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.

Vulture saves abound and Craig Kimbrel coughs up a lead

September 15, 2022

Los Angeles Dodgers — Craig Kimbrel gave up a one-run lead in the tenth courtesy of a three-run homer, but Dave Roberts remained confident in his closer, who had not allowed a hit in his previous eight appearances.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Phillips | Vesia.

Oakland A’s — A.J. Puk received the rest we projected and, sure enough, it was Domingo Acevedo earning the vulture save in his absence.

Hierarchy remains: *Puk | Acevedo | Moll.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago Cubs — We predicted a Rowan Wick vulture save on Wednesday, but the Cubs went to him in the seventh, Michael Rucker in the eighth, and third-in-line Mark Leiter Jr. for the eventual save — his second this season. It’s close between Rucker and Leiter for the setup role, but Brandon Hughes remains the best bet for saves.

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

Cleveland Guardians — James Karinchak vulture save? Called it. That’s all we do here for the Guardians, who have six straight wins and six straight saves.

Hierarchy remains: Clase | Karinchak | Stephan.

Pittsburgh Pirates — Long reliever Miguel Yajure gave an overworked bullpen a rest on Wednesday, pitching the last three innings of a 10-4 win to pick up his first career save.

Hierarchy remains: Crowe | Underwood | de Jong.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Nick Sandlin/Sam Hentges (CLE) — The Guardians keep winning, but they keep winning close, taxing their top three arms immensely. A makeup game Thursday could be finished off by some lower-leverage relievers like Sandlin or Hentges.
2. Rafael Montero (HOU) — Two straight for Ryan Pressly.

Friday:
1. Yimi Garcia (TOR) — A Jordan Romano appearance on Thursday will be three of four.
2. Jonathan Hernandez (TEX) — The Rangers have Thursday off, but a blown save for Jose Leclerc on Wednesday could earn him a second straight day of rest.
3. Seranthony Dominguez (PHI) — David Robertson could get a day off if he goes on Thursday.

Josh Hader secures another save

September 14, 2022

San Diego Padres — Josh Hader now has the Padres’ last three saves after he locked down a 2-0 win on Tuesday. That, combined with the fact that Nick Martinez hasn’t pitched since last Wednesday, is enough to drop the asterisk.

Updated hierarchy: Hader | Martinez | Garcia.

Philadelphia Phillies — Seranthony Dominguez has returned from the IL and has already bolstered the Phillies’ bullpen, as he pitched the eighth inning in a 2-1 win last night. David Robertson earned the save with a perfect ninth inning. One thing to monitor will be how often the Phillies turn to Dominguez, as they want to initially stay away from back-to-back outings.

Updated hierarchy: *Robertson | Dominguez | Alvarado.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Yankees — Clay Holmes pitched the ninth with the game tied and then stayed on for the 10th after the Yankees took a 7-4 lead. Holmes hit a better and recorded a strikeout before he was lifted for Wandy Peralta to create a lefty-lefty matchup. Peralta allowed two runs thanks to a single and a wild pitch, but he struck out Rafael Devers to complete his fourth save of the season.

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

Tampa Bay Rays – Committee leader Pete Fairbanks collected his seventh save of the season in game one of yesterday’s doubleheader in Toronto, recording the final four outs of the contest. Fairbanks now has three of the Rays’ last four saves and has not allowed a run since July 22, a stretch of 18 consecutive scoreless innings.

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

Pittsburgh Pirates – Score another one for the Vulture Save Watch, as Duane Underwood Jr. closed out a 1-0 win for the Pirates on Tuesday.

Hierarchy remains: Crowe | Underwood | de Jong.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Rowan Wick (CHC) – Brandon Hughes threw 29 pitches yesterday and has tossed 52 pitches over the last two days.
2. Duane Underwood (PIT) – Wil Crowe threw 44 pitches across two innings on Monday and may need a second straight off day.
3. Domingo Acevedo (OAK) – A.J. Puk threw 26 pitches over two innings last night.
4. James Karinchak (CLE) – Emmanuel Clase has gone in two straight and four of five.
5. Nick Martinez (SD) – Josh Hader threw 24 pitches yesterday.
6. Jason Adam (TB) – We normally don’t see the Rays in this section, but it’s worth noting that Pete Fairbanks threw 30 pitches yesterday and is likely unavailable. Best of luck.

