July 1, 2021
New York Yankees — It’s all about roster construction. When the Mets were down 12 with the bases loaded in the eighth inning on Wednesday night, they had the luxury of turning to converted outfielder Albert Almora, who scattered a walk, hit batsman, and homer around three outs, slamming the door with only three runs charged to his account. The Yankees, however, in the slightly higher-leverage situation of protecting a four-run lead in the ninth, were forced to bring in injured Dellin Betances the ghost of Kevin Gregg Carlos Marmol in a really good disguise Aroldis Chapman. Chapman walked the bases loaded, then immediately cleaned up that mess with a grand slam. Lucas Luetge was also less effective than Almora, giving up three runs as four reached. Until the Yankees commit to shutdown relievers like Almora, who can hold opponents to six runs, max, in the clutch, they’ll keep looking up in the standings at their neighbors in Queens. Chapman, by the way, has a 17.47 ERA over the last three weeks (eight appearances) and has walked 8 of the last 21 hitters he’s faced.
Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Green | Loaisiga.
Seattle Mariners — Rafael Montero has been really bad in his last three outings (7 ER, 9 H, 2.1 IP), allowing Anthony Misiewicz to slide back into late-innings relevance for Seattle. Misiewicz gave up a tying home run in the eighth last night, but Kendall Graveman shut the door, getting five outs before Drew Steckenrider came on for the extra-inning save. With Montero struggling, the closer job is Graveman’s to hold.
Updated hierarchy: Graveman | Misiewicz | Steckenrider.
Chicago White Sox — Chicago placed Aaron Bummer and Evan Marshall on the IL, and Garrett Crochet has fallen out of high-leverage favor, pitching last night with an 11-run lead. Pitching a tight eighth most recently was Ryan Burr (nine scoreless outings, 0.33 WHIP), but the game before that, Burr served as the opener. Burr, Crochet, and Codi Heuer are the best options behind Liam Hendriks at this point.
Updated hierarchy: Hendriks | Burr | Crochet.
Baltimore Orioles — After Tanner Scott was lights-out in the fifth and sixth, the Orioles called on Paul Fry for four outs and Cole Sulser for the last five, flipping the usual recent script for a successful save in Houston. We’ll keep Fry at the top of the committee for now, but Sulser (2.12 ERA, 13 K/9) could be making his move — or, more likely, his audition to get moved.
Updated hierarchy: *Fry | Sulser | Scott.
* = closer-by-committee
San Diego Padres — For pitching the bottom of the fifth in a game that was called before the start of the sixth, Tim Hill earned a save of sorts.
Hierarchy remains: Melancon | Pagan | Pomeranz.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Giovanny Gallegos (STL) — Alex Reyes pitched on Wednesday after going two innings on Tuesday.
2. Adam Ottavino (BOS) — Matt Barnes was used, in a non-save situation, for a third straight game on Wednesday.
3. Mike Mayers (LAA) — Raisel Iglesias has pitched in three of four.
4. Austin Voth (WAS) — Even with a day off, Brad Hand has still gone in three of four.
Friday:
1. Carlos Estevez (COL) — An appearance for Daniel Bard would be three games out of four.
2. Blake Treinen (LAD) — Same for Kenley Jansen.
