John Schreiber on the rise again

September 5, 2022
Boston Red Sox — As the vulture save watch noted, Garrett Whitlock needed a rest today, so it was John Schreiber who got the call in the 9th inning. He converted for his 7th save on the year, and now has 3 of the last 4 Red Sox saves. Schreiber is also riding a modest 6 game scoreless streak, while Whitlock has given up multiple runs twice in a row. While we don’t expect Whitlock to be completely closed out of the 9th inning, Schreiber seems to have the inside track to save chances for now. 

Updated hierarchy: *Schreiber| Whitlock| Barnes.
* = closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners — Is Chris Flexan challenging for a hierarchy spot?! He now has more saves in the past week than Paul Sewald and has yet to blow a save chance this year. A closer look shows that his first was a 4 inning save in a blowout game and last night he was the 10th pitcher out of the bullpen for the Mariners who took the lead in the 11th inning on a rain soaked night in Cleveland. Flexan has made the most of his chances this year, but he is still primarily a long reliever.

Hierarchy remains: Sewald | Muñoz | Swanson.

Cleveland Guardians -The Guardians were on the wrong end of an 11 inning game last night, and it was Trevor Stephan who ended up taking the loss. While Stephan hasn’t been bad, James Karinchak has now strung together 21 scoreless appearances dating back to July 9th. With the Guardians fighting for every win in the AL Central race, it’s hard to believe they wouldn’t turn to Karinchak if Emmanuel Clase isn’t available. 

Updated hierarchy: Clase | Karinchak | Stephan.

Vulture Save Watch:

  1. Erik Swanson (SEA) — Paul Sewald and Andres Munoz have both pitched back to back games which makes Swanson the best rested arm in the hierarchy.
  2. Yimi Garcia (TOR) — Jordan Romano has pitched back to back, and the Blue Jays have a double header…
  3. Dillon Tate (BAL) — … against the Orioles.
  4. Dominic Leone (SF) — Camilo Doval and John Brebbia have both pitched back to back.
  5. Garrett Whitlock (BOS) — John Schreiber has pitched in back to back and 3 of 4.
  6. Joe Jiminez (DET) — Gregory Soto has thrown in 2 of 3, and run up 43 pitches in that time.

For Tuesday:

  1. Evan Phillips/Alex Vesia (LAD) — Today would be 3 in a row for Craig Kimbrel, but he has kept his pitch counts low.
  2. James Karinchak (CLE) — Today would be 3 in a row for Emmanuel Clase.

John Schreiber bails out Red Sox bullpen while Kenley Jansen is struggling

September 4, 2022

Boston Red Sox — John Schreiber recorded his 6th save of the season by pitching out of a bases loaded jam in the 9th inning.  The bases loaded jam was created by Matt Barnes, who originally started the 9th inning but was only able to record one out while allowing three hits.  Garrett Whitlock pitched the 7th and 8th innings, but allowed three earned runs.  That is two straight outings where Whitlock has allowed three runs.  Schreiber has been the Red Sox most consistent reliever and we will see if that translates to more save chances in the future.

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

Atlanta Braves – Kenley Jansen struggled yesterday as he allowed the first three batters to reach in the 9th inning as he blew his sixth save of the season.  Jansen leads the league in saves but he has allowed runs in three of last four appearances, including two blown saves.  

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Iglesias | Minter.

Milwaukee Brewers – Devin Williams pitched a scoreless 9th inning with the game tied and that left Taylor Rogers for the save chance in the 10th inning after the Brewers took the lead.  Taylor struck out a pair in a perfect inning for the save and now has eight straight scoreless appearances.

Hierarchy remains: Williams | Rogers | Bush.

Tampa Bay Rays — Pete Fairbanks pitched a perfect 8th inning and Jason Adam picked up his 8th save despite giving up Aaron Judge’s 52nd home run of the season.  The Rays are still a committee but it’s not as wide open as it has been in year’s past with Adam and Fairbanks seeing the majority of the save chances.

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

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. John Schreiber (BOS) – Garrett Whitlock threw 30 pitches over two innings yesterday.
2. Pete Fairbanks (TB) – Jason Adam has pitched in two straight and four of five.
3. A.J. Minter (ATL) – Kenley Jansen has pitched in three of four, including 24 pitches yesterday. Raisel Iglesias has pitched in two straight.
4. Mark Melancon (ARI) – Ian Kennedy has pitched in two straight.
5. Carlos Estevez (COL) – The Rockies have a doubleheader today…
6. Joel Kuhnel (CIN) – …against the Reds.

Monday
1. Kendall Graveman (CHW) – If Liam Hendriks pitches today, it will be two of three and three of five.
2. Joe Jimenez (DET) – If Gregory Soto pitches today, it will be two of three and three of five, including a 22 and 32 pitch outing.
3. Dillon Tate (BAL) – The Orioles have a doubleheader…
4. Yimi Garcia/Anthony Bass (TOR) – …against the Blue Jays.

IL News for set up men.

September 3, 2022
Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers activated Blake Treinen after nearly five months on the IL yesterday. Treinen was in line to be the primary set up man for Los Angeles, but his shoulder injury derailed the season before it got going. If Treinen can return to form, he could snag a few save chances down the stretch, but we will see how he is deployed prior to getting him back in the hierarchy.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Phillips | Vesia.