Tomorrow
1. Yimi Garcia (TOR) – If Jordan Romano goes today, it’ll be three straight.
2. Rafael Montero/Hector Neris (HOU) – If Ryan Pressly (or Montero and Neris) pitches today, it will be two straight.
3. Adam Ottavino/Seth Lugo (NYM) – The same is true of Edwin Diaz, as well as Ottavino and Lugo.
4. Nick Martinez (SD) – If Josh Hader pitches today, chances are he’s off tomorrow.

Brandon Hughes posts another solid outing

September 13, 2022

Chicago Cubs – Committee leader Brandon Hughes came on in a tough spot in the 8th, successfully getting out of the jam. He then stayed on for the 9th, whereupon he allowed a solo home run, but got the job done to earn his 5th save. If you’re going to own a Cubs reliever for the stretch run, he’s likely your best shot at saves.

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

San Francisco Giants – Bullpen news was in relatively short supply on Monday, which means we get to use this space to be extra obnoxious about the Vulture Save Watch’s off-the-hierarchy pick of Scott Alexander, who got the final four outs of a 1-run game to collect his first save of the season. WOO HOO! IN YOUR FACE, SPACE COYOTE! Seriously though, Alexander has been good since returning to the bigs, and could pick up a few more holds or even save chances down the stretch, as the Giants bullpen is pretty thin after Camilo Doval. The lefty might not have been on the hierarchy yesterday, but he is now, thanks to his impressive outing and a 2.08 ERA thus far.

Hierarchy remains: Doval | Brebbia | Alexander.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Duane Underwood – Wil Crowe threw 44 pitches across two innings in earning the save last night.
2. Rowan Wick – A 1.2 inning, 23-pitch outing for Brandon Hughes means he might not be available today.
3. Jonathan Hernandez/Brock Burke – Jose Leclerc has gone back to back and three of four, and Matt Moore is likely off today as well.
4. James Karinchak – Emmanuel Clase has gone three of the last four.

Tomorrow
1. Tanner Scott – If Dylan Floro goes today, it’s back to back.

Matt Barnes ascending; Kenley Jansen’s struggles continue

September 12, 2022

Boston Red Sox – A dare-we-say resurgent Matt Barnes pitched a clean 9th inning for his 5th save of the season. He’s now logged two of the last four Boston saves (John Schreiber got the other two) and Alex Cora likes what he sees from the righty, who came into the season with expectations that he’d be one of the better closers in the league. Obviously, it didn’t go that way at first, but in 13 appearances spanning the last calendar month, he’s allowed runs in only two appearances, and he could ascend to the top of this committee if Cora continues to look his way.

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

Washington Nationals – Kyle Finnegan’s usage hasn’t resembled anything close to “closer” lately, and that trend continued last night, when he was sent out for the bottom of the 7th inning in a tie game, whereupon he promptly gave up a hit, then a homer, and took the loss. We’re putting a committee tag on here and wouldn’t be surprised if Carl Edwards Jr. got the next save chance.

Updated hierarchy: *Finnegan | Edwards | Harvey.
* = closer-by-committee

Cleveland Guardians – With Emmanuel Clase getting the day off after pitching two straight and three of four, James Karinchak picked up his second save of the year. Having read the Vulture Save Watch yesterday, you already knew this.

Hierarchy remains: Clase | Karinchak | Stephan.

Texas Rangers – The Rangers have won exactly three times since August 26, and Jose Leclerc has saved all three games. Goodbye, asterisk. “Jonathan Hernandez, closer,” we hardly knew ye.

Updated hierarchy: Leclerc | Hernandez | Moore.

Atlanta Braves – Kenley Jansen has been dreadful in his last seven appearances, including yesterday’s crushing blown save loss, a stretch during which deadline acquisition Raisel Iglesias has a 0.00 ERA. Brian Snitker defended him postgame by saying that Jansen leads the league in saves, an excuse we heard from Taylor Rogers not too long ago. The Braves certainly need Jansen to right the ship, but it’s possible they ask him to do so in lower leverage spots. We’ll continue to monitor.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Iglesias | Minter.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Raisel Iglesias – Even if the Braves want to keep Kenley Jansen in the 9th, he could get today off after pitching two of three.
2. Scott Alexander – Sunday’s bullpen game left the Giants’ hierarchy pretty well taxed — Camilo Doval and John Brebbia have gone two straight and Tyler Rogers pitched 2 innings yesterday — so we’re digging deep for this one.
3. Tanner Scott – The Marlins have a doubleheader…
4. Jonathan Hernandez/Matt Moore – …against the Rangers, who might not have Jose Leclerc available for either game.

Tomorrow
1. Jonathan Hernandez/Matt Moore – If Jose Leclerc is indeed able to go today, he’ll definitely be down tomorrow.