September 19, 2022

Tampa Bay Rays – With four of the last five saves, including Sunday’s, Pete Fairbanks is the closest thing that the Rays have had to a full-time closer this session. The righty started his after returning from injury in July, whereupon he gave up three runs across his first two outings, but since then, he’s been nothing short of the best reliever in baseball, having allowed no runs in the subsequent 19 innings while collecting 30 Ks against only 2 BBs.

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

Minnesota Twins – Jorge Lopez almost certainly wasn’t going to pitch after a 32-pitch outing Saturday, but regardless, we’re moving this into a committee after Jhoan Duran locked down his 8th save of the season in Lopez’s absence on Sunday. Lopez has had some control issues since being acquired at the trade deadline, and due to some weird usage and an extended Minnesota slump, he hasn’t gotten a save since August 29. Duran, meanwhile, has a 1.78 ERA and continues to do stuff like this, as he has all year.

Updated hierarchy: *Duran | Lopez | Fulmer.
* = closer-by-committee

Cincinnati Reds – Alexis Diaz got Sunday off after a 2-inning appearance Saturday, allowing Buck Farmer to capture his second save of the season. Look for Farmer and Ian Gibaut to continue as the top set-up options for Cincinnati.

Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Farmer | Gibaut.

Los Angeles Angels – The Angels seem to have settled on their top three relievers — Jimmy Herget, Ryan Tepera, and Jose Quijada — but they’re continuing to use them in a mix-and-match fashion. Yesterday, with a 2-run lead in the 7th, Herget was the first man out, collecting a hold with a scoreless frame. After the team stretched the lead to four, Tepera took the 8th, then Quijada locked down the 9th, albeit in a non-save situation. We’ll continue to monitor this bullpen, but it’s probably best to look elsewhere for saves if you have any alternatives.

Hierarchy remains: *Herget | Tepera | Quijada.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Dodgers – After a 4-inning outing by starter Andrew Heaney, the Dodgers needed seven relievers to navigate the remainder of their 10-inning affair with the Giants. At the end of the contest, with the bases loaded, 2 outs, and the Dodgers up by a run, out came lefty Justin Bruihl, who battled Lamonte Wade Jr. through a seven-pitch at-bat before inducing a groundout. It was Bruihl’s first save of the year.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Phillips | Vesia.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Joe Mantiply – Ian Kennedy has gone in two of three (44 pitches) and Mark Melancon has gone back to back.
2. Alex Colome – Daniel Bard and Carlos Estevez have gone back to back.
3. Jorge Lopez – Jhoan Duran has gone in three of four (52 pitches).

Tomorrow
1. Evan Phillips – If Craig Kimbrel goes today, it’s back to back.