Sam Hentges, Scott Alexander grab saves

September 20, 2022

Cleveland Guardians – Sam Hentges got the last out of the 7th inning in a 3-run game, and then ended up staying on the mound all the way through the end of the game, as the Guardians stretched their lead to 7 runs. It only took Hentges 20 pitches to get 7 outs, and it was the first save of a very strong sophomore campaign for the lefty (57.1 IP, 66 Ks, 2.51 ERA, 0.94 WHIP). While he tends to pitch more than an inning most of the time, he could be positioned for a few more holds down the stretch.

Hierarchy remains: Clase | Karinchak | Stephen.

San Francisco Giants – After Camilo Doval kept the game tied in the bottom of the 9th, Scott Alexander collected his second save of the season in the 10th after the Giants had scored three runs in the top half. The lefty’s ERA is now 1.59 across 11 appearances.

Hierarchy remains: Doval | Brebbia | Alexander.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Alex Vesia – Craig Kimbrel and Evan Phillips have gone back to back.

Tomorrow
1. Raisel Iglesias – If Kenley Jansen goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.
2. John Brebbia – If Camilo Doval goes today, it’s three straight.

Jhoan Duran’s dominance continues

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.

Domingo Acevedo moves to the top of the A’s committee

September 18, 2022

Oakland A’s — Domingo Acevedo pitched a scoreless 9th inning for his second straight save for the A’s.  A.J. Puk pitched the 8th inning ahead of Acevedo and gave up a run.  This is a still a committee but we will move Acevedo to the top based on recent performances.

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

Washington Nationals – Kyle Finnegan struck out the side yesterday to record his second straight save.  After a rough little stretch that made it look like Finnegan was losing his grip on the closer’s job, he has bounced back and looks like the primary ninth inning guy in Washington again. 

Hierarchy remains: *Finnegan | Edwards | Harvey.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago White Sox – Aaron Bummer picked up the extra innings save yesterday after Liam Hendriks and Kendall Graveman both pitched earlier in the game.

Updated hierarchy: Hendriks | Graveman | Bummer.

Los Angeles Angels – The entire Angels’ hierarchy got the night off yesterday after they all appeared in two of the prior three games.  That left the save opportunity to Aaron Loup and the lefty converted for his first save of the season.

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

St. Louis Cardinals – Jordan Hicks has been placed on the IL and Andre Pallante will take his spot in the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Helsley | Gallegos | Pallante.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Kendall Graveman (CHW) – Liam Hendriks has pitched in two straight.
2. James Karinchak (CLE) – Emmanuel Clase has also pitched in two straight.
3. Joe Jimenez (DET) – Gregory Soto has pitched in two straight and three of four.
4. Hunter Harvey (WAS) – Kyle Finnegan has pitched in two straight and three of four, while Carl Edwards Jr. has pitched in two straight.
5. Ian Gibaut (CIN) – Alexis Diaz has pitched in two of three, including two innings yesterday and a total of 50 pitches in those two appearances.
6. Taylor Rogers (MIL) – Devin Williams has pitched in two straight.
7. Andre Pallante/Chris Stratton (STL) – Ryan Helsley and Giovanny Gallegos have both pitched in two straight and three of four. Andre Pallante has also pitched in three of four.

Monday
1. Raisel Iglesias (ATL) – If Kenley Jansen pitches today, it will be two straight.
2. Carlos Estevez/Alex Colome (COL) – If Daniel Bard pitched today, it will be two straight. Same for Carlos Estevez.

Yankees get reinforcements, Red Sox play matchups.

September 17, 2022
Chicago Cubs — Committee leader Brandon Hughes pitched to top of the Rockies order in the 8th inning, which left the 9th inning for Manuel Rodriguez. He pitched a perfect 9th to lock up the save. Rodriguez now has 2 saves on the year, with the first coming in an extra innings game back in August. The Cubs were coming off of a rest day, but the other arms in the hierarchy had seen a heavy workload earlier in the week. Rodriguez may get some more late inning chances down the stretch, but he isn’t ready to crack the hierarchy just yet. 

Hierarchy remains: *Hughes | Wick | Rucker.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox – After the Red Sox took the lead in the bottom of the 8th, they turned to Matt Strahm to protect a 1 run lead in the 9th. Strahm walked a batter, but was otherwise unscathed for his 4th save on the year. Strahm was warming up to face L-R-L before Boston took the lead, so leaving the save for him makes sense if the Red Sox liked the matchup. As a lefty specialist, Strahm may get some more high leverage looks, but that isn’t quite enough to crack the hierarchy.   

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

Los Angeles Angels – The Angels made it interesting last night. Jose Quijada entered the 7th with a 2 run lead, and after loading the bases, he got an inning ending double play. Jimmy Herget walked the leadoff batter in the 8th, but got out of the inning without letting him advance. This left the 9th for Ryan Tepera, who gave up a solo homer to make it a 1 run game, but bounced back to get the last 2 outs and earn his 3rd save on the year. While Herget has been the best arm in the bullpen for the last month, last night showed that this is still a committee. If the Angels get hot again, like when they won 8 of 11 a few weeks ago, there should be some good vulture save chances down the stretch. 

