April 12, 2022

Baltimore Orioles – Jorge Lopez picked up the save on Monday, pitching a scoreless 9th inning. Dillon Tate pitched the 7th inning, while Paul Fry didn’t appear, having thrown 42 pitches on Sunday. Lopez doesn’t exactly profile as a closer — he’s a 29-year-old with career a 7.6 K/9 rate who walks almost half as many guys as he strikes out — but one thing he has going for him is that he’s a converted starter, meaning that he might be able to throw a touch harder in his current relief role. At any rate, he’s the only Oriole with a save so far this year, which is enough to move him to the top of this dreadful committee for the time being.

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

Colorado Rockies – Ashton Goudeau pitched the 10th inning in Colorado’s win on Monday, earning his first career save. The rest of the hierarchy had already appeared earlier in the game, so this doesn’t figure to amount to much.

Hierarchy remains: *Bard | Colome | Estevez.
* = closer-by-committee

Philadelphia Phillies – Corey Knebel is day to day with “flu-like symptoms,” allowing Brad Hand to pick up the save. Seranthony Dominguez had already pitched, but Hand’s perfect 9th is good enough to move him into the hierarchy. Also, note that if Knebel’s symptoms turn out to be COVID, he could miss a decent stretch of time.

Updated hierarchy: Knebel | Dominguez | Hand.

Minnesota Twins – The Twins are still sorting out their late inning gameplans, but things don’t look great for Tyler Duffey, who was called upon in the 7th inning yesterday after blowing his first save chance of the season in the opener. This wasn’t even really a matchup play — he faced the Tigers 5-6-7 hitters — and it was Jhoan Duran who again flashed impressive stuff in closing out the victory in a non-save situation. With Jorge Alcala also being used in the 7th inning in his last appearance, our best guess is that Emilio Pagan will get the next save chance, but keep an eye on Duran, a rookie whose 102 mph fastball has earned praise from manager Rocco Baldelli.

Updated hierarchy: *Pagan | Duran | Duffey.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Angels – Ryan Tepera pitched a clean 8th inning ahead of Raisel Iglesias, which is the second consecutive time he’s been used in this fashion. He and Aaron Loup appear to be the main bridges to Iglesias.

Updated hierarchy: Iglesias | Tepera | Loup.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Seth Lugo/Adam Ottavino – Edwin Diaz could return from the bereavement list today; if not, Seth Lugo or Adam Ottavino would be the likely choices for the 9th, as Trevor May is day to day with arm fatigue.
2. Robert Suarez – Taylor Rogers has pitched in three of four.
3. Seranthony Dominguez – Corey Knebel is day-to-day with flu-like symptoms.

Tomorrow
1. Ryan Tepera – If Raisel Iglesias goes today, it’s two straight.
2. Yimi Garcia – If Jordan Romano goes today, it’s two straight and three of four.
3. Bryan Shaw – If Emmanuel Clase goes today, it’s two straight and three of four.
4. Alex Colome – If Daniel Bard goes today, it’s two straight and three of four.
5. Michael Fulmer – If Gregory Soto goes today, it’s two straight.