeing both relievers gets save chances. With Karinchak having pitched in three of four, Clase is probably the favorite for the ninth inning on Wednesday if Cleveland is winning.

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

Chicago Cubs — Rex Brothers hasn’t pitched since May 19 and doesn’t have a hold since May 17. Ryan Tepera, meanwhile, has posted an impressive 0.73 ERA in May over 12.1 IP. That includes a scoreless eighth inning in Tuesday’s victory.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Chafin | Tepera.

Washington Nationals —  With Will Harris on the IL, Wander Suero has seen more high-leverage work, picking up a pair of holds this past weekend.

Updated hierarchy: Hand  | Hudson | Suero.

Atlanta Braves — If you’re wondering why Chris Martin didn’t pitch last night in the Braves’ 3-1 win in Boston, it’s because he was unavailable, though the good news is that he is apparently healthy. 

Hierarchy remains: Smith | Martin | Minter. 

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Lucas Sims (CIN) – Tejay Antone threw 33 pitches last night. If a bunch of lefties are due up in the ninth, then don’t be surprised to see Amir Garrett get a chance.
2. Tyler Duffey (MIN) – Hansel Robles and Taylor Rogers have both pitched in three of four.
3. Keynan Middleton (SEA) – Rafael Montero has pitched in two straight.

Tomorrow
1. Andrew Chafin (CHC) – If Craig Kimbrel goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.
2. Aaron Bummer (CHW) – Same for Liam Hendriks.

Keynan Middleton, Carlos Estevez on the rise

May 25, 2021

Seattle Mariners – Keynan Middleton got the 9th inning on Monday night, converting his 3rd save of the season. With Kendall Graveman out, the M’s appear to be taking a committee approach, as Rafael Montero pitched the 7th. If Middleton gets the next save, as well, we’ll move him to the top.

Updated hierarchy: *Montero | Middleton | Misiewicz.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins – With the tying run on deck, Dylan Floro came in to get the last out of the 9th inning on Monday. He retired Rhys Hoskins, allowing the Marlins to give Yimi Garcia a second consecutive day off after the closer pitched on both Friday and Saturday.

Hierarchy remains: Garcia | Floro | Bass.

Colorado Rockies – Daniel Bard got the night off on Monday after pitching two straight, and the Rockies went to Carlos Estevez to hold a one-run lead in the 9th. Estevez converted, which pushes him up to the handcuff spot for Colorado.

Updated hierarchy: Bard | Estevez | Givens.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Paul Fry – Cesar Valdez has gone back to back.

Tomorrow
1. James Karinchak – If Emmanuel Clase goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.
2. Devin Williams – Same for Josh Hader.

JP Feyereisen enters the mix for the Rays

May 24, 2021

Boston Red Sox – Matt Andriese pitched with the Red Sox down by 4 runs on Sunday, as the team continues to look elsewhere for higher-leverage situations. We’re going to move Darwinzon Hernandez into his spot on the hierarchy; the lefty has been much better than Andriese as of late.

Updated hierarchy: Barnes | Ottavino | Hernandez.

Tampa Bay Rays – The recently acquired JP Feyereisen picked up his first save of the season, as Diego Castillo and Pete Fairbanks were given the day off after some heavy usage. We’ll slot Feyereisen in behind them.

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

Minnesota Twins – Tyler Duffey picked up a 10th inning save for the Twins on Sunday; Hansel Robles and Taylor Rogers had already pitched.

Hierarchy remains: *Robles | Rogers | Duffey.
* = closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners – Kendall Graveman was placed on the COVID IL yesterday; look for Rafael Montero to get the bulk of save chances until his return.

Updated hierarchy: Montero | Middleton | Misiewicz.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Mychal Givens – Daniel Bard has gone back to back.
2. Alex Colome – Everyone on the hierarchy is gassed (back to back and three of four), so maybe Alex Colome gets a chance in the 9th today.
3. Ryan Helsley – Alex Reyes and Gio Gallegos have both gone back to back.

Tomorrow
1. Paul Fry – If Cesar Valdez goes today, it’s back to back.
2. Aaron Bummer – Same for Liam Hendriks.

Kendall Graveman placed on the IL

May 23, 2021

Seattle Mariners — Kendall Graveman was placed on the IL with no injury designation. This could mean that Graveman is another Mariner to be affected by the recent positive COVID tests to hit the club, but we’ll hopefully have more clarity on the situation soon. In the meantime, Rafael Montero should be the main source of saves in Seattle, with Keynan Middleton and the just-activated Anthony Misiewicz also pitching the late innings.

Updated hierarchy: Montero | Middleton | Misiewicz.