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

New York Yankees — The Yankees fell to the Brewers last night when their bullpen couldn’t hold onto a 1 run lead. Jonathan Loaisiga gave up an unearned run in a tie game in the 8th, and although Josh Donaldson tied it with a solo shot in the 9th, Clay Holmes couldn’t protect the lead and took the loss. Into this mess comes Aroldis Chapman, activated after an IL stint due to a tattoo related infection.  In addition to Chapman, the back end of the Yankees bullpen is about to get a few more options as Zach Britton is currently on a rehab assignment and trade deadline acquisition Scott Effross is also close to a return. Manager Aaron Boone said that Chapman’s role will be based on his performance, so we will wait to see how he is deployed before making a move, but the Yankees may be getting healthy at just the right time. 

Hierarchy remains: *Holmes | Peralta | Loaisiga.
* = closer-by-committee

Vulture Save Watch:

  1. Mark Melancon (ARI) — Ian Kennedy threw 27 pitches last night, while Melancon is well rested.
  2. Dennis Santana (TEX) — Jose Leclerc has thrown 47 pitches over the last 3 days, so he will almost certainly get the day off, but Jonathan Hernandez and Matt Moore have also pitched in 2 of 3 and 3 of 5, which leaves Dennis Santana with a chance for an off-hierarchy save.
  3. Wandy Peralta/Aroldis Chapman (NYY) — Clay Holmes and Jonathan Loasiga have pitched in 3 of 4, which leaves Wandy Peralta well rested by comparison, but it’s possible that Chapman gets thrown right back into the mix today.
  4. Buck Farmer (CIN) — The Reds play a doubleheader today (and Gibault needs a break)…
  5. Giovanny Gallegos/Jordan Hicks (STL) — …against the Cardinals (and a tired Gallegos).
  6. James Karinchak (CLE) — The Guardains play a doubleheader today…
  7. Jhoan Duran (MIN) — …against the twins (worth noting that Jorge Lopez has had 2 days of rest, but the rest of the hierarchy has pitched back to back).

For Sunday:

  1. Jose Quijada/Ryan Tepera (LAA) — The whole Angels hierarchy needs a rest, but Jimmy Herget can probably pitch today. If he does, look to whoever is rested to get any save chance Sunday.
  2. CJ Edwards/Hunter Harvey (WAS) — same for Kyle Finnegan.
  3. Dylan Coleman (KC) — Scott Barlow threw 20 pitches last night, so another long outing could earn him a day off.

Dylan Floro secures another save for Marlins; Reds bullpen taking shape

September 16, 2022

Miami Marlins — Dylan Floro allowed a run in the ninth but closed things out Thursday for his fifth save. Tanner Scott pitched a scoreless eighth inning ahead of him as part of what is becoming a trend. Floro now has two consecutive Marlins saves and is one save away from the asterisk being dropped.

Hierarchy remains: *Floro | Scott | Okert.
* = closer-by-committee

Cincinnati Reds – Buck Farmer tossed scoreless seventh and eighth innings Thursday with three strikeouts for his fourth hold of the year. He now has a respectable 3.43 ERA, much lower than the unseemly 5.94 ERA Joel Kuhnel has. We’ll appropriately make the swap in this hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Gibaut | Farmer.

Minnesota Twins – Jhoan Duran allowed two hits, struck out two and held the Royals scoreless in the ninth on Thursday for his seventh save. Jorge Lopez pitched the previous day and manager Rocco Baldelli apparently avoided going to him in a back-to-back situation as Minnesota hopes to keep their top late-inning arms fresh for a potential playoff run.

Hierarchy remains: Lopez | Duran | Fulmer.

Houston Astros – As the Vulture Save Watch correctly called, Ryan Pressly was unavailable Thursday, leaving Rafael Montero to pitch a scoreless ninth inning for his 13th save.

Hierarchy remains: Pressly | Montero | Neris.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Ian Gibaut (CIN) – The Reds could rest Alexis Diaz today, given that he’s gone in two of three and the team has a doubleheader Saturday.

Saturday:
1. Ian Gibaut/Buck Farmer (CIN) – If he goes Friday, it would be three of four for Alexis Diaz. Plus, the Reds have a doubleheader…
2. Giovanny Gallegos (STL) – … against the Cardinals.
3. Rafael Montero (HOU) – A Ryan Pressly outing Friday would be three of four for him.
4. Tanner Scott (MIA) – A Friday appearance for Dylan Floro would be two straight and three of five for him.
5. Yimi Garcia (TOR) – A Friday outing would be three of five for Jordan Romano.
6. Jonathan Hernandez (TEX) – The above is also true for Jose Leclerc.
7. James Karinchak/Trevor Stephan (CLE) – If he goes Friday, that would be three of five for Emmanuel Clase. Plus, the Guardians have a doubleheader…
8. Jhoan Duran (MIN) – … against the Twins.