June 1, 2023
Milwaukee Brewers — Joel Payamps has been getting the seventh inning ahead of Peter Strzelecki and Devin Williams, and we think he’s best-positioned to pick up a save if those two need a night off.
Updated hierarchy: Williams | Strzelecki | Payamps.
Washington Nationals — Washington just won’t commit to a traditional reliever setup, using putative closer Kyle Finnegan to start the seventh on Wednesday night. He surrendered the lead, but was staked to a three-run advantage entering the eighth — where he gave up a leadoff home run. Enter Hunter Harvey, who pitched two scoreless innings to earn the save.
Hierarchy remains: *Finnegan | Harvey | Edwards.
* = closer-by-committee
Tampa Bay Rays — The Rays used Colin Poche in the seventh and Jason Adam in the eighth, leaving Kevin Kelly to go for the save in the ninth. But when Kelly loaded the bases on a walk, hit by pitch, and error, it was Jalen Beeks who wound up coming in — and he earned the save with a clutch strikeout and flyout.
Hierarchy remains: *Adam | Poche | Kelly.
*=closer-by-committee
Cincinnati Reds — Alexis Diaz had pitched in three of four games, so he got Wednesday off, which surprisingly left the save opportunity for Buck Farmer. We’ll see if Farmer edges into a setup role going forward.
Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Sims | Gibaut.
Los Angeles Angels — Long man Tucker Davidson picked up his second save of the season, a gawky three-inning job that featured four runs and seven hits allowed.
Hierarchy remains: Estevez | Devenski | Silseth.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. James Karinchak (CLE) — Emmanuel Clase has pitched in two of three and Trevor Stephan threw 20 pitches yesterday.
2. Adam Ottavino/Brooks Raley (NYM) — David Robertson has gone back-to-back (38 pitches). Ottavino has too, with fewer pitches, and Raley pitched only yesterday (23 pitches). The Mets could also go off the board to Drew Smith or Jeff Brigham.
Friday:
1. Lucas Sims/Ian Gibaut (CIN) — Alexis Diaz has gone in three of the last five games.
