June 6, 2021
Cincinnati Reds — Lucas Sims struck out two and worked around a pair of hits to pick up his 5th save of the season yesterday. Tejay Antone pitched a scoreless 8th inning ahead of Sims. Antone has continued his stellar season (he has not allowed an earned run over his last 15.2 innings), but he only has two saves in that time. Meanwhile, Sims has recorded a save in four of his past five appearances, and it looks like he has moved ahead of Antone as a source of saves for the Reds.
Updated hierarchy: *Sims | Antone | Hembree.
* = closer-by-committee
Detroit Tigers — With the Tigers protecting a one-run lead, Gregory Soto came out for the 8th and pitched a scoreless inning. However, there was no sign of Michael Fulmer warming in the bullpen for the 9th, and that left Jose Cisnero to come on for the save. Cisnero responded with a scoreless inning for his first save of the season. Manager AJ Hinch said after the game that Fulmer was unavailable due to arm fatigue and it sounds like he could be placed on the IL. If Fulmer does end up going on the IL, we will send out an alert but Soto and Cisnero are good guys to speculate on if you don’t want to wait.
Hierarchy remains: *Fulmer | Soto | Cisnero.
* = closer-by-committee
Tampa Bay Rays – The complicated relationship between Closer Monkey and the Rays bullpen continued yesterday as the first save opportunity since we moved JP Feyereisen to the head of the committee obviously went to the person who we just replaced as head of the committee, Diego Castillo. Castillo picked up his 9th save of the season by striking out the side. We aren’t going to try and predict who gets the next save, but Feyereisen and Castillo could both be a decent source of saves because of how many save opportunities the Rays are generating.
Hierarchy remains: *Feyereisen | Castillo | Fairbanks.
* = closer-by-committee
Philadelphia Phillies — The Phillies placed closer Hector Neris on the paternity list and that allowed Connor Brogdon to pick up his first save of the season. Jose Alvarado, Sam Coonrod, and Brogdon could all be in line for more work while Neris is out.
Hierarchy remains: Neris | Alvarado | Coonrod.
Oakland A’s — Lou Trivino pitched a scoreless 9th yesterday to pick up his 8th save of the season. Trivino has now gotten the last two saves for the A’s after Jake Diekman got the previous three. This looks like it will continue to be a committee but if Trivino converts the next save chance, we will move him to the top.
Hierarchy remains: *Diekman | Trivino | Petit.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Bryan Garcia (DET) – Michael Fulmer has been unavailable due to arm fatigue while Gregory Soto and Jose Cisnero have both pitched in two straight.
2. Sam Coonrod (PHI) – Hector Neris is on the paternity list while Jose Alvarado has gone in two straight including 1.2 innings yesterday.
3. Zack Littell (SF) – Tyler Rogers and Jake McGee have both pitched in two straight.
Monday
1. Adam Ottavino (BOS) – If Matt Barnes pitches on Sunday, it will be three in a row
