August 18, 2021
Seattle Mariners — Paul Sewald is back from paternity leave and he’s back in the ninth inning for Seattle. He earned his fifth save of the season on Tuesday against the heart of the Rangers’ order. Diego Castillo worked the eighth, which has been the case quite a bit lately, even with Sewald on leave. We’ll slide Sewald to the top of the hierarchy and see if he continues to consistently get save chances.
Updated hierarchy: *Sewald | Castillo | Steckenrider.
* = closer-by-committee
Chicago Cubs — Codi Heuer retired all six batters he faced over the final two innings to pick up his first save of the season and help the Cubs snap a 12-game losing streak. Rowan Wick struggled through the seventh inning, loading the bases before getting a strikeout and then watching Adam Morgan need just one pitch to get the Cubs out of the inning unscathed. This was just Wick’s third appearance (and first high-leverage outing) since returning from the IL, which is understandable given how bad the Cubs have been this month. We’ll hold Wick at the top of the committee for now and see if Heuer truly becomes the top option for whatever save chances the Cubs stumble into during the final weeks of the season.
Hierarchy remains: *Wick | Heuer | Rodriguez.
* = closer-by-committee
Arizona Diamondbacks — We welcome J.B. Wendelken to the Arizona hierarchy after he got the final two outs of the seventh to keep the Diamondbacks ahead by two. Taylor Clarke pitched a scoreless eighth to get the ball to Tyler Clippard for the save.
Updated hierarchy: Clippard | Clarke | Wendelken.
San Francisco Giants – We correctly predicted that Jake McGee and Tyler Rogers would get Tuesday off, and with two lefties and a switch hitter due up in the ninth, Gabe Kapler went with southpaw Jarlin Garcia to start the frame. Garcia retired two of the three hitters he faced before Dominic Leone came in to secure the final out and get the save. Zack Littell has been terrific for the Giants since getting called back up, picking up two saves and a win before throwing three scoreless innings on Saturday in what Kapler called a “heroic performance.” We’ll see if Littell just needed one more day of rest after that 41-pitch outing or if Leone has truly usurped Littell as the best option for saves after McGee and Rogers.
Hierarchy remains: *McGee | Rogers | Littell.
* = closer-by-committee
Kansas City Royals – We thought both Scott Barlow and Jake Brentz would get Tuesday off after having pitched in two straight games, but Brentz worked his third consecutive day when he got the ninth inning with the Royals ahead of Houston, 3-1. Brentz issued two walks but also notched two strikeouts to secure the save.
Hierarchy remains: Barlow | Brentz | Staumont.
New York Yankees – The Yankees swept a doubleheader against the Red Sox on Tuesday, allowing both Jonathan Loaisiga and Chad Green to collect a save. Loaisiga loaded the bases with nobody out in the first game of the day but recorded a Houdini to end the game. Green closed out a 2-0 win in game two to complete the sweep.
Hierarchy remains: *Loaisiga | Green | Britton.
* = closer-by-committee
Cincinnati Reds – The Reds designated Heath Hembree for assignment on Tuesday. David Bell also announced that if all goes well during Tejay Antone’s rehab outings this week, Antone could rejoin the Reds next Tuesday.
Updated hierarchy: Givens | Lorenzen | Sims.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jose Cisnero (DET) – Gregory Soto threw 30 pitches in a rough outing yesterday.
2. Blake Treinen (LAD) – Kenley Jansen has made two straight appearances, including a 24-pitch performance yesterday. Treinen has also gone back-to-back days but threw just eight pitches on each occasion.
3. Zack Britton (NYY) – Jonathan Loaisiga threw 34 pitches over two innings yesterday while Chad Green has gone in two straight and three of four.
Tomorrow
1. Taylor Clarke (ARI) – If Tyler Clippard pitches today, that’s two straight for him.
2. Josh Staumont/Wade Davis (KC) – If Scott Barlow goes today, that’s three out of four for him. Jake Brentz has pitched in three straight and may get two days off in a row.
3. Devin Williams/Brad Boxberger (MIL) – If Josh Hader appears today, that will be two straight and three of four. The same would be true for Boxberger, while Williams has already gone in three of four. If all three have a heavy Wednesday workload, Brent Suter may get a chance.
4. Tyler Duffey (MIN) – An Alex Colome appearance today will be three of four for him.
