July 22, 2021
Detroit Tigers — Gregory Soto seems to be running away with the closer job in Detroit, and his fourth straight save will see him bid farewell to the committee asterisk.
Updated hierarchy: Soto | Cisnero | Funkhouser.
Arizona Diamondbacks — The seventh-inning role for Arizona is a revolving door to Reno, with J.B. Bukauskas the latest to split for the Aces. Replacing him is a far more familiar name, as Tyler Clippard returned from the 60-day IL and pitched a clean sixth inning on Wednesday. Clippard could bolster the Diamondbacks bullpen over the next two months, or he could parlay a few successful outings into a trade to a desperate contender. Our guess is he’s hoping for the latter.
Updated hierarchy: Soria | Ramirez | Clippard.
New York Yankees — Zack Britton’s return now comprises three outings, eight baserunners, and four earned runs, with no clean innings in the bunch. With Aroldis Chapman’s finger continuing to give him trouble, the Yankees’ bullpen is unusually unreliable lately.
Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Green | Britton.
Tampa Bay Rays — J.P. Feyereisen has been struggling recently, and now he’s hit the IL with shoulder tightness, with an MRI pending. Handicapping the Rays’ bullpen hierarchy has driven many a monkey to madness, but we like what we’ve seen from Jeffrey Springs lately.
Updated hierarchy: *Castillo | Fairbanks | Springs.
* = closer-by-committee
San Francisco Giants — The Vulture Save Watch correctly forecast that Tyler Rogers would get Wednesday’s save, his 11th of the season for the still-surprising Giants.
Hierarchy remains: *McGee | Rogers | Leone.
* = closer-by-committee
Washington Nationals — Daniel Hudson has moved into an eighth-inning setup role for Washington, with Kyle Finnegan preceding him most frequently.
Updated hierarchy: Hand | Hudson | Finnegan.
Baltimore Orioles — If you’re the type of masochist who enjoys owning Baltimore relievers, you’re probably really relishing the three singles and a walk Tanner Scott dished out to blow the save in a one-run ninth on Wednesday. Pick up Tyler Wells, whose slow-motion takeover of the ninth certainly wasn’t hurt by Scott’s performance, and see what fresh pain he can deliver!
Hierarchy remains: *Wells | Scott | Fry.
* = closer-by-committee
St. Louis Cardinals — As predicted by yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, the Cardinals tried to squeeze a four-out save from Giovanny Gallegos, but he lost the lead with two outs on a hit batsman and double.
Hierarchy remains: Reyes | Gallegos | Cabrera.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Chad Green (NYY) — Aroldis Chapman has pitched in three of four.
2. Andrew Chafin (CHC) — Craig Kimbrel has gone in two straight, and could also leave the Cubs at any moment.
Friday:
1. Noe Ramirez (ARI) — The Diamondbacks have Thursday off, but Joakim Soria might get an extra day after pitching in four of five.
2. Daniel Hudson (WAS) — Similar story for Brad Hand. Thursday off, but 80 pitches thrown over the last four days.
3. Blake Treinen (LAD) — Kenley Jansen threw 27 pitches as he blew a save chance on Wednesday, drawing clamorous boos from the spoiled entitled frustrated LA crowd.
