Holmes likely out until the playoffs, while the Mariners make history.

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:

  1. Dillon Tate (BAL) — Felix Bautista is day to day with a knee injury.
  2. Raisel Iglesias (ATL) — Kenley Jansen has pitched in 2 of 3, including 24 pitches last night.
  3. 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.
  4. Taylor Rogers (MIL) — Devin Williams has thrown 52 pitches over the last 3 days.
  5. James Karinchak (CLE) — Emmanuel Clase has pitched in back to back and 3 of 4.
  6. Ryan Tepera (LAA) — Jimmy Herget and Jose Quijada have both pitched in 3 of 4.
  7. Aaron Bummer/Kendall Graveman(CHW) — Liam Hendriks has pitched back to back, throwing 31 pitches, while Graveman has had a similar workload.
  8. Jose Alvarado/Seranthony Dominguez (PHI) — The Phillies have a doubleheader…
  9. Carl Edwards (WAS) — …Against the Nationals.

For Sunday:

  1. AJ Puk (OAK) — Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for Domingo Acevedo.

Paul Sewald gets an ugly hold; slew of relievers snag vulture saves

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.

The Dodgers bullpen gets another two late-inning options

September 29, 2022

Los Angeles Dodgers — Tommy Kahnle threw his hat into the Dodgers’ closer committee ring, grabbing a tenth-inning save and allowing LA to join the Yankees with 12 pitchers with saves entering the final week of the season. Kahnle’s last save was with New York in August 2018, but both he and the freshly returned David Price could have important bullpen roles to play this postseason for Los Angeles.

Updated hierarchy: *Phillips | Vesia | Kahnle.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago Cubs — For the second straight game, Manuel Rodriguez relieved Brandon Hughes in the ninth inning and retired J.T. Realmuto and Alec Bohm to pick up a Cubs save. Rodriguez and Hughes should probably be considered co-closers at this point, with matchups determining who gets used when.

Updated hierarchy: *Hughes | Rodriguez | Leiter Jr.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Yankees — Zack Britton made his second appearance back from Tommy John surgery and again struggled with control. So far this season, Britton has faced eight batters and walked five of them. A brighter spot for the Yankees (aside from, you know, the 61 thing) was Aroldis Chapman hitting 101 and striking out two Blue Jays in a clean ninth. An effective Chapman in any bullpen role would be a huge bonus heading into the playoffs.

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

Arizona Diamondbacks — Reyes Moronta got through a rocky ninth with the score tied, leaving Mark Melancon to come on and pick up the 10th-inning save once Arizona took the lead. 

Updated hierarchy: *Moronta | Melancon | Mantiply.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox — Matt Barnes got the call on the second straight day of work and closed out a 3-1 win over Baltimore.

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

Pittsburgh Pirates — Resting David Bednar as we expected, the Pirates gave Chase de Jong a chance to close out a game with a three-run lead, but he gave up two home runs. De Jong looks to still be fourth in the Pirates’ pecking order.

Hierarchy remains: Bednar | Crowe | Underwood.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Shawn Armstrong/J.T. Chargois (TB) — All the members of the Rays hierarchy have gone back-to-back. Armstrong is the best-rested reliever, while Chargois is the team’s only high-leverage arm without a save this year. (Note that he has zero career saves, so maybe he’s not such a great bet here.)
2. Trevor Stephan (CLE) — Emmanuel Clase and James Karinchak have gone in two straight, and the Guardians are locked into the three seed in the playoffs.
3. Ryan Tepera/Jose Quijada (LAA) — Jimmy Herget has the front seat in this committee, but he is likely to get some rest Thursday.
4. Tanner Scott (MIA) — Dylan Floro has gone in two straight and four of six.
5. Manuel Rodriguez (CHC) — Brandon Hughes has gone in three of four. Although Rodriguez has pitched back-to-back, he’s needed only a total of seven pitches.
6. Alex Vesia (LAD) — Both Evan Phillips and Tommy Kahnle have pitched in two consecutive games.
7. Robert Suarez/Pierce Johnson (SD) — Josh Hader, Nick Martinez, and Luis Garcia each got heavy work the last two days. Suarez threw 32 pitches on Tuesday, so if the Padres go off the board, they could do worse than Johnson, who’s been solid for years and has a 35.4 K% this season.

Friday:
1. Andrew Chafin (DET) — An appearance Thursday would be two straight and four in seven for Gregory Soto.
2. Jonathan Hernandez (TEX) — Jose Leclerc threw 29 pitches on Tuesday and probably won’t go on three of four.
3. Taylor Rogers/Matt Bush (MIL) — If Devin Williams pitches on Thursday, he won’t go in three straight.
4. Scott Alexander (SF) — Camilo Doval might get Friday off if he goes tonight.

