Tanner Rainey could get some last minute saves

September 28, 2021

Washington Nationals – Tanner Rainey has looked significantly better since his return from AAA, and last night, the Nats rewarded him with a save chance. He retired the first two hitters before surrendering a walk and a double, but still got the job done, earning his third save of the year. We’re going to put a committee tag on here as it now seems to reason that Rainey and Kyle Finnegan (who pitched the 8th) are sharing the job.

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

Pittsburgh Pirates – The Pirates welcomed David Bednar back from the IL over the weekend; expect him to return to a high-leverage role — likely sharing save chances with Chris Stratton — in the season’s final week.

Updated hierarchy: *Stratton | Bednar | Shreve.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays – After recording his first save, Nick Anderson needed to head back to the IL with a sore back. The carousel continues to spin.

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

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Devin Williams – The Brewers may give Josh Hader a second day off after he pitched three straight over the weekend.
2. Craig Kimbrel – Liam Hendriks has gone back to back and four of five.

Tomorrow
1. Jhoulys Chacin – If Carlos Estevez goes tonight, it’s back to back.

Rays extend their record some more

September 27, 2021

Tampa Bay Rays – Nick Anderson became the 14th Ray to record a save this season, extending the team’s MLB record. Can you name them all?

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

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Tomorrow
1. Richard Rodriguez – After pitching him 3 straight over the weekend, the Braves may opt to give Will Smith a second straight day off.
2. Chasen Shreve – If Chris Stratton goes today, it’s back to back.
3. Craig Kimbrel/Michael Kopech – If Liam Hendriks or Craig Kimbrel go today, it’s back to back and four of five.
4. Josh Staumont – If Scott Barlow goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.

Baltimore shuts down Wells

September 26, 2021

Baltimore Orioles – Readers of the Vulture Save Watch knew that Tyler Wells wouldn’t get a save chance yesterday, but it turns out Wells will be out for the rest of the season, as the Orioles placed him on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation. Cole Sulser was unavailable after pitching back to back days, which left the save chance to Dillon Tate. Tate converted for his 3rd save on the year. We think Sulser will be the main source of Orioles saves down the stretch, but if Baltimore has multiple save chances this week, Tate or Fernando Abad could snag another.

Updated Hierarchy: Sulser* | Tate | Abad
* = closer-by-committee

Philadelphia Phillies – The Phillies placed Archie Bradley on the injured list on Saturday, which means he will miss the rest of the season. The Phillies still have a chance to make the playoffs, so if they get to third option to close, we could see Hector Neris steal a chance later in the week. Keep an eye on the vulture save watch and we will let you know when Kennedy needs a break.

Updated Hierarchy: Kennedy | Alvarado | Neris

Vulture Save Watch:

Today:
1. Emilio Pagan (SD) – Mark Melancon has pitched in 3 straight
2. Michael Lorenzen/Lucas Sims (CIN) – Mychal Givens has pitched back to back, throwing 45 pitches. Lorenzen and Sims have also worked back to back, but kept their pitch counts low.
3. Devin Williams (MIL) – Josh Hader has pitched back to back, and with the Brewers having locked up the division, they may choose to rest Hader.
4. Jose Alvarez/Dominic Leone (SF) – Tyler Rogers and Tony Watson have both pitched back to back and 4 of 5, while Leone threw 24 pitches last night. Alvarez is comparatively rested and may get a shot today.
5. Richard Rodriguez (ATL) – Will Smith has pitched back to back games and may get a rest.
6. Pete Fairbanks/Nick Anderson (TB) – Collin McHugh threw 33 pitches last night. Fairbanks threw 22, while Anderson hasn’t pitched in 3 days.

For Monday:
1. Sergio Romo (OAK) – Today would be back to back and 4 of 5 for Andrew Chafin, although he has kept his pitch count down.

Wells Shut Down for the Season, Cole Sulser to Lead Committee

Baltimore Orioles – The Orioles placed Tyler Wells on the injured list Saturday with right shoulder inflammation. He will miss the rest of the rest of the season. Cole Sulser will be the main source of Orioles saves down the stretch, with Dillon Tate and Fernando Abad also in the mix.

Updated Hierarchy: Sulser* | Tate | Abad

Paul Sewald records another save for Mariners

September 25, 2021

Seattle Mariners – With the Mariners clinging to a one-run lead, Paul Sewald loaded the bases with only one out.  Luckily for Mariners’ fans and fantasy players with Sewald in their lineups, he was able to work out of the jam and pick up his 11th save of the season.  Drew Steckenrider pitched the 8th inning ahead of Sewald.  The Mariners are desperately battling for the second wild-card spot and they will likely continue to use both Steckenrider and Sewald to close out games for the rest of the season.  

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

Texas Rangers – After the Rangers rallied for five runs in the top of the 9th, Joe Barlow closed out the win and earned his 8th save of the season.  Barlow has recorded all five Rangers’ saves in the month of September and we will reward him by removing his asterisk.

Hierarchy remains: Barlow | Patton | Sborz.

Chicago White Sox — Liam Hendriks closed out a 1-0 White Sox victory with a perfect 9th inning for his 35th save of the season.  When the White Sox acquired Craig Kimbrel about eight weeks ago, we thought Hendriks value would take a hit, but Kimbrel has only recorded one save in a White Sox uniform. and that was on a day Henriks was unavailable.  This hasn’t been a committee at all and the asterisk should have been removed long ago.  

Hierarchy remains: Hendriks | Kimbrel | Kopech.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Cole Sulser/Dillon Tate (BAL) – Tyler Wells has pitched in two straight and four of five. Cole Sulser has also pitched in two straight but only threw 9 pitches yesterday so he could still be available today.
2. Michael Kopech (CHW) – Liam Hendriks has pitched in two straight and three of four while Kimbrel has also pitched in two straight.
3. Joe Kelly (LAD) – Kenley Jansen and Blake Treinen have both pitched in two straight and three of four.
4. Jose Alvarado (PHI) – Ian Kennedy has pitched in three of the last four, throwing a total of 82 pitches.
5. Emilio Pagan (SD) – Mark Melancon has pitched in two straight and three of four.
6. Dominic Leone (SF) – Tyler Rogers has pitched in three of the last four.
7. Diego Castillo (SEA) – Drew Steckenrider has pitched in three of the last four, while Paul Sewald has pitched in four of the last five.
8. Genesis Cabrera/Luis Garcia (STL) – Giovanny Gallegos has pitched in two straight, three of four, and five of seven. Genesis Cabrera went two innings yesterday but only threw 18 pitches so he could still be available today.
9. Andres Machado/Tanner Rainey (WAS) – Kyle Finnegan has pitched in two straight, throwing 20+ pitches in both outings

Sunday
1. Michael Lorenzen (CIN) – Mychal Givens threw 34 pitches yesterday so if he pitches again today, he will likely get Sunday off.
2. Tyler Duffy/Casey Thielbar (MIN) – If Alex Colome pitches today, it will be two straight and four of five. Same for Tyler Duffy.
3. Spencer Patton (TEX) – If Joe Barlow pitches today, it will be three straight.