Colin McHugh records save and extends scoreless streak

August 22, 2021

Tampa Bay Rays – Colin McHugh retired all five batters that he faced yesterday to record his first career save.  McHugh has made four scoreless appearances since returning from the IL a few weeks ago and his scoreless appearance streak is currently at 17.  In true Rays fashion, McHugh served as an opener last week and it wouldn’t surprise us to see that happen again.  However, we will still slot him into the hierarchy since he has been pitching extremely well and is a good option to close out games.  In other Rays’ bullpen news, Nick Anderson isn’t expected to return until rosters expand in September.  

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

Cincinnati Reds – Mychal Givens was used in a non-save situation in the 8th inning yesterday, but he quickly turned it into a save situation.  Givens recorded one out while walking two batters and giving up a double.  Michael Lorenzen came on and had a very interesting outing en route to picking up his second save of the season.  Lorenzen allowed a run-scoring single on his first pitch but then got an inning-ending double play on his second pitch.  Lorenzen came back out for the 9th and proceeded to strike out the first batter on four pitches, gave up a single on his fifth pitch of the inning, and then got another inning-ending double play on his sixth pitch.  Lorenzen ended up getting five outs, including a strikeout, on eight pitches while also giving up two hits.  It was a strangely efficient outing for Lorenzen and certainly caught the Monkey’s eye.

Hierarchy remains: Givens | Lorenzen | Sims.

Pittsburgh Pirates – The Pirates’ bullpen recorded their first save since Richard Rodriguez was traded at the end of July and it went to David Bednar.  Bednar pitched a scoreless 9th inning, with Chris Stratton getting the 8th inning hold ahead of him.  In Friday night’s 4-0 win, it was Bednar in the 8th and Stratton in the 9th so this looks like it could still be a committee.  

Hierarchy remains: *Bednar | Stratton | Shreve.
*=closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners — Diego Castillo was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation.  Casey Sadler, who is currently away from the team on paternity leave, should see more time in the later innings while Castillo is out.

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

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Michael Lorenzen (CIN) – Mychal Givens has pitched in back-to-back games, throwing 35 pitches total.
2. Jake Brentz (KC) – Scott Barlow has pitched in two straight and three of four.
3. Blake Treinen (LAD) – Kenley Jansen has pitched in two straight.
4. Jake Diekman/Andrew Chafin (OAK) – Lou Trivino has pitched in three straight, while Jake Diekman has pitched in two straight.
5. Archie Bradley (PHI) – Ian Kennedy has pitched in two straight, including a 30 pitch outing on Friday.
6. Emilio Pagan (SD) – Mark Melancon pitched two innings yesterday, throwing 30 pitches, and could get rested today.

Monday
1. Chris Stratton/Chasen Shreve (PIT) – If David Bednar pitches today, it will be three straight. Same for Chris Stratton.
2. Adam Cimber (TOR) – If Jordan Romano pitches today, it will be three straight.

Joe Barlow lands on the IL

August 21, 2021

Texas Rangers – The Rangers placed Joe Barlow on the 10-day IL with a blistered finger yesterday. Barlow had been the most effective reliever for Texas and had begun to establish himself as the primary closing option prior to this injury. Spencer Patton and Josh Sborz will likely split any save chances in Barlow’s absence, while Brett Martin will get a chance for some high-leverage work as well.

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

Chicago White Sox — Craig Kimbrel was summoned in the eighth inning of a three-run game. He struggled with his command, but managed to get two outs while only walking one before being lifted for Aaron Bummer. Bummer let the inherited runner score and gave up two of his own to take the blown save. After Liam Hendriks pitched a scoreless 10th, Ryan Tepera converted the save in the 11th. Tepera has been solid in the last month, but he faces a logjam ahead of him for a hierarchy spot.  Kimbrel’s struggles have been a problem, but last night’s blown save wasn’t really on his shoulders. Even so, he seems solidly locked into the eighth inning. 

