Giovanny Gallegos, Joe Barlow could be earning more save chances

August 31, 2021

St. Louis Cardinals – A day after saying they were evaluating their 9th inning options, the Cardinals gave the save opportunity to Giovanny Gallegos, who converted. We’ll slide him to the top of the hierarchy for the time being, and think he’s the best bet to fully take over the job, should the Cardinals decide to commit to one guy.

Updated hierarchy: *Gallegos | Cabrera | Reyes.
* = closer-by-committee

Philadelphia Phillies – Jose Alvarado picked up his 5th save of the season on Monday, as the Phillies rested Ian Kennedy after he’d pitched two of three.

Hierarchy remains: Kennedy | Alvarado | Bradley.

Texas Rangers – Joe Barlow came off the IL and immediately picked up his third save of the season, lowering his ERA to 1.02 in the process. While his peripherals suggest he’s been a bit fortunate thus far, he’s getting results, and might continue getting save chances, too. We’ll put him right back in front of this committee.

Updated hierarchy: *Barlow | Patton | Sborz.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Dodgers – With Kenley Jansen resting after pitching two straight, Blake Treinen picked up the save. Just like the Vulture Save Watch said he would.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Treinen | Kelly.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Brent Suter – Josh Hader, Devin Williams, and Brad Boxberger have all gone back to back.

Tomorrow
1. Steve Cishek – If Raisel Iglesias goes tonight, it’s back to back and three of four.

Cardinals to reevaluate closer role

August 30, 2021

St. Louis Cardinals – It’s been a rough month for Alex Reyes, and after Sunday’s blown save — which included a Dan McLaughlin sad trombone that rivaled some of Hawk Harrelson’s walkoff laments — Mike Shildt acknowledged that the Cardinals are evaluating how they should handle the 9th inning going forward. Giovanny Gallegos and Genesis Cabrera are among the options that will likely be considered should they move away from Reyes.

Updated hierarchy: *Reyes | Gallegos | Cabrera.
* = closer-by-committee

Toronto Blue Jays – Tim Mayza picked up his first career save on Sunday, recording four outs in Toronto’s one-run victory; Jordan Romano pitched 2 innings Saturday and was given the day off. Mayza is on quite a run, having allowed just 5 earned runs in his last 31 appearances.

Updated hierarchy: Romano | Cimber | Mayza.

Miami Marlins – Anthony Bender pitched a hitless 7th and 8th innings on Sunday, leaving the 9th to Dylan Floro, who converted for his 7th save of the year. This remains a committee.

Hierarchy remains: *Bender | Floro | Bass.
* = closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners – Similarly, in Seattle, the Mariners went with Paul Sewald in the 8th and Drew Steckenrider in the 9th. They, too, continue to share save chances.

Hierarchy remains: *Sewald | Steckenrider | Sadler.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s – Oakland continued to give Lou Trivino a break from high-leverage duties, entrusting the 9th on Sunday to Andrew Chafin, who converted. Chafin’s ERA is now 1.80 on the year, and he might be the preferred lefty option over Jake Diekman here.

Updated hierarchy: *Romo | Chafin | Diekman.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Blake Treinen – Kenley Jansen has gone back to back.

Tomorrow
1. Jose Alvarado – If Ian Kennedy goes tonight, it’s back to back and three of four.
2. Daniel Bard – Same for Carlos Estevez.

Lou Trivino to get a break from closing

August 29, 2021

Oakland A’s – Sergio Romo worked around a two-run homer from Aaron Judge to preserve a 3-2 A’s win and pick up his first save of the season.  Manager Bob Melvin said he would give Lou Trivino a break from closing, but mentioned that he hoped to get Trivino back in the role.  We expect this to be a committee and we will move Romo to the top since he got the first save.  Jake Diekman and Andrew Chafin should also be options to close out games until Trivino can reclaim the closer’s role. 

Updated Hierarchy: *Romo | Diekman | Chafin.
*=closer by committee

Boston Red Sox — Adam Ottavino picked up his second straight save for the Red Sox.  Ottavino came on to record the last two outs of the bottom of the 10th inning and earn his 10th save of the season.  Garrett Whitlock picked up the win with a scoreless 9th inning of a tie game.  Ottavino and Whitlock will both be unavailable for the next two days so Hansel Robles could be an option for saves the next couple of days.

