A.J. Puk leads Oakland committee after Zach Jackson hits IL

August 31, 2022

Oakland A’s – Zach Jackson was placed on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation. A.J. Puk, who picked up his fourth save of the year on Sunday, takes over as committee leader.

Updated hierarchy: *Puk | Acevedo | Moll.
* = closer-by-committee

Houston Astros – Rafael Montero got a second day off in a row following a 24-pitch save on Sunday, which allowed Hector Neris to close out Tuesday’s 4-2 win.

Hierarchy remains: Montero | Neris | Abreu.

San Diego Padres – After Nick Martinez earned a save on Monday, the Padres sent him out to protect a three-run ninth-inning lead on Tuesday. Martinez allowed a two-run homer but was able to convert his eighth save of the year. Yesterday we said we’d be quick to pull the asterisk with another Martinez save and we’re staying true to our word, though he will most likely get today off.

Updated hierarchy: Martinez | Garcia | Hader.

Pittsburgh Pirates – Score one for the Vulture Save Watch, as Chase de Jong secured his first MLB save thanks to a sweet double play.

Hierarchy remains: Crowe | Underwood | de Jong.

Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers didn’t have many relievers available on Tuesday, which meant that Jake Reed got the ball in the ninth inning with a one-run lead against the Mets. Reed, who pitched for the Mets earlier this season and was called up by the Dodgers on Tuesday afternoon, recorded the final three outs for his first MLB save.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Phillips | Vesia.

Seattle Mariners — Chris Flexen picked up his first MLB save on Tuesday after he pitched the final four innings in a 9-3 win over Detroit.

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

Boston Red Sox – Tanner Houck was scheduled to throw live BP yesterday but couldn’t because his back continues to be sore. Unfortunately for the Red Sox, Ryan Brasier was able to throw live BP yesterday.

Hierarchy remains: *Whitlock | Schreiber | Barnes.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Yimi Garcia (TOR) – Jordan Romano has gone in two straight, throwing 36 pitches in the process.
2. Alex Vesia (LAD) – Craig Kimbrel may get another day off after throwing 32 pitches on Monday while Evan Phillips has gone in two straight.
3. Luis Garcia/Josh Hader (SD) – Nick Martinez has gone two straight and three of four, throwing 44 pitches over the last two days. Garcia had a 24-pitch outing last night.
4. Dylan Coleman (KC) – Scott Barlow threw 22 pitches yesterday.

Tomorrow
1. Taylor Rogers (MIL) – If Devin Williams pitches today that will be three of four.

Nick Martinez, Jimmy Herget move to the top of their committees

August 30, 2022

San Diego Padres – Before Monday’s game, Bob Melvin said that Nick Martinez was his preferred closer for the time being, and then went to Martinez in the 9th inning, whereupon the righty picked up his 7th save of the year. Melvin also said he wants to give Josh Hader (who after another awful outing Sunday has a 23.14 ERA with the Padres) more regular work, and Luis Garcia is still in the mix on occasion, but we’ll be quick to pull this asterisk if Martinez gets another save or two.

Updated hierarchy: *Martinez | Garcia | Hader.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins – Tanner Scott’s rough outing on Friday — a blown save in a game the Marlins go on to would lose in extras — was followed on Monday by a 7th inning appearance. For his part, Scott was dominant, needing just 12 pitches to strike out the 8-9-1 hitters, but this was an unusual spot for Miami’s ostensible closer. Dylan Floro last got a save two weeks ago, and pitched a scoreless 9th last night to keep the game tied, so it’s possible the Marlins are moving toward a committee approach. We will monitor.

Hierarchy remains: Scott | Floro | Okert.

Los Angeles Dodgers – After Craig Kimbrel, who was in his second inning of work, issued two walks to load the bases with one out, Chris Martin came on and wriggled out of the jam, getting a strikeout and popout to end the game. It was Martin’s first save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Phillips | Vesia.

Pittsburgh Pirates – Wil Crowe had a brutal outing on Monday, giving up the game-tying home run in the bottom of the 8th, and then a walkoff two-run homer in the 9th. Despite an underwhelming August, the Pirates probably aren’t ready to make a move here yet, but if they do want to tinker, setup man Duane Underwood has been steady, while Chase de Jong has a 13.1 inning scoreless streak.

Updated hierarchy: Crowe | Underwood | de Jong.

New York Yankees – The Yankees brought Clay Holmes back from the IL yesterday, and the righty immediately got some action, pitching a scoreless 7th inning. As long as he doesn’t show any rust, we expect that he will be eased back into the closer role in the next week or two, so we’re slotting him in at the top with the understanding that he might have another tune-up outing before he’s back to the 9th.

