July 4, 2023
Texas Rangers – An absolutely wild affair with the Astros which saw the Rangers surrender 10 runs in the first four innings was seemingly calming down after a stellar long relief outing from Cody Bradford and another scoreless inning from Aroldis Chapman, which allowed Texas to claw back and take an 11-10 lead in the bottom of the 8th inning. But Will Smith wasn’t able to close the door, allowing two runs in the top of the 9th and taking the loss. He now has a 3.19 ERA on the season, compared with Chapman’s 2.37 (to go along with his always-otherworldly strikeout rates) and could be on the verge of losing the job.
Hierarchy remains: *Smith | Chapman | Sborz.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Seth Martinez – This whole bullpen is gassed so we’re going off hierarchy and taking a stab with longman Seth Martinez.
2. Justin Topa – Paul Sewald has gone three straight and Andres Munoz has gone back to back and three of four.
3. Nick Anderson – Raisel Iglesias and AJ Minter have gone back to back.
4. Lucas Sims – Alexis Diaz has gone back to back and three of four.
5. Elvis Peguero – Devin Williams has gone back to back and Joel Payamps has gone in four of the last six.
6. Brusdar Graterol – Evan Phillips has gone back to back.
Tomorrow
1. Tommy Kahnle – If Clay Holmes goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.
2. Dylan Floro – If AJ Puk goes today, it’s back to back.
3. Nick Martinez – Same for Josh Hader…
4. Tyler Rogers – …and Camilo Doval.