Tampa Bay Rays — JP Feyereisen suffered a setback while throwing for AAA Durham last night, re-aggravating the shoulder injury that sent him to the IL. Manager Kevin Cash said that it is highly unlikely he pitches again this year. If you were stashing Feyereisen for a possible late season resurgence it seems safe to drop him now.

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

Vulture Save Watch:

  1. Pete Fairbanks (TB) — Jason Adam has pitched in 3 of 4, while Fairbanks has had a couple days off.
  2. Joel Kuhnel (CIN) — Alexis Diaz has also pitched in 3 of 4.
  3. Joe Jiminez (DET) — Gregory Soto has pitched in 2 of 3, but both of those were long outings.
  4. Kendall Graveman (CHW) — The same is true of Liam Hendriks.

For Sunday:

  1. Hector Neris (HOU) — Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for Rafael Montero.
  2. Raisel Iglesias (ATL) — Today would be 3 of 4 for Kenley Jansen.
  3. Seth Lugo (NYM) — Same for Edwin Diaz.

Edwin Diaz finishes outing with his fastest pitch ever, but does not earn save

September 2, 2022

New York Mets – Edwin Diaz, one day after this EPIC entrance, was anticlimactically called into Thursday’s game in the eighth inning to face the 3-4-5 hitters (Freddie Freeman, Will Smith and Max Muncy) with a three-run lead. The drama built, though, as it became the most pivotal moment of the contest. He walked Freeman and hit Smith with a pitch before allowing consecutive sacrifice flies to make it a two-run game. Diaz, who after the game said he didn’t have the feel he wanted for his slider, escaped the inning by throwing the hardest pitch of his career (102.8 mph) to strike out Gavin Lux. The sport’s best reliever this season, Diaz has appeared in the eighth inning five times in his past 13 appearances. Adam Ottavino has been used in the ninth in some of those instances, including Thursday, when he retired the side in order for his third save.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Ottavino | Lugo.

Boston Red Sox — Tanner Houck has been shut down as his back issues are cropping up again. Manager Alex Cora said Houck might not pitch again this season. It’ll be a bit messy moving forward for Boston, with a group that includes John Schreiber, Garret Whitlock and Matt Barnes in the mix for saves.

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

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Dillon Tate (BAL) – Felix Bautista has gone in two in a row.
2. Raisel Iglesias (LAA) – Kenley Jansen has also pitched in two straight.
3. Hunter Harvey (WAS) – Kyle Finnegan and Carl Edwards Jr. have each pitched in two straight. Harvey threw 32 pitches Thursday but is the most rested of the trio.
4. Seth Lugo (NYM) – Edwin Diaz and Adam Ottavino have gone in two in a row.
5. Jose Leclerc (TEX) – Jonathan Hernandez blew the game Thursday against Boston, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks (26 pitches). He might need Friday off. Matt Moore threw 26 pitches Thursday and has gone in two of three. Leclerc has also pitched two of three, but he’s the most-rested late-inning option.

Friday:
1. Domingo Acevedo (OAK) – A.J. Puk threw 27 pitches to record four outs Thursday and likely wouldn’t pitch Saturday if he goes again Friday.
2. John Schreiber (BOS) – A Friday outing would be two of three for Garrett Whitlock, and he might need Saturday off if it’s a multi-inning appearance.

Is Josh Hader back?

September 1, 2022

Miami Marlins — Tanner Scott was used in the seventh inning of a tie game, the second time this week that he’s gotten middle-inning (albeit still high-leverage) work. We’ll toss a committee asterisk on here to reflect that Dylan Floro or Steven Okert could be in the mix for saves given this usage.

Updated hierarchy: *Scott | Floro | Okert.
* = closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners — It looks like Paul Sewald could be back to a more conventional closer role in Seattle, so we’ll delete his asterisk going into September. Last night’s eighth-inning hold was earned by Erik Swanson (0.84 ERA, 33.1 K%), who has joined Andres Muñoz (2.89 ERA, 41 K%) in a dominant setup duo.

Updated hierarchy: Sewald | Muñoz | Swanson.

Chicago Cubs — It’s still a committee in Chicago, with Rowan Wick taking the ball from Brandon Hughes and collecting his ninth save of the season. Erich Uelmen, ostensibly the Cubs’ seventh-inning guy, gave up three runs in the sixth with a five-run lead. This moves him behind Michael Rucker and probably Mark Leiter Jr. in the middle-inning pecking order.

Updated hierarchy: *Hughes | Wick | Rucker.
* = closer-by-committee

San Diego Padres — With Nick Martinez unavailable, it was indeed Josh Hader (predicted in the Vulture Save Watch) who got the shot to convert a one-run save on Wednesday. Bob Melvin is hoping the experience will help Hader overcome his recent struggles.

Hierarchy remains: Martinez | Garcia | Hader.

Boston Red Sox — Garrett Whitlock gave up three runs in two innings to let the Twins back into the game, but Matt Barnes shut the door (after a couple baserunners) for his fourth save.

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

Tampa Bay Rays — Pete Fairbanks, Colin Poche, and Jason Adam got Tampa to extra innings, where the save opportunity fell to Jalen Beeks. Classic Rays.

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

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. John Schrieber (BOS) — Garrett Whitlock and Matt Barnes are likely to be unavailable.
2. Joe Jimenez (DET) — Gregory Soto threw 32 pitches on Wednesday.

Friday:
1. Andres Munoz (SEA) — Paul Sewald probably won’t go in three straight.
2. Carl Edwards Jr. (WAS) — Same with Kyle Finnegan.