April 27, 2023

Philadelphia Phillies — It was Seranthony Dominguez in the seventh, Craig Kimbrel in the eighth, and Jose Alvarado with the save in the ninth for Philadelphia and, aside from vulture opportunities, it looks more and more like that’s the team’s preferred arrangement. We bid adieu to Jose Alvarado’s asterisk.

Updated hierarchy: Alvarado | Kimbrel | Dominguez.

Cincinnati Reds — Ian Gibaut got the vulture save chance we predicted, but after getting two outs in the eighth, he put two men on to start the ninth and needed Lucas Sims to bail him out (albeit after a run scored on a sac fly). Reds fans are complaining that David Bell should have gone to an already warm Sims to start the ninth, and that might well be the move next time. Sims has looked good in the week since he returned from the IL, and we’ll slot him in at first in line.

Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Sims | Gibaut.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. John Brebbia/Taylor Rogers (SF) — Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers have each pitched in two straight and three of four.

Friday:
1. Craig Kimbrel (PHI) — Jose Alvarado threw 22 pitches on Wednesday, so he presumably wouldn’t go in three straight.