October 1, 2022
Baltimore Orioles – Felix Bautista was brought in with a man on 1st and no outs in the 8th inning to face the 9-1-2 hitters of a tie game. He pitched well (including an intentional pass to Aaron Judge) which left the save chance to rookie DL Hall. Hall struck out 2 on the way to his first career save. Both Dillon Tate and Cionel Perez threw 20+ pitches yesterday so it wasn’t too surprising to see them get a rest, but the bigger news is that Bautista appeared to injure his leg after throwing a pitch, but stayed in the game to finish the inning. After the game the Orioles announced that Bautista had a sore knee, and he is being listed as day to day. With only 5 games left in the season, a day to day designation may well be the end of the season for Bautista, so we will slap a committee tag on this bullpen, and Dillon Tate may be worth a speculative add if you are chasing those last few saves.
Hierarchy remains: *Bautista | Tate | Perez.
* = closer-by-committee
New York Yankees — The Yankees got bullpen reinforcements last week, but that strength evaporated when Clay Holmes and Zach Britton were shut down for the remainder of the regular season. The Yankees have locked up the AL East and a bye, but cannot catch the Houston Astros for best record in the league, so they may choose to rest their highest leverage arms down the stretch (but not their bats, as Aaron Judge continues to chase history). Scott Effross is the most likely candidate to close any games for the next few days, while Lou Trivino joins the hierarchy to replace Holmes. The Yankees are also close to activating Wandy Peralta and he could vulture a save in the last week of the season if they are trying to get him in shape for the playoffs.
Updated hierarchy: *Effross | Loaisiga | Trivino.
* = closer-by-committee
Toronto Blue Jays — With the Blue Jays holding an 8 run lead, they gave the ball to Yusei Kikuchi for the 7th inning, and he stuck around for the 8th and 9th to earn a 3 inning save. his first career save. Kikuchi has been used primarily in long relief for the past couple months and doesn’t normally figure into the late inning plans. Although they cannot catch the Yankees for the division lead, the Blue Jays do have a lot to play for over the last few games, as the higher seeded team in the wild card round will host all 3 games of the wild card series, so we expect the Jays to continue to use their best bullpen arms.
Hierarchy remains: Romano | Garcia | Bass.
Los Angeles Angels –Jimmy Herget was back for the 9th inning of a 3 run game to earn his 9th save of the year, but the Angels pulled off a feat that hadn’t been seen in 23 years: Their entire starting lineup including the pitcher had only ever played for the Angels. The last time the Angels did this their lineup included Tim Salmon, Bengie Molina and Troy Glaus. That core would go on to win the World Series, so in an otherwise forgettable season, maybe this is a sliver of a silver lining.
Hierarchy remains: *Herget | Tepera | Quijada.
* = closer-by-committee
Seattle Mariners — Matt Brash will go down as the reliever who earned the win that finally sent the Mariners back to the playoffs. He was the only reliever they used, and pitched a clean top of the 9th inning of a tie game with the entire Mariners hierarchy needing a rest. In a scene that every kid has played out in their back yard, Cal Raleigh came on as a pinch hitter, and crushed a 3-2 pitch to right field to clinch the Mariners first playoff berth since 2001. The Mariners still have something top play for down the stretch, as they could catch the Blue Jays for the higher seed of the wild card round. This would give them the home field for that series, something the Seattle fans have waited a long time for, so we expect them to use their best relievers going forward.
Hierarchy remains: Sewald | Muñoz | Swanson.
Vulture Save Watch:
- Dillon Tate (BAL) — Felix Bautista is day to day with a knee injury.
- Raisel Iglesias (ATL) — Kenley Jansen has pitched in 2 of 3, including 24 pitches last night.
- Jonathan Loaisiga (NYY) — Although Scott Effross is the best bet for saves with Clay Holmes out, Loaisiga has been rested for 4 days while Effross has pitched in 2 of 3.
- Taylor Rogers (MIL) — Devin Williams has thrown 52 pitches over the last 3 days.
- James Karinchak (CLE) — Emmanuel Clase has pitched in back to back and 3 of 4.
- Ryan Tepera (LAA) — Jimmy Herget and Jose Quijada have both pitched in 3 of 4.
- Aaron Bummer/Kendall Graveman(CHW) — Liam Hendriks has pitched back to back, throwing 31 pitches, while Graveman has had a similar workload.
- Jose Alvarado/Seranthony Dominguez (PHI) — The Phillies have a doubleheader…
- Carl Edwards (WAS) — …Against the Nationals.
For Sunday:
- AJ Puk (OAK) — Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for Domingo Acevedo.
