Tanner Houck returns to the Red Sox, but Garrett Whitlock could make that irrelevant

June 30, 2022

Boston Red Sox — Tanner Houck will be back with the Red Sox for Friday’s game against the Cubs and should immediately retake the reins of the ninth inning. Maybe not for long, though, with Alex Cora insinuating that Garrett Whitlock will re-enter the bullpen when he returns from the injured list.

Updated hierarchy: Houck | Schreiber | Strahm.

Atlanta Braves — In Kenley Jansen’s absence, AJ Minter and Will Smith have each converted a save chance, and we expect both men to continue to share the closer role, as beat writers initially reported. Someone has to fill the first slot on our chart, but understand that this is pretty much a tie, and speculating on one or the other is unlikely to pay off handsomely.

Hierarchy remains: *Minter | Smith | McHugh.
* = closer-by-committee

Pittsburgh Pirates — David Bednar remained unavailable on Wednesday, and the best-rested option in the Pirates’ bullpen was Yerry de los Santos. The rookie picked up his first career save as a result.

Hierarchy remains: Bednar | Crowe | Stratton.

San Diego Padres — Another Wednesday, another long save for Nick Martinez. Only 20 more to go to catch Taylor Rogers.

Hierarchy remains: Rogers | Garcia | Crismatt.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Michael King (NYY) — Clay Holmes will not pitch in a third straight game (four out of five).
2. Adam Cimber (TOR) — All of the Blue Jays’ top relievers have gone in two straight, but Cimber has thrown fewer pitches.
3. Trevor Stephan (CLE) — Emmanuel Clase and Eli Morgan have each pitched back-to-back.
4. Wil Crowe/Chris Stratton (PIT) — It’s not clear whether David Bednar will be back. Crowe threw 44 pitches on Tuesday.
5. Devin Williams (MIL) — Josh Hader, Brad Boxberger, and Williams have all gone two in a row, but Williams has the lowest usage (barely).

Friday:
1. Emilio Pagan (MIN) — Jhoan Duran threw 33 pitches Wednesday.

A.J. Minter gets first Braves save after Kenley Jansen was placed on IL

June 29, 2022

Atlanta Braves – The Braves might have tipped their hands on who they think should be closing games without Kenley Jansen. A.J. Minter got the first post-Jansen save chance Tuesday and converted for his first save of 2022. Will Smith was presumably available, but he did not appear. Consider this a fluid situation for now, but given the usage, we’ll slide Minter ahead of Smith and slap on the committee tag.

Updated hierarchy: *Minter | Smith | McHugh.
* = closer-by-committee

Pittsburgh Pirates — David Bednar has been dealing with a lower back issue and was not available Tuesday night. Manager Derek Shelton said they hope to avoid an IL stint.

Hierarchy remains: Bednar | Crowe | Stratton.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
:
1. Ian Kennedy (ARI) – Mark Melancon has pitched in three of four.

Thursday:
1. Michael King/Miguel Castro (NYY) – A Wednesday outing would be three of four for Clay Holmes. Michael King, meanwhile, has already gone in three of four entering Wednesday.

Raisel Iglesias faces suspension; Matt Bush, Josh Staumont hit the IL

June 28, 2022

Texas Rangers – Matt Bush was placed on the IL over the weekend, which means Dennis Santana will be in line for more 8th inning opportunities. Lefties Brett Martin and Matt Moore could also see a few more holds as a result.

Updated hierarchy: Barlow | Santana | Martin.

Kansas City Royals – Josh Staumont was placed on the IL, retroactive to 6/23, with a neck strain. We’ll give Dylan Coleman the edge for the 8th inning role for the time being.

Updated hierarchy: Barlow | Coleman | Clarke.

Los Angeles Angels – Raisel Iglesias was suspended two games and Ryan Tepera was suspended three games for their roles in the bench-clearing brawl with the Mariners over the weekend. They’re appealing their suspensions, but will likely both miss short stretches in the coming days. When that happens, look for the Angels to deploy Aaron Loup, Archie Bradley, and Oliver Ortega in the late innings.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Tepera | Loup.

