The first save of the post-Neris era goes to . . . Neris

June 26, 2021

Philadelphia Phillies — Joe Girardi certainly didn’t start Jose Alvarado off easy in the closer role, summoning him with the bases loaded in a one-run game and keeping him on for what would have been the first five-out save of his career. Alvarado almost came through, foiled only by his own error that led to the eventual tying run. Philadelphia lost the game, but Alvarado looked good as long as he was throwing toward home plate. In the nightcap, Archie Bradley blew a save in similar fashion, with the error coming from Alec Bohm; naturally, the hero who earned the save in extra innings was Hector Neris. Just like Joe drew it up.

Hierarchy remains: Alvarado | Bradley | Suárez.

New York Yankees — Zack Britton pulled up lame after a pitch in the eighth inning and immediately headed for the clubhouse. It seems likely that Britton will miss yet more time, and that Jonathan Loaisiga — who struck out all four guys he faced on Friday — will return to a higher-leverage role in his stead.

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Green | Loaisiga.

Minnesota Twins — Hansel Robles got a second straight save opportunity, evening baseball’s most honest closer platoon at seven saves apiece. Behind Robles and Taylor Rogers, Alex Colome has had a more important role lately; he pitched a clean seventh on Friday night.

Updated hierarchy: *Rogers | Robles | Colome.
* = closer-by-committee

Baltimore Orioles — Cole Sulser earned an extra-inning save as the Orioles ended their 20-game road losing streak in Toronto. Paul Fry had already pitched in the ninth.

Hierarchy remains: *Fry | Sulser | Harvey.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Ranger Suarez (PHI) — Jose Alvarado and Archie Bradley have each pitched in three of four.
2. AJ Minter (ATL) — It’s been four games in six days for Will Smith.
3. Tim Mayza (TOR) — All three members of the Blue Jays hierarchy have pitched in three of four; Mayza is somewhat better-rested.
4. Adam Ottavino (BOS) — Matt Barnes has pitched in three of four; so has Ottavino, but he’s thrown fewer pitches.
5. Joely Rodriguez (TEX) — It’s not clear whether Ian Kennedy has overcome his unspecified illness.

Sunday:
1. Carlos Estevez (COL) — Daniel Bard threw 27 pitches Friday and an appearance Saturday will be three in four days.
2. Devin Williams (MIL) — Josh Hader has gone in two of three.
3. Pete Fairbanks (TB) — Same with Diego Castillo.
4. Cole Sulser/Hunter Harvey (BAL) — Paul Fry has thrown in two straight.

Brad Brach comes out of nowhere with his first save in three years

June 25, 2021

Cincinnati Reds – With Lucas Sims on the injured list and likely out of action for a month, the Reds turned to Amir Garrett and Tejay Antone, as expected, in the late innings. Neither arm earned the save, though. Old friend Brad Brach was David Bell’s man on Thursday, recording his first save since 2018. Brach said after the game he’s “ready for any situation,” so perhaps more looks are coming his way. Let’s place him in the hierarchy and we can see where this goes. 

Updated hierarchy: *Antone | Brach | Garrett.
* = closer-by-committee

Cleveland Indians – James Karinchak (and not Emmanuel Clase) earned the save Thursday, his ninth overall. He has the team’s two most recent saves and pitched the ninth inning in a 4-0 win on Monday. He appears to be the man to own, for now, in Cleveland. 

Updated hierarchy: *Karinchak | Clase | Shaw.
* = closer-by-committee

Philadelphia Phillies — There is still no word on the Phillies’ closing situation, as the team had an off day Thursday. We’ll monitor things Friday to see if an announcement is made and who is the new ninth-inning man. Our bet is it’ll be José Alvarado, but stay tuned.

Hierarchy remains: Neris | Alvarado | Coonrod.

Seattle Mariners – Keynan Middleton was called up from Triple-A on Thursday. We’ll monitor his usage to see if he should enter this hierarchy.

