June 5, 2021
Baltimore Orioles – Hunter Harvey was activated from the IL and will not have any restrictions. He was immediately tossed into the 6th inning of a tie game, and although he gave up a run on a pair of hits, he didn’t factor into the decision as the Orioles came back to win the game. Harvey was the presumptive closed entering the year, but Paul Fry and Cole Sulser have pitched very well in his absence, with Fry recording the save yesterday. We will put Harvey second in line and see how Baltimore deploys him coming off his injury.
Updated hierarchy: *Fry | Sulser | Harvey.
* = closer-by-committee
Pittsburgh Pirates – The Pirates’ bullpen was brilliant yesterday, scattering three hits over seven scoreless innings. Chris Stratton did the bulk of the work pitching 3.2 perfect innings to earn his first save of the year. Stratton has been a solid contributor for the Pirates but doesn’t get many high leverage chances for a last-place team.
Hierarchy remains: Rodriguez | Crick | Stratton.
Cincinnati Reds — With Tejay Antone and Lucas Sims both resting after 30+ pitch outings on Thursday, the Reds turned a 5 run lead over to Heath Hembree. He gave up a pair of runs so Sean Doolittle came on to put out the fire, but only made it worse, failing to record an out over his 3 batters. This left Michael Feliz, who started the year with the Pirates, to face Paul Goldschmidt with the tying run on first. 3 swinging strikes later and Feliz had secured the first save of his career. Feliz has been mostly relegated to mop-up duty this season, but another performance in a high-pressure spot like last night, and he could crack the hierarchy.
Hierarchy remains: *Antone | Sims | Hembree.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Blake Treinen (LAD) – Kenley Jansen threw 28 pitches last night, and Treinen is well-rested.
2. Joely Rodriguez (TEX) – Ian Kennedy had a rough 30 pitch outing last night.
3. Emilio Pagan / Craig Stammen (SD) – Mark Melancon has pitched back to back, throwing 34 pitches.
4. Wander Suero (WAS) – Brad Hand has pitched in 3 of 4, but he only threw 4 pitches last night so he may be ready to go today. If not expect Wander Suero, as Daniel Hudson has pitched in 3 of 4 with a heavier workload than Hand.
Sunday
1. Aaron Bummer (CHW) – Today would be 3 in a row for Liam Hendriks, although he has kept his pitch count low in those games.
2. Mike Mayers / Tony Watson (LAA) – Raisel Iglesias pulled a magic trick last night, escaping a bases-loaded, no outs jam in the 8th, but it took him 28 pitches. If he goes again today he will need Sunday off.
