A’s wink at a possible committee going forward

May 4, 2021

San Diego Padres – Drew Pomeranz continued his strong season with a clean, 2-strikeout 8th inning ahead of Mark Melancon. Emilio Pagan has been perfectly decent — and the placement of these two might be trivial if the Padres decide on a committee approach should Melancon miss time — but for now, we’re moving Pomeranz (1.54 ERA, 20 Ks in 11.2 IP) ahead in the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Melancon | Pomeranz | Pagan.

Oakland A’s – The A’s had talked about mixing and matching in the 9th, but until last night, Lou Trivino had gotten virtually all of the save chances, with Jake Diekman only spelling him when Trivino needed a night off. But last night, with both of them available, Trivino got the 8th while Diekman got the 9th. This was a matchup play, but it still bears watching, as it could throw this bullpen back into a committee. We will monitor.

Hierarchy remains: Trivino | Diekman | Petit.

Los Angeles Angels – Tony Watson was placed on the IL over the weekend; look for Aaron Slegers to benefit from a few additional hold opportunities in his absence. Also, Mike Mayers figures to be out for a few days after being placed on the non-designation IL (most likely suggesting COVID precautions).

Updated hierarchy: Iglesias | Mayers | Slegers.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Sam Coonrod – Hector Neris threw 40 pitches yesterday and Jose Alvarado is suspended.
2. Giovanny Gallegos – Alex Reyes has gone back to back.
3. Yusmeiro Petit – Lou Trivino and Jake Diekman have both gone back to back.
4. Nick Wittgren – Emmanuel Clase, James Karinchak, and Bryan Shaw have gone back to back and three of four, and all of them could be down today.
5. Andrew Kittredge – Diego Castillo, Jeffrey Springs, and Ryan Thompson have gone back to back and all of them could be down today.

Tomorrow
1. Tanner Scott – If Cesar Valdez goes today, it’s back to back.
2. Aaron Slegers – Same for Raisel Iglesias.

After Diaz injury, is it gonna be May in New York?

May 3, 2021

New York Mets – Edwin Diaz gave up the game-tying home run, and then didn’t, but had to come out of the game before throwing another pitch due to a sore back. He’s being reevaluated today, and if he needs to miss any time, Trevor May is the likely candidate for saves, though Jeurys Familia (who got the 1-out save after Diaz came out) has also been excellent so far this season. If Diaz needs to miss time, we’ll follow up with an alert.

Updated hierarchy: Diaz | May | Familia.

St. Louis Cardinals – Though Jordan Hicks received treatment for the dreaded “forearm tightness” diagnosis, the Cardinals are not overly concerned with his status, and he might be fine after a short IL trip. We’ll monitor this situation.

Hierarchy remains: Reyes | Gallegos | Hicks.

Toronto Blue Jays – Rafael Dolis got the final out of a 5-run game, but since the bases were loaded when he entered, that was good enough for his third save of the season. This continues to look like a committee.

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

Cleveland Indians – Bryan Shaw finished the 6th and pitched the 7th for the Indians on Sunday, bridging the gap to set-up man James Karinchak, who continued his dominant season (11.2 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 25 Ks) by striking out the side. Emmanuel Clase finished things in the 9th. Expect to see more of this trio, in this order, going forward.

Updated hierarchy: Clase | Karinchak | Shaw.

Colorado Rockies – Having been used sparingly in recent weeks, the Rockies went to closer Daniel Bard in a tie game in the 8th inning on Sunday. Bard seemed to have good stuff, hitting 99 on the gun, but the result was a disastrous outing that ballooned his ERA to 9.00. After the game, Bard said he had to look at sequencing and/or whether he’s tipping pitches, but we have to think that he’s on shaky ground right now. Mychal Givens is the likely handcuff.

Hierarchy remains: Bard | Givens | Stephenson.

Seattle Mariners – Facing the Angels’ 3-4-5 hitters, the Mariners turned to Kendall Graveman in the 8th, then handed the 9th back to Rafael Montero, who locked down the save. Given the lineup implications, we’re going to leave Graveman and his 0.00 ERA at the top of this committee for now.