Updated hierarchy: *Holmes | Peralta | Loaisiga.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Angels – Nursing a 1-run lead, the Angels had lefty Jose Quijada finish off the 8th inning, and then asked him to stay on to get through Anthony Rizzo. Once Rizzo was retired, Jimmy Herget came on for the game’s final two outs. This is still very much a committee, but since Herget has gotten the last two saves, we’ll shuffle him to the top.

Updated hierarchy: *Herget | Quijada | Chavez.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Brad Boxberger – Devin Williams has gone back to back and three of four.
2. Evan Phillips – Craig Kimbrel threw 32 pitches across 1.1 innings of work last night.
3. Chase de Jong – Wil Crowe and Duane Underwood have both gone back to back.
4. Jhoan Duran – Jorge Lopez has gone back to back.

Tomorrow
1. Yimi Garcia – Jordan Romano threw 20 pitches last night; another extended outing and he could get Wednesday off.

Ryan Helsley, Gregory Soto have forgettable outings

August 29, 2022

St. Louis Cardinals – In his second appearance since returning from the paternity/restricted list, Ryan Helsley came on in the 7th inning with the tying runs on base and promptly gave up a go-ahead 3-run homer to Dansby Swanson. It was the only blemish (albeit a quite large one) on his outing, as he retired the next four hitters and earned the win after the Cardinals rallied; the 9th went to Giovanny Gallegos, who earned his 13th save. Helsley remains pretty safe here, as this was clearly the high-leverage play by Oliver Marmol. In an unrelated move, we’ll slide Jordan Hicks up to the second in line spot, as the mercurial Genesis Cabrera was optioned over the weekend after a couple of rough outings.

Updated hierarchy: Helsley | Gallegos | Hicks.

Detroit Tigers – Gregory Soto made a mess of the 9th inning in what was initially a non-save situation, allowing a walk and three hits (including a home run) while only recording one out. Joe Jimenez bailed him out by getting the game’s final two outs, earning his second save in the process.

Hierarchy remains: Soto | Jimenez | Chafin.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Giovanny Gallegos – Ryan Helsley has gone back to back.

Tomorrow
1. Brad Boxberger – If Devin Williams goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.
2. Mark Melancon – If Ian Kennedy goes today, it’s back to back.

Nick Martinez records another save while Dany Jimenez will miss the rest of the season

August 28, 2022

San Diego Padres – Nick Martinez pitched a scoreless 9th inning for his 6th save of the season.  Martinez has not allowed any runs in August, spanning 13.2 innings, and has really settled in to his relief role.  Luis Garcia picked up the first save after Josh Hader was removed from the closer’s job but Martinez now has recorded the last two.  This appears to be moving towards a committee so we will throw the asterisk on there and monitor it to see how it all shakes out.  

Updated hierarchy: Garcia | Martinez | Hader.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s – Dany Jimenez will miss the rest of the season with a right shoulder injury.  Zack Jackson should lead this committee with A.J. Puk and maybe even Domingo Acevedo seeing some chances.

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

New York Yankees — Aroldis Chapman was placed on the IL with an infection from a recent leg tattoo.  Replacing him on the hierarchy for now is Ron Marinaccio, who got the extra innings save chance yesterday but wasn’t able to convert after giving up a pinch hit homer to Stephen Vogt.    Marinaccio was on a very nice run before last night having allowed only one earned run since May 22nd.  Clay Holmes could return on Monday and will likely get the closer’s job back since nobody else was able to establish themselves while he was out.

Updated hierarchy: *Peralta | Loaisiga | Marinaccio.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Angels – Jimmy Herget pitched two perfect innings to close out a 2-0 Angels’ victory and pick up his third save of the season.  Lefty Jose Quijada was ready in the bullpen but with three righties up to start the 9th inning, Herget got the chance to start the inning and and was able to retire the first three batters.  Quijada is still the head of this committee, but Herget has worked his way into the conversion with pitches like this.  

Updated hierarchy: *Quijada | Herget | Chavez.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox – John Schreiber came on with the tying run on deck and two outs in the 8th inning and was able to get a ground out to end the threat.  He came back out for the 9th inning and finished off the 5-1 victory for his 5th save of the season.  

Hierarchy remains: *Whitlock | Schreiber | Barnes.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Mets – As predicted in the Vulture Save Watch, Edwin Diaz got the day off yesterday and Adam Ottavino pitched a scoreless 9th inning for his second save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Ottavino | Lugo.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Dillon Tate (BAL) – Felix Bautista has pitched in three of five.
2. John Brebbia (SF) – Camilo Doval threw 28 pitches in a blown save yesterday.

Monday
1. Joel Kuhnel (CIN) – Alexis Diaz threw 26 pitches yesterday and will likely get Monday off if he pitches again on Sunday.