July 23, 2023
New York Yankees — Clay Holmes struck out two in a scoreless inning to pick up his 13th save of the season. Holmes also picked up the save on Friday night and has now recorded the last three saves for the Yankees and four of the last five. That is enough to kick the committee tag for now even if there will likely still be nights that the Yankees use another member of their deep bullpen to close out a game.
Hierarchy remains: Holmes | Kahnle | King.
Miami Marlins – A day after the dreaded vote of confidence, the Marlins sent AJ Puk out in the 8th inning of a tie game. He threw a scoreless inning with a couple strikeouts. Tanner Scott, who manager Skip Schumaker specifically mentioned would get more high leverage looks, got the top of the 9th with the game still tied. That is a spot typically reserved for a closer and although Scott faltered by allowing a run and taking the loss, this certainly appears to be heading towards a committee. We will see if AJ Puk can turn it around and reclaim the job for himself but for now we think Scott and maybe even Dylan Floro could be in the mix for saves for the Marlins.
Updated hierarchy: *Puk | Scott | Floro.
* = closer-by-committee
Colorado Rockies — After the Rockies took the lead in the top of the 9th, they sent Justin Lawrence out there for the bottom of the inning to close out the win. Lawrence responded with a scorleless inning for his 7th save of the season. Lawrence is riding a seven appearance scoreless streak and has recorded the last two saves for the Rockies. If Lawrence can keep this going, he will kick the asterisk.
Hierarchy remains: *Lawrence | Bard | Johnson.
* = closer-by-committee
Chicago Cubs — Adbert Alzolay picked up his 9th save of the season yesterday. It was his second straight game with a save and he has recorded all the Cubs’ saves in July. Goodbye asterisk!
Updated hierarchy: Alzolay | Leiter Jr. | Merryweather.
Seattle Mariners – As predicted yesterday in the Vulture Save Watch, Paul Sewald got the day off but the Mariners used Andres Muñoz in the 8th inning to the face the 2-3-4 hitters for the Blue Jays. That left Justin Topa for the 9th inning and although he made things interesting by allowing a run, he was able to strand the tying run on 2nd base to pick up his 2nd save of the season.
Hierarchy remains: Sewald | Muñoz | Topa.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Bryan Baker (BAL) – Felix Bautista and Yennier Cano have both pitched in three of four.
2. Michael King (NYY) – Clay Holmes has pitched in two straight, including a 29 pitch outing yesterday. Tommy Kahnle has also pitched in two straight.
3. Jason Adam (TB) – Pete Fairbanks has pitched in three straight.
4. Bryan Abreu (HOU) – Ryan Pressly may get a second day off and pitching in the previous three games.
5. Daniel Palencia (CHC) – The entire Cubs hierarchy has pitched in