Jeffrey Springs hits the IL; Tanner Rainey sent down

August 2, 2021

Washington Nationals – Tanner Rainey was sent to AAA to try and get back on track. Rookie Gabe Klobosits, a 6’7″ righty who has two holds in his first two major league appearances, slides into this hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Finnegan | Suero | Klobosits.

Tampa Bay Rays — Jeffrey Springs was officially placed on the IL today with a right knee injury. Matt Wisler, Andrew Kitteredge, and Drew Rasmussen should all help close out games until the Rays start getting some of their injured bullpen arms back; Wisler was the one who got (and converted) the save chance yesterday.

Updated hierarchy: *Wisler | Kittredge | Rasmussen.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Tony Watson – The whole Giants hierarchy has gone back to back and three of four, so maybe old pal Tony Watson gets the save chance today.

Tomorrow
1. Wander Suero – If Kyle Finnegan goes today, it’s back to back and four of five.
2. Giovanny Gallegos – If Alex Reyes goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.
3. Chad Green – If Aroldis Chapman goes today, it’s back to back and four of five.

Jeffrey Springs lands on the IL

August 1, 2021

Tampa Bay Rays — Jeffrey Springs was officially placed on the IL today with a right knee injury. Matt Wisler, Andrew Kitteredge, and Drew Rasmussen should all help close out games until the Rays start getting some of their injured bullpen arms back.

Updated hierarchy: *Wisler | Kittredge | Rasmussen.
* = closer-by-committee

Jeffrey Springs leaves game after hurting his knee while we get a look at a few teams who traded their closer at the deadline

August 1, 2021

Chicago Cubs —  The first post-Kimbrel save for the Cubs went to…Kyle Ryan!  The lefty reliever who recently got called back up pitched a scoreless 9th inning for his first save.  Rex Brothers struggled in the 8th inning and Codi Heuer was impressive in his debut.  Brothers has now given up eight earned runs over his last five appearances and while it’s hard to predict too much after just one game without Kimbrel, we think the Heuer, the guy that the Cubs got back in the Kimbrel trade, did enough to put himself in a good position to earn saves moving forward.

Updated hierarchy: *Heuer | Brothers | Ryan.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays — Jeffrey Springs left the game yesterday after hurting his right knee and will likely land on the IL.  Andrew Kittredge struck out the side in the sixth inning to record the win yesterday and Matt Wisler got five key ours after Springs was injured.  We will slide Wisler ahead of Andrew Kittredge based on yesterday’s usage but it can be hard to read too much into usage for the Rays since they move their relievers all around.  Expect an alert later today if Springs hits the IL.

Updated hierarchy: *Springs | Wisler | Kittredge.
* = closer-by-committee

Baltimore Orioles —  With the Orioles protecting a three-run lead yesterday, Dillon Tate pitched a scoreless 8th inning and Tanner Scott got the call to start the 9th inning in a save situation.  Unfortunately for anybody who might own Scott in fantasy, he was not able to secure the save (he couldn’t even secure one out) as he loaded the bases for the second straight outing.  Cole Sulser came on to bail Scott out and pick up his second straight save.  We mentioned yesterday that Sulser could see more saves and after this impressive appearance, we will move him up to the head of this committee.

Updated hierarchy: *Sulser | Tate | Fry.
* = closer-by-committee

Pittsburgh Pirates – We got our first glimpse of the Pirates bullpen yesterday without Richard Rodriguez and David Bednar got the call in the 8th inning with the Pirates up one run.  Bednar couldn’t get the job done as he allowed the game-tying run to score.  With the game still tied in the top of the 9th, Chris Stratton came on and ended up with the win after pitching a scoreless inning and watching the Pirates walk it off in the bottom of the inning.  We still like Bednar but it looks like this will be a committee at the very least and we will keep an eye out to see if Stratton moves ahead of him.

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

Texas Rangers — Spencer Patton got the first save chance after the Rangers traded their closer Ian Kennedy, but he was unable to convert as he gave up a game-tying homer in the 9th inning.   Patton stuck around for the 10th inning and allowed the free runner at second base to score but got out of the inning without allowing any earned runs and ended up with the win after the Rangers rallied in the bottom of the 10th.  It was not an ideal start for Patton but we still think he is the best bet for saves at this point.

Hierarchy remains: *Patton | Sborz | Barlow.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Yankees — The Yankees gave Aroldis Chapman the day off yesterday as the Vulture Save Watch predicted, but the save went to Jonathan Loiasiga instead of Chad Green.  Loaisiga had one blow-up outing recently where he gave up four runs, but other than that he has been great and we will slide him up first in line behind Chapman after yesterday’s save.

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Loiasiga | Green.

Cleveland Indians – James Karinchak started the 8th inning with Cleveland up four runs, but quickly ran into trouble as he allowed a two-run homer and then a single while only recording one out.  Emmanuel Clase came on and although he allowed that inherited runner to score, he did not allow any other runs to score en route to a five-out save.  Karinchak has allowed five earned runs while only recording one out in his last two outings and has also allowed at least one earned run in four of his last seven appearances.  Meanwhile, Clase has strung together six straight scoreless appearances and could be on his way to moving back to the top of this committee.

Hierarchy remains: *Karinchak | Clase | Shaw.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Paul Fry (BAL) – Cole Sulser and Dillon Tate have both gone in two straight and three of four. Paul Fry has also pitched in two straight but has only thrown 18 pitches total so he might still be available.
2. Emmanuel Clase (CLE) – James Karinchak has pitched in two straight and three of four.

Monday
1. Steve Cishek (LAA) – Raisel Iglesias got a four our save yesterday and could get Monday off if he pitches again today.
2. Tyler Rogers/Dominic Leone (SF) – If Jake McGee pitches today, it will be two straight and three of four. Same for Tyler Rogers.
3. Paul Sewald/Drew Steckenrider (SEA) – If Diego Castillo pitches today, it will be three straight. Same for Paul Sewald.
4. Joe Barlow (TEX) – Spencer Patton threw 34 pitches yesterday and will likely get Monday off if he pitches again today.