Washington Nationals – Kyle Finnegan was already “hot” in the bullpen and was ready to go in for the top of the 9th in a game the Nationals were initially down 2-1. When they rallied to take the lead, Davey Martinez stuck with his set-up man, knowing he’d be down Tuesday either way, having already gotten loose. The result was Finnegan’s first save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Rainey | Finnegan | Edwards.

Baltimore Orioles – Keegan Akin got a 3.1 inning save on Monday night, finishing a game the Orioles won 9-2 for his first save of the season. Akin now has 19 appearances on the season, all of which have gone two innings or longer, a role that seems to suit him, as he’s sitting on a 2.35 ERA and 0.86 WHIP. In very deep or AL-only leagues, he’s a potential percentages contributor, though he’s likely to garner many holds.

Hierarchy remains: Lopez | Bautista | Tate.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today/tomorrow

1. Aaron Loup/Archie Bradley – Raisel Iglesias and Ryan Tepera both pitched yesterday, and it might make strategic sense for them to drop their appeals and begin their suspensions before games when they’d both be unavailable anyway. If they go again today, maybe that happens tomorrow.

Two saves in two days for Lou Trivino; Tanner Houck won’t pitch in Toronto

June 27, 2022

Tampa Bay Rays – Brooks Raley picked up his 4th save of the season with a clean 9th, after a scoreless 8th from Jason Adam. It’s his first save since May 11 so he’s probably still in about the right place on this hierarchy, but it’s the Rays so, you know, whatever.

Hierarchy remains: *Poche | Adam | Raley.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s – Two saves in two days for Lou Trivino? That… really wasn’t expected, nor was this type of usage deserved, but given that the A’s are surely going to be selling off parts in the near future, maybe they’re seeing if Trivino can built enough value to net some random AA player at the deadline. We’ll shuffle him up a spot.

Updated hierarchy: *Puk | Trivino | Jackson.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox – The unvaccinated Tanner Houck won’t be making the trip to Toronto with the rest of the team, so we’ll remove him from the hierarchy for the next couple days. The Red Sox will likely give the keys to the 9th inning to John Schreiber during their time in Canada.

Updated hierarchy: Schreiber | Strahm | Robles.

Los Angeles Angels – After Raisel Iglesias and Ryan Tepera both got ejected in an early-inning fracas, Oliver Ortega was tasked with the final two innings of a one-run game. Ortega delivered two scoreless innings, earning his first save of the season in the process.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Tepera | Loup.

Philadelphia Phillies – Seranthony Dominguez and Brad Hand had gone two of the past three days, so after Corey Knebel and Jose Alvarado put up zeroes in the 7th and 8th innings, Andrew Bellatti got the 9th inning and retired the side in order. Bellatti now has 35 Ks in just 23.2 innings and could see more late-inning action.

Updated hierarchy: *Dominguez | Hand | Bellatti.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Dodgers – Brusdar Graterol got an 11th inning save on Sunday night after Craig Kimbrel had pitched earlier in the game. Also, keep an eye here on Reyes Moronta, who pitched two scoreless innings in this one and has been stellar when healthy this season.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Graterol | Phillips.

Cincinnati Reds – While he wasn’t needed during Cincinnati’s 7-run blowout victory on Sunday, Hunter Strickland is now the man for the Reds for the time being, David Bell confirmed. There are a lot of injured relievers in this pen right now, so this could change as guys come off the IL, but for now, we’re removing Strickland’s asterisk.

Updated hierarchy: Strickland | Hoffman | Kuhnel.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today

1. Evan Phillips – Craig Kimbrel threw 25 pitches last night and has appeared in three of the last five, while Brusdar Graterol has gone three straight.

Tomorrow
1. Brusdar Graterol – If Craig Kimbrel is able to go, however, he’ll certainly be off Tuesday.
2. Anthony Bass – If Tanner Scott goes tonight, it’s back to back.
3. Kyle Finnegan – If Tanner Rainey goes tonight, it’s back to back and three of four.