Melancon on COVID IL, Lugo returns to form.

April 30, 2022

Arizona Diamondbacks — At the time of last night’s alert, Mark Melancon’s injury was undisclosed, but it later came out that he was placed on the COVID IL.  While it didn’t end up as a save situation, we did get a good look at how Arizona will deploy their bullpen in close games. Noe Ramirez got the last out of the 7th inning, and the first two of the 8th. Joe Mantiply shut the door in the 8th and Ian Kennedy got the 9th to himself. This is probably how the Diamondbacks will set up their hierarchy without Melancon, but as with all COVID IL placements, Melancon may be back sooner rather than later.

Updated Hierarchy: Kennedy | Mantiply | Ramirez.

New York Mets — Edwin Diaz capped off a 5 reliever no-hitter for the Mets last night, earning his fourth save of the year in the process. Tylor Megill, Drew Smith, Joely Rodriguez and Seth Lugo also took part in the no-no, with Lugo getting the last 2 outs of the 8th inning. Lugo has bounced back from a rough start on the year to put together 4 scoreless appearances in a row, and with Trevor May struggling in his last few chances, its looking like Lugo has jumped him in the hierarchy. 

Updated Hierarchy: Diaz | Smith | Lugo

Boston Red Sox — The Red Sox tried to use a combination of Jake Diekman and Hansel Robles to close out Friday’s game, but when Robles ran into trouble in the 9th they pulled him in favor of Matt Strahm. Strahm walked the first batter he faced before getting a strikeout to secure his first save of the year. Strahm has been solid in the early going, but isn’t quite ready to crack the hierarchy yet. Diekman was brought in to face the top of the lineup, and Matt Barnes was coming off pitching in 2 of 3, so a rest for him isn’t too unusual. The Red Sox are still looking for some certainty in their bullpen, but we didn’t get that last night. 

Hierarchy Remains: *Diekman | Robles | Barnes.
* = closer-by-committee

Vulture Save Watch:

For today:

  1. Steven Wilson/Robert Suarez (SD) — Taylor Rogers was pressed into service last night when Craig Stammen struggled in the 9th, and that makes 3 days in a row for Rogers. Wilson is well rested.
  2. Ryan Tepera/Archie Bradley (LAA) — Raisel Iglesias has pitched back to back and 4 of 5 and will need the day off. The rest of the pen is stretched thin, so this may be a deep cut for the save.
  3. Tyler Matzek (ATL) — Kenley Jansen has pitched in 3 of 4, throwing 32 pitches in that span.
  4. Cole Sulser (MIA) — Anthony Bender has pitched in back to back and 3 of 4.
  5. Matt Barnes (BOS) — Jake Diekman and Hansel Robles have both pitched in 3 of 4, while Barnes was held out last night.
  6. Kendall Graveman (CHW) — Liam Henriks has been dealing with back spasms, although he should be back at this point.

For Sunday:

  1. Joe Mantiply/Noe Ramirez (ARI) — Today would be back to back and 4 of 5 for Ian Kennedy.
  2. Brian Shaw (CLE) — Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for Emmanuel Clase

Cole Sulser, Rafael Montero pick up saves

April 29, 2022

Miami Marlins – As predicted in the Vulture Save Watch, Anthony Bender was not available Thursday after pitching in two straight, so the Marlins turned to Cole Sulser, who converted for his first save. This usage alone requires a slight adjustment to the hierarchy. Meanwhile, Dylan Floro is on a rehab assignment and could factor into this mix when he returns. 

Updated hierarchy: *Bender | Sulser | Scott.
* = closer-by-committee

Houston Astros — As Ryan Pressley continues to spend time on the IL, manager Dusty Baker has now had two different men convert a save this week, and neither one went to Hector Neris. After Ryne Stanek converted on Wednesday, Rafael Montero doing the honors on Thursday. Montero did allow a solo shot in the ninth, but otherwise he has looked sharp this season.

Updated hierarchy: *Stanek | Montero | Neris.
* = closer-by-committee.