Yankees inch closer to tying an important record

September 28, 2022

New York Yankees – The Yankees rested their entire hierarchy after they all pitched Monday, which meant Lou Trivino recorded the final four outs of Tuesday’s division-clinching win. It was Trivino’s first save with the Yankees, making him the 12th different Yankee to notch a save this season. That’s one shy of the Rays’ record of 13 relievers with a save, set just last year. With the division now clinched, hopefully Aaron Boone embraces the chaos and challenges for that record!

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

Tampa Bay Rays – Calvin Faucher was the eighth Rays pitcher out of the bullpen on Tuesday and closed out the 11th inning to secure his first MLB save. Faucher became the 11th different Tampa reliever to earn a save this season, but as we noted above, the Yankees are inching closer to the Rays’ record.

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

Chicago Cubs – Brandon Hughes entered the eighth inning with a one-run lead and retired the Phillies’ 9-1-2 hitters in order. He went back out for the ninth, but after walking Bryce Harper to open the frame, Manuel Rodriguez relieved Hughes and needed just two pitches to notch his third save of the season. Hughes (4), Rodriguez (2) and Mark Leiter Jr. (2) are the only Cubs relievers with multiple saves this month.

Updated hierarchy: *Hughes | Leiter Jr. | Rodriguez
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Angels – After the Angels took the lead in the eighth, Jimmy Herget pitched a perfect ninth for his seventh save of the season. Herget and Ryan Tepera continue to be the top two arms in the Angels bullpen.
 
Hierarchy remains: *Herget | Tepera | Quijada.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies – Carlos Estevez was placed on the COVID IL Tuesday. Bud Black said that Estevez has flu-like symptoms and that he hopes that Estevez will bounce back quickly.

Updated hierarchy: Bard | Lamet | Bird.

Oakland A’s — With Joel Payamps on the IL, Tyler Cyr has been seeing more late-inning opportunities, including last night when he struck out both Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani with the game tied in the seventh inning.

Updated hierarchy: Acevedo | Puk | Cyr.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Giovanny Gallegos (STL) – Ryan Helsley threw 25 pitches last night as the Cardinals clinched the NL Central.
2. Wil Crowe/Duane Underwood (PIT) – David Bednar has pitched in two of three and is coming off an IL stint while Crowe threw 24 pitches last night.
3. Jonathan Hernandez (TEX) – Jose Leclerc threw 29 pitches on Tuesday.
4. Ryan Brasier (BOS) – Everyone in the Red Sox hierarchy threw over 20 pitches last night and probably shouldn’t be overworked for a last-place team.

Tomorrow
1. Mark Leiter Jr. (CHC) – If Brandon Hughes pitches today that will be two straight.
2. Tanner Scott (MIA) – The same is true of Dylan Floro.
3. Nick Martinez/Luis Garcia (SD) – Everyone in the Padres hierarchy threw 20+ pitches last night, so we’ll see how that trio is used tonight.
4. Dylan Coleman (KC) – If Scott Barlow pitches tonight that will be two straight and three of four. Coleman should get tonight off after a 29-pitch outing last night.

Yankees considering DFA for Aroldis Chapman

September 26, 2022

Chicago Cubs – The Cubs took a 7-run lead into the 9th, but after Erich Uelmen got into trouble, Brandon Hughes picked up the 1-out save. It was the 7th of the season for the Cubs’ committee leaders.

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

New York Yankees – With rumors that the Yankees might be willing to DFA Aroldis Chapman, we figure they’re pretty unlikely to put him out there in a high-leverage spot if any other options are available. We’ll push Jonathan Loaisiga up into his place.

Updated hierarchy: *Holmes | Effross | Loaisiga.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Dodgers – Andre Jackson picked up the save for the Dodgers on Sunday, coming in with a 3-run lead in the 7th and staying on all the way through the game’s end. With a 21-game lead, expect more of this laissez-faire bullpen approach from Los Angeles down the stretch.

Hierarchy remains: *Phillips | Vesia | Martin.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. AJ Minter – Kenley Jansen and Raisel Iglesias have both gone back to back.
2. Wil Crowe – It’s unclear if David Bednar can go two straight so soon after returning from the IL.

Tomorrow
1. Carl Edwards Jr. – If Kyle Finnegan goes today, it’s back to back.
2. Dillon Tate – Felix Bautista threw 33 pitches on Saturday; another outing today could mean Tuesday off.
3. Buck Farmer – If Alexis Diaz goes today, it’s back to back.