Hierarchy remains: *Hendriks | Kimbrel | Kopech.
* = closer-by-committee

Washington Nationals — Kyle Finnegan earned another save last night, but it was Andres Machado pitching the eighth inning ahead of him. Machado now has two eighth inning holds in his last two appearances, which is enough to move him onto the hierarchy. With Finnegan needing a rest sometime this weekend, we could see Machado in another high-leverage spot soon. 

Updated hierarchy *Finnegan | Klobosits | Machado.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Jake Diekman (OAK) – Lou Trivino has pitched in two straight and three of four. 
2. Jose Cisnero (DET) – Gregory Soto threw 32 pitches over two innings last night. 
3. Adam Conley (TB) – Andrew Kittredge also threw 32 pitches over two innings last night.
4. Gabe Klobosits (WAS) – Kyle Finnegan has pitched in three of four and four of six. 

Sunday:
1. Craig Kimbrel (CHW) – Today would be two straight and three of four for Liam Hendriks.
2. Archie Bradley/Hector Neris (PHI) – The entire Phillies hierarchy threw 30+ pitches last night, so if any of them pitch today they will need a rest on Sunday. 

Joe Barlow out with Blistered Finger

Texas Rangers – Joe Barlow was placed on the 10 day IL with a blistered finger today. Spencer Patton will take over as the head of this committee with Josh Sborz and Demarcus Evans helping to bridge the gap.

Updated Hierarchy: Patton* | Sborz | Evans

Paul Sewald seems like the man in Seattle

August 20, 2021

Seattle Mariners — The Mariners held a five-run lead in the ninth on Thursday, but that quickly vanished. Anthony Misiewicz started the ninth by allowing three straight hits. Diego Castillo was no better, walking in a run before allowing a game-tying, three-run shot. He managed to retire the final batter of the inning but the damage was done. After Seattle took the lead in the top half of the 11th, Paul Sewald was called in to preserve the lead and he allowed an unearned run but converted his sixth save. Seattle’s situation in the ninth is as murky as any team outside of Tampa, but the team is 10 games above .500 and continues to play in close games, so it seems save chances will be plentiful moving forward. We think Sewald is the one to own, even if some of the opportunities go to his teammates. 

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

New York Yankees — Aroldis Chapman had a rough outing Wednesday, so manager Aaron Boone decided to give his closer the day off and turned to Chad Green, who allowed a run but managed to earn his sixth save. Zack Britton pitched the eighth inning and Jonathan Loaisiga was rested again after he tossed two innings on Tuesday. 

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Loaisiga | Green.

Los Angeles Angels —  Austin Warren tossed the final two innings Thursday for his first save this season. Raisel Iglesias got a four-out save Sunday and also pitched Wednesday, so perhaps rest was in order. Mike Mayers, meanwhile, pitched the seventh inning Thursday ahead of Warren, who has been pitching in Angels wins lately, but is typically the first reliever out of the pen. We’ll monitor his usage in the coming days and weeks, but for now, let’s keep this hierarchy the way it is.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Cishek | Mayers.

Houston Astros – Christian Javier was called upon Thursday to secure his second save after Ryan Pressly pitched the ninth in a tie game. While he doesn’t normally figure into the late-inning plans for Houston, Javier has been effective out of the bullpen this season (2.84 ERA overall with 107 Ks in 85.2 IP).

Hierarchy remains: Pressly | Graveman | Stanek.

Arizona Diamondbacks — Arizona activated Noe Ramirez from the COVID IL on Thursday. We expected him to factor into the late-inning mix before he hit the IL, so we’ll slide him back into the hierarchy and see how the Diamondbacks deploy him.

Updated hierarchy: Clippard | Clarke | Ramirez.

Los Angeles Dodgers — Kenley Jansen got the night off Thursday after pitching in two of three, giving way for Blake Treinen to strike out the side in the ninth for his fourth save. 

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Treinen | Knebel.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Drew Steckenrider (SEA) – Paul Sewald has pitched in three straight games.
2. Richard Rodriguez (ATL) – Even with the off day Thursday, Will Smith has gone in three of five.