Hierarchy remains: *Ottavino | Whitlock | Robles.
* = closer-by-committee

Cleveland Indians – Cleveland sent struggling reliever James Karinchak to Triple-A.  Karinchak closed for a good portion of the season, but he has an 8.40 ERA since the All-Star break.  Brian Shaw will move to the set-up role and veterans Nick Wittgren and Blake Parker should see more time in the later innings.  We will give Parker the nod of the hierarchy based on his current seven appearance scoreless streak.

Updated hierarchy: Clase | Shaw | Parker.

Tampa Bay Rays — Andrew Kittredge pitched the final two innings of the Rays’ 4-3 victory to earn his fourth save of the season.  The Monkey is always a little excited when the guy who we have at the top of the Rays’ committee actually gets a save, but the Rays’ are using too many different guys to close out games at this point to be able to rely on any one guy as a good source of saves in fantasy.

Hierarchy remains: *Kittredge | McHugh | Fairbanks.
* = closer-by-committee

Minnesota Twins – Alex Colome pitched a scoreless 9th inning for his 9th save of the season yesterday.  Colome has seven saves since Hansel Robles got traded and Taylor Rogers got hurt and that’s more than enough to kick the committee tag.

Hierarchy remains: Colome | Duffey | Thielbar.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Hansel Robles (BOS) – Adam Ottavino and Garrett Whitlock will be unavailable for the next couple of days.
2. Michael Fulmer (DET) – Gregory Soto has pitched in two straight and three of four.
3. Kendall Graveman (HOU) – Ryan Pressly has pitched in two straight and three of four.
4. Tyler Duffey (MIN) – Alex Colome has also pitched in two straight and three of four.

Monday
1. Blake Treinen (LAD) – If Kenley Jansen pitches today, it will be back-to-back games.

Carlos Estevez is closing in Colorado

August 28, 2021

Colorado Rockies – We warned you on Thursday and alerted you last night; Daniel Bard has been replaced by Carlos Estevez — at least for now — in Colorado. 

Updated hierarchy: Estevez | Bard | Chacin.

Boston Red Sox — Boston’s first save without Matt Barnes went to Adam Ottavino, who worked around a leadoff walk to secure his ninth save of the year. Garret Richards pitched a clean eighth to pick up the hold. This is definitely a committee, and Garrett Whitlock may have been unavailable after throwing 20 pitches on Thursday, but the save chance for Ottavino puts him atop the hierarchy for now.

Updated hierarchy: *Ottavino | Whitlock | Robles.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays — They’ve done it again. After the Rays took a four-run lead in the seventh, they turned to Chris Mazza, who finished the game to earn his first career save and become the record-tying 12th Rays reliever with a save this year. In honor of this grand accomplishment, Mazza got optioned to Durham this morning. In other news, Pete Fairbanks returned from the IL, and will immediately rejoin the hierarchy. He was the top save candidate after the Diego Castillo trade, but we’ll have to see how he’ll be used before putting him back there. 

Updated hierarchy: *Kittredge | McHugh | Fairbanks.
* = closer-by-committee

Kansas City Royals — Josh Staumont returned from the injured list after only one day, suggesting that his absence was a COVID-19 precaution. He got right back into the mix, picking up the win in extra innings last night.

Updated hierarchy: Barlow | Staumont | Davis.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Jose Alvarado (PHI) — Ian Kennedy threw 28 pitches last night. 

Sunday:
1. Taylor Clarke/Noe Ramirez (ARI) — Today would be back to back and three out of four for Tyler Clippard and Taylor Clarke.
2. Michael Fulmer (DET) — Same for Gregory Soto.
3. Kendall Graveman (HOU) — And Ryan Pressly.
4. Tyler Duffey/Caleb Thielbar (MIN) — And Alex Colome/Tyler Duffey.
5. Giovanny Gallegos/Genesis Cabrera (STL) — And Alex Reyes/Giovanny Gallegos. 
6. Andres Machado/Michael Voth (WAS) — And Kyle Finnegan/Andres Machado. 

Carlos Estevez takes over as closer in Colorado

August 28, 2021

Colorado Rockies – As we noted on Wednesday, Daniel Bard’s recent struggles were getting too big to ignore. Bard had a long talk with manager Bud Black before today’s game, and when the Rockies had a 1 run over the Dodgers lead going into the late innings, Bard took the 8th and Carlos Estevez got the 9th for his 3rd save on the year. Estevez wasn’t perfect, but he struck out the side and only gave up a leadoff single. Bard may work through this slump, but for now Estevez is the top choice in Colorado.

Updated Hierarchy: Estevez | Bard | Chacin.