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

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jeurys Familia – Even if Edwin Diaz’s back is fine, he’ll certainly be down today after pitching back to back over the weekend. Trevor May did the same, so maybe we’ll see Familia in the 9th again tonight.
2. Joely Rodriguez – Ian Kennedy has gone back to back and three of four.
3. Rex Brothers – Craig Kimbrel, Andrew Chafin, and Dan Winkler are all gassed, so it’s last man standing for the Cubs tonight, with Brothers likely the best option.

Tomorrow
1. James Karinchak – If Emmanuel Clase goes tonight, it’s back to back and three of four.
2. Giovanny Gallegos – If Alex Reyes goes tonight, it’s back to back.
3. Jake Diekman – Same for Lou Trivino.

Darren O’Day is placed on the IL

May 2, 2021

Toronto Blue Jays — Jordan Romano pitched a scoreless 10th inning to pick up the win yesterday.  Romano has strung together three straight scoreless appearances after struggling in his first appearance off the IL.  However, it was Rafael Dolis who pitched a scoreless top of the 9th inning of a tie game, which is usually where a team will use its closer.  We will hold off on making a switch at this point, but if Dolis gets the next save. he could move to the top of this committee.  One switch we will make is to move Tyler Chatwood onto the hierarchy.  Chatwood pitched a scoreless 8th inning with a pair of strikeouts yesterday and has yet to allow an earned run this season.

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

New York Yankees — Darren O’Day has been placed on the IL with a rotator cuff strain.  Jonathan Loaisiga pitched another scoreless inning yesterday, his sixth straight appearance without allowing an earned run.  Loaisiga should see more time in the later innings while O’Day is out.

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Green | Loaisiga.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Devin Williams/Brent Suter (MIL) – Josh Hader has pitched in three straight. Devin Williams has also pitched in two of three.
2. Jose Alvarado (PHI) – Hector Neris has pitched in three of four.
3. Rafael Dolis (TOR) – Jordan Romano has pitched in two straight and three of four.

Monday
1. Andrew Chafin/Rex Brothers (CHC) – If Craig Kimbrell pitches today, it will be two straight and three of four. Same for Andrew Chafin.
2. Joely Rodriguez/John King (TEX) – If Ian Kennedy pitches today, it will be two straight and three of four. Same for Joely Rodriguez.

Jose Alvarado acts like the Mets don’t know how to hit

May 1, 2021

Philadelphia Phillies — Vulture Save Watch readers knew Hector Neris needed a night off and, sure enough, the Phillies went to Jose Alvarado against the top of the Mets’ order in the eighth inning — an eventful choice given Alvarado’s fiery celebrations and recent history. Sam Coonrod wound up with the vulture save, his first of the year. Neris should be ready to go today; we know Dominic Smith will be.

Hierarchy remains: Neris | Alvarado | Coonrod.

Cincinnati Reds — The Reds started the ninth with a four-run lead; after the first two batters reached base, they went to Lucas Sims. Sims got two quick outs, but was wild the whole time, throwing a wild pitch and walking three. Tejay Antone came on with the bases loaded, getting the last out on three pitches for the first save of his career. While Sims’s final two walks could easily have been called strikeouts, you have to trust the umpire who saw interference here to get it right. While Sims might have gotten screwed out of a save last night, its hard to deny that Antone has earned a chance. We expect him to be a candidate for saves going forward.

Updated hierarchy: *Sims | Antone | Doolittle.
* = closer-by-committee

Atlanta Braves — Sean Newcomb was activated from the IL yesterday and got immediately thrown into the action. It was not his best showing, as he gave up two hits, two walks, and two runs. Newcomb had been off to a great start before his IL stint, but it looks like the Braves will ease him back into the later innings.

Hierarchy remains: Smith | Minter | Matzek. 

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Tanner Scott (BAL) — Cesar Valdez has pitched in back-to-back games, throwing 53 pitches.
2. Devin Williams (MIL) — Josh Hader has pitched back-to-back and in three of four, while Devin Williams was held out of last night’s game.
3. Rafael Dolis (TOR) — Jordan Romano has thrown 34 pitches over the past three days.

Sunday:
1. Tejay Antone/Sean Doolittle (CIN) — Lucas Sims threw 27 pitches last night.
2. Emilo Pagan (SD) — Today would be two straight and three of four for Mark Melancon.
3. Daniel Hudson/Tanner Rainey (WAS) — Today would be two straight and three of four for Brad Hand and Daniel Hudson, so if either pitches today, he’ll likely get Sunday off.