Saturday:
1. Jake Diekman (OAK) –  A Friday outing would be three in four days for Lou Trivino.
2. Spencer Patton (TEX) – Joe Barlow threw two innings on 27 pitches Thursday and if he goes Friday, he would likely need a breather Saturday.
3. Tyler Duffey (MIN) – If he goes Friday, it would be four of six for Alex Colome.
4. Jake Brentz (KC) – Same as above for Scott Barlow.
5. Devin Williams/Brad Boxberger (MIL) – Ditto for Josh Hader. If Devin Williams pitches Friday, it’d be five of seven for him.
6. Craig Kimbrel (CHW) – An outing Friday would be three of five for Liam Hendriks.

Aroldis Chapman makes his return and Brad Hand continues to struggle

August 19, 2021

New York Yankees — Aroldis Chapman returned from his injury absence and Aaron Boone announced that he would immediately resume his role as New York’s closer. With a four-run lead, Chapman gave up a solo home run — his seventh on the year, tying his career high — then was pulled for Lucas Luetge after he put two more guys on base. Luetge got a single out to earn his first save of the season, and also his first since August 21, 2012. (Covered, naturally, by Closer Monkey.) Chapman is still looking to recapture his command, but (for now at least) he’ll be doing so in the ninth inning.

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Loaisiga | Green.

Toronto Blue Jays — Toronto has a Brad Hand problem. The lefty surrendered a walk-off walk last Friday, and yesterday he gave up a seventh-inning lead with three runs allowed to his old crew from Washington. Opponents are hitting over 100 points better against Hand since the trade, and he’s given up three home runs in only six innings. We won’t take Hand out of the hierarchy until it’s clear that the Jays have, but we can’t see him getting a shot at a save opportunity anytime soon either.

Updated hierarchy: *Romano | Cimber | Hand.
*=closer-by-committee

San Francisco Giants — We’ve been keeping our eye on the Giants’ seventh-inning situation, and Dominic Leone pitched there again Wednesday, after Zack Littell nailed down the fourth and fifth. San Francisco has several effective relievers to choose from in the late innings — including last year’s closer, Tony Watson, who has three holds in the last week and hasn’t given up a run since he was traded here from the Angels — but we think Leone belongs in the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: *McGee | Rogers | Leone.
* = closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners — The Mariners went with Drew Steckenrider in the ninth on Wednesday, clarifying that although Diego Castillo is a mainstay in the eighth inning, he’s the third option for save chances in this committee.

Updated hierarchy: *Sewald | Steckenrider | Castillo.
* = closer-by-committee

Milwaukee Brewers — When Josh Hader pitched the ninth inning in a tied game, that left the save opportunity in the tenth for Devin Williams, who converted it.

Hierarchy remains: Hader | Williams | Boxberger.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Tyler Duffey (MIN) — Alex Colome has pitched in three of four, including a 31-pitch blown save on Wednesday.
2. Wade Davis (KC) — Scott Barlow gave up three hits in a rocky save last night, and it was his third appearance in four days. Jake Brentz had pitched in three straight before getting yesterday off and Josh Staumont has gone in two in a row, so we’re going to go off-menu and predict a save chance for Davis.
3. Brad Boxberger (MIL) — Josh Hader has pitched in three of four, and Devin Williams four of five.
4. Craig Kimbrel (CHW) — Liam Hendriks earned a five-out save Wednesday and has pitched in two of three and three of five.
5. Giovanny Gallegos/Genesis Cabrera (STL) — Alex Reyes hadn’t pitched in almost a week, but he went two innings yesterday (32 pitches). Gallegos needed 26 pitches himself.
6. Taylor Clarke (ARI) — Tyler Clippard has pitched in two straight, miraculously garnering consecutive saves for Arizona.

Friday:
1. Richard Rodriguez (ATL) — Will Smith has pitched in three of four and might get rested Friday even after Thursday’s off day.
2. Blake Treinen (LAD) — An appearance by Kenley Jansen would mark three of four.
3. Drew Steckenrider (SEA) — Paul Sewald has gone in two straight.