April 17, 2023
Boston Red Sox – Chris Martin was placed on the IL on Sunday with shoulder inflammation, and Ryan Brasier got the surprise vulture save on Sunday in Martin’s absence (Kenley Jansen had pitched two straight), so we’ll slot Brasier in to the set-up role.
Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Brasier | Schreiber.
Oakland A’s – After walking 17 hitters in Friday’s game (one short of the major league record), Oakland’s bullpen picked up where it left off on Sunday, issuing 7 free passes in the final four innings, with Dany Jimenez blowing the 9th inning save. The two relievers who came away looking decent were Richard Lovelady, who was just called up from AAA and contributed two scoreless innings, and Sam Moll, who actually ended up with the loss, purely because he started the 10th inning and thus was “responsible” for the automatic runner, who scored after Zach Jackson came on and walked three hitters. Neither of these guys are on the hierarchy, and with only 3 wins in 16 games so far, maybe it doesn’t matter all that much, but this is probably the most unsettled bullpen in baseball right now, and we’ll continue to monitor to see if anyone emerges.
Hierarchy remains: *May | Jimenez | Jackson.
* = closer-by-committee
Chicago Cubs – Brad Boxberger got the save on Sunday after Michael Fulmer pitched a scoreless 8th inning. That’s one save apiece for the ostensible co-closers. We’ll keep the hierarchy as is, for now.
Hierarchy remains: *Fulmer | Boxberger | Hughes.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Dauri Moreta – David Bednar and Colin Holderman have both gone back to back.
2. Matt Bush/Peter Strzelecki – Devin Williams threw 33 pitches yesterday.
3. Brandon Hughes – Michael Fulmer has gone back to back and Brad Boxberger, who pitched Sunday, historically doesn’t appear twice in a row very often.
4. Adam Ottavino – David Robertson has gone back to back.
5. Aroldis Chapman – Scott Barlow has gone back to back.
Tomorrow
1. Luis Garcia – If Josh Hader goes tonight, it’s back to back.
2. Brusdar Graterol – Same for Evan Phillips.
3. Nick Anderson – Same for AJ Minter.
4. Matt Brash – Same for Paul Sewald.