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

Washington Nationals — Daniel Hudson threw off flat ground on Thursday, but it’s not known when he’ll be back. No timetable has been given for a return.

Hierarchy remains: Hand | Rainey | Suero.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Sam Coonrod (PHI) — It should be Jose Alvarado’s job today and the Phillies have a doubleheader.
2. Seth Lugo (NYM) — The Mets play the Phillies in that doubleheader.

Saturday:
1. Scott Barlow (KC) — If he pitches Friday, it would be four of six for Greg Holland. 
2. AJ Minter (ATL) — Same as above for Will Smith. 
3. Jake Diekman (OAK) — A Friday outing would be three of four for Lou Trivino.
4. Adam Ottavino (BOS) — Ditto for Matt Barnes.

Jose Alvarado is about to be the Phillies’ closer

June 24, 2021

Philadelphia Phillies — Hector Neris is about to lose his job, and Jose Alvarado will be the one taking it. A third blown save in five outings for Neris led Joe Girardi to say he’ll take Thursday’s off day to “think about” making a change. It’s all but official, though, and with the way Girardi was praising Alvarado on Wednesday, the next guy up is pretty clear. Make the move while you can, and we’ll issue an official alert when Joe finishes mulling things over.

Hierarchy remains: Neris | Alvarado | Coonrod.

Arizona Diamondbacks — Arizona didn’t just move Stefan Crichton out of high-leverage spots; it dumped him from the 40-man roster entirely, designating the 29-year-old for assignment. With Crichton (and Kevin Ginkel) gone, Joakim Soria should have a solid grasp on the ninth inning, for whatever that’s worth on the worst team in baseball. Ryan Buchter joins the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Soria | Ramirez | Buchter.

Texas Rangers — Ian Kennedy was sick Wednesday, so the Rangers called on Joely Rodriguez for his first career save. Rodriguez has been getting the eighth inning ahead of Kennedy this week, and this cemented his move back into the setup role.

Updated hierarchy: Kennedy | Rodriguez | Sborz.

Washington Nationals — Kyle Finnegan hit the IL with a strained hamstring right when we were thinking he might get a vulture save shot. Instead, after Austin Voth and Tanner Rainey blew the lead in the eighth (and Hector Neris handed it right back in the top of the ninth), the Nats called on Paolo Espino to lock down the ninth. Espino came through for his first career save, but expect Rainey and Wander Suero to fill out the hierarchy for now.

Updated hierarchy: Hand | Rainey | Suero.

St. Louis Cardinals — Daniel Ponce de Leon was placed on the IL with shoulder discomfort, saddening all but those who long for symmetry in our closer chart. Lefty Genesis Cabrera pitched ahead of the big two today and probably has an edge over Ryan Helsley and Andrew Miller.

Updated hierarchy: Reyes | Gallegos | Cabrera.

Chicago White Sox — 22-year-old Garrett Crochet has struggled lately, but there’s no obvious candidate to take his spot in the seventh inning. Evan Marshall, Cody Heuer, and Ryan Burr are lurking, but to no great effect. The long-term plan for Crochet remains the starting rotation, at which point he will be dead to us.

Hierarchy remains: Hendriks | Bummer | Crochet.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Scott Barlow (KC) — Greg Holland, Barlow, and Kyle Zimmer have all pitched in three of four, and Josh Staumont threw 32 pitches Wednesday. Jake Brentz has thrown 53 pitches over the last two days. It’s either a tired Barlow or, uh, Anthony Swarzak?
2. AJ Minter (ATL) — Will Smith didn’t pitch Wednesday, but has still gone in three of four.

Friday:
1. Tyler Chatwood (TOR) — Jordan Romano has pitched back-to-back.
2. Tejay Antone (CIN) — It’ll be three of four if Lucas Sims pitches Thursday.
3. Sam Coonrod (PHI) — It should be Jose Alvarado’s job by Friday and the Phillies have a doubleheader.