Tampa Bay Rays – The Rays played the matchups in the ninth on Thursday. Lefty Colin Poche got the call to begin the ninth, with lefty JP Crawford due up and another lefty (Jarred Kelenic) scheduled to hit fourth in the inning. Poche allowed a single to Crawford and then recorded two outs. When Kelenic was lifted for a pinch hitter, manager Kevin Cash turned to Ryan Thompson, who struck out the lone hitter he faced for his second save. J.P. Feyereisen tossed two shutout innings earlier in the game, while Andrew Kittredge was not used. Rays gonna Rays! 

Hierarchy remains: *Kittredge | Feyereisen | Thompson.
* = closer-by-committee

Pittsburgh Pirates — Pittsburgh held a 2-1 lead Thursday and went with David Bednar in the eighth and Chris Statton in the ninth. Bednar retired the side on 10 pitches for his fourth hold but Stratton was not nearly as effective, yielding four hits and two runs to cough up the lead and blow the save. Bednar (0.00 ERA) is the better pitcher here, but the pair will likely continue to share save chances, unless Stratton (5.40 ERA) starts to scuffle a bit more.

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

Kansas City Royals — Just like Pittsburgh, KC features a tandem sharing save chances this season. It was Josh Staumont’s turn in the eighth inning Thursday, but he allowed the tying run on two hits. Scott Barlow pitched a clean ninth, and after the Royals took the lead in the 10th inning, Taylor Clarke struck out two in retiring the side for his first save. Amir Garrett (0.00 ERA) has also been effective this season, but if Clarke shows again that he’s a late-innings option, perhaps a hierarchy switch is in order behind Staumont and Barlow.

Hierarchy remains: *Staumont | Barlow | Garrett.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago White Sox — Manager Tony La Russa said he might have used Liam Hendriks (back spasms) on Thursday if there was a save chance, but otherwise he was avoiding him. So, it seems Hendriks could return as soon as Friday or Saturday.

Hierarchy remains: Hendriks | Graveman | Bummer.

Milwaukee Brewers – Josh Hader already has 10 saves and we haven’t reached the end of April, so naturally he has been busy lately, going in two straight and four of five. As the Vulture Save Watch predicted, Devin Williams came on for the save Thursday, striking out the side. 

Hierarchy remains: Hader | Williams | Boxberger.

Minnesota Twins – Your nontraditional vulture save of the day goes to Griffin Jax, who completed the final three innings of a 7-1 win for his first save. The Twins’ situation is messy, but Jax likely won’t be competing for many more save chances this season.

Hierarchy remains: *Pagan | Duran | Duffey.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Friday:
1. Trevor Gott (MIL) – OK, hear us out. Josh Hader got Thursday off but he’s still pitched in two of three and four of six. Devin Williams and Brad Boxberger, meanwhile, have gone in two straight. Trevor Gott has two holds on the year and did not pitch Thursday, so perhaps he’s next in line?
2. Robert Suarez (SD) – Taylor Rogers has pitched in two straight.
3. Ryan Tepera (LAA) – Raisel Iglesias has gone in three of four.
4. Yimi Garcia (TOR) – Jordan Romano has gone in two of three and three of five.
5. Kendall Graveman (CHW) – If Liam Hendriks can’t go (back spasms), Graveman could be the man after some rest on Thursday.

Saturday:
1. Devin Williams (MIL) – If they bring Hader into action Friday, that would be five of seven for him. Williams, who presumably won’t pitch Friday, could be available if needed Saturday.
2. Kendall Graveman (CHW) – Will Liam Hendriks be ready to pitch by this point?
3. Ian Kennedy (ARI) – An appearance Friday would be three of four for Mark Melancon.
4. Tyler Matzek (ATL) – Same as above for Kenley Jansen.

Ryne Stanek coming in hot for Houston

April 28, 2022

Houston Astros — It took a while for Houston to pick up its first save in Ryan Pressly’s absence, and it went not to Hector Neris but Ryne Stanek, who was throwing 100 MPH heat. With Pressly eligible to return but not yet ready, Dusty Baker could stay with the hot hand in Stanek, or pivot to Neris or Rafael Montero, each of whom he noted has closing experience.

Updated hierarchy: *Stanek | Neris | Montero.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Yankees — Bullpen hierarchies change fast, and Aaron Boone has quickly found that his most trusted late-inning relievers ahead of Aroldis Chapman are 29-year-old sinkerballer Clay Holmes and crafty long man Michael King. Boone’s turn to Holmes last night for a vulture save with Chapman resting means a promotion to first in line. 

