September 30, 2022
Seattle Mariners — Seattle is on the verge of its first postseason berth since their magical 116-win season in 2001, and seven relievers helped get them closer to clinching Thursday in an 11-inning affair. Paul Sewald came on in the seventh with a three-run lead to face the 9-1-2 hitters (two of which are lefties) and allowed two solo home runs for an ugly hold. Andres Muñoz worked through the next four outs, allowing a tying run to take the blown save. Eventually, former starter Chris Flexen came on in the top of the eleventh and allowed a ghost runner in, but he was credited with the win when Seattle scored two runs in the bottom half. While Sewald (20 saves) is the team’s closer, he will be used earlier in games if the situation calls for it, lowering his saves total potential. Still, though, he’s the top option to use in fantasy as the season winds down.
Hierarchy remains: Sewald | Muñoz | Swanson.
Miami Marlins — Steven Okert was placed on the injured list Thursday with left triceps tightness. We’ll slot Richard Bleier into the hierarchy for the home stretch.
Updated hierarchy: Floro | Scott | Bleier.
Los Angeles Angels –– Ryan Tepera threw three pitches to get a one-out save on Thursday — another save predicted by our Vulture Save Watch.
Hierarchy remains: *Herget | Tepera | Quijada.
* = closer-by-committee
Boston Red Sox — Kaleb Ort pitched a scoreless ninth inning Thursday for his first career save after Matt Straham pitched earlier in the game and allowed a run. Matt Barnes, who had pitched in two straight, and John Schreiber, who last pitched Tuesday, did not appear. With Boston out of it, they could mix and match more than usual down the stretch, though Ort (6.26 ERA) shouldn’t be relied upon in fantasy leagues.
Hierarchy remains: *Schreiber | Barnes | Strahm.
* = closer-by-committee
Cleveland Guardians – Score one for the Vulture Save Watch. Trevor Stephan pitched the ninth on Thursday for his third save after Emmanuel Clase and James Karinchak had gone in two straight.
Hierarchy remains: Clase | Karinchak | Stephen.
Los Angeles Dodgers — Alex Vesia got the final two outs of the eighth ahead of David Price, who was pitching for the first time in a month. Price recorded the final three outs for his second save of the season. Evan Phillips and Tommy Kahnle had pitched in two straight entering Thursday.
Hierarchy remains: *Phillips | Vesia | Kahnle.
* = closer-by-committee
Chicago Cubs — Keegan Thompson tossed the final three innings on Thursday for his first save of the season. He was in the rotation for most of the year and doesn’t normally factor into the closer mix for the Cubs.
Hierarchy remains: *Hughes | Rodriguez | Leiter Jr.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Tanner Scott (MIA) – Dylan Floro has pitched in three straight.
2. Diego Castillo (SEA) – Paul Sewald, Andres Munoz and Erik Swanson all have gone in two consecutive games.
3. Jonathan Hernandez (TEX) –Jose Leclerc has gone in two of three and might not be asked to go three in four given the fact he returned from a long absence recently.
4. Seranthony Dominguez (PHI) – The Phillies play a doubleheader…
5. Carl Edwards Jr. (WAS) – … against the Nationals.
Saturday:
1. Kendall Graveman (CHW) – A Liam Hendriks appearance Friday would be three of four for him.
2. Trevor Stephan (CLE) – Same as above for Emmanuel Clase.
3. Scott Alexander (SF) – Catching a theme here? Camilo Doval (just 7 pitches Thursday) also faces a three-in-four workload if he goes Friday.
4. Alex Vesia (LAD) – Ditto for Evan Phillips.
5. Jason Adam (TB) – Yup, everything above is also true for Pete Fairbanks.
6. Jose Quijada (LAA) – You already know what this update will say… (but if not, Jimmy Herget would be three of four with a Friday outing, too).
7. Manuel Rodriguez (CHC) – Yes, the same thing mentioned above holds true for Brandon Hughes.
8. Nick Martinez (SD) – Uh huh. Josh Hader also would have a three-in-four workload with a Friday outing.