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Holmes | Loaisiga.

Seattle Mariners — Paul Sewald has returned from his stint on the COVID IL, which had him haunting a Little League mound to keep his arm loose. Scott Servais said that Sewald will immediately regain his high-leverage role, which puts him in the heart of the closer committee conversation with Andres Muñoz, Diego Castillo, and Drew Steckenrider.

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

Chicago Cubs — After Mychal Givens blew a two-run lead in the eighth, David Robertson got the Cubs out of trouble and pitched a perfect ninth, leaving Rowan Wick to grab his first save of the season in extra innings.

Hierarchy remains: Robertson | Givens | Wick.

Chicago White Sox — The Vulture Save Watch correctly predicted a Kendall Graveman save on Wednesday with Liam Hendriks continuing to recover from back spasms.

Hierarchy remains: Hendriks | Graveman | Bummer.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Thursday:
1. Devin Williams (MIL) — No chance that Josh Hader (10 saves) pitches after going in two straight and four of five.
2. Aaron Bummer (CWS) — Not clear when Liam Hendriks will be ready again.
3. Joe Mantiply (ARI) — Mark Melancon and Ian Kennedy have each pitched in two straight.
4. Will Smith (ATL) — Same story with Kenley Jansen and Tyler Matzek.
5. Tanner Scott/Cole Sulser (MIA) — Anthony Bender threw on two straight nights, including 22 pitches on Wednesday. Scott was ineffective last night, putting all three batters he faced on base.

Friday:
1. Devin Williams/Brad Boxberger (MIL) — There’s a possibility of two days of rest for Hader.
2. Ryan Tepera (LAA) — If Raisel Iglesias pitches today, that will be three of four.

Liam Hendriks is day-to-day; Anthony Bender returns

April 27, 2022

Chicago White Sox — Liam Hendriks is day-to-day with back spasms and was potentially available on Tuesday, though he wasn’t needed in a 6-0 loss. 

Hierarchy remains: Hendriks | Graveman | Bummer.

Miami Marlins – Anthony Bender had been unavailable over the weekend with hip soreness, but he returned on Tuesday and pitched a perfect ninth inning for his third save of the season.

Updated hierarchy: *Bender | Scott | Sulser.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox — The Red Sox may want Matt Barnes to take over as closer but they sure didn’t act like it on Tuesday. After Hansel Robles picked up an eighth-inning hold facing the middle of the Toronto order, Jake Diekman entered the ninth for the save. He gave up back-to-back doubles, struck out two and then allowed a homer to George Springer before Barnes came in to get send the game to extras and an eventual Sox loss. It’s hard to trust anyone in the Sox bullpen right now without Garrett Whitlock.

Updated hierarchy: *Diekman | Robles | Barnes.
* = closer-by-committee

Atlanta Braves – Tyler Matzek earned his fourth hold of the season on Tuesday with a clean eighth inning. Matzek has allowed just one hit and only one earned run in 6.2 IP, and all four of his holds this year have come in the eighth inning of Atlanta wins.

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Matzek | Smith.

New York Yankees — Clay Holmes continued his strong season on Tuesday with a seventh-inning hold that lowered his ERA to 1.04. Chad Green has allowed two runs on three hits in each of his last two outings, including this past Saturday.

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Loaisiga | Holmes. 

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Kendall Graveman – As mentioned above, Liam Hendriks is still day-to-day.
2. Ryan Tepera – Raisel Iglesias has pitched in back-to-back games.
3. Trevor May – Edwin Diaz has gone in two straight.

Thursday
1. Jonathan Loaisiga – Aroldis Chapman threw 24 pitches on Tuesday and if he doesn’t get Wednesday off he’ll surely avoid a third straight day of work.
2. Yimi Garcia/Adam Cimber – A Wednesday appearance would be two straight for both Jordan Romano and Garcia.
3. Tyler Matzek/Will Smith – Likewise for Kenley Jansen and the rest of the Atlanta hierarchy.
4. Michael Fulmer/Joe Jimenez – If either Gregory Soto or Fulmer pitch today, that’ll be two in a row, though Soto may sit out today in protest of last night’s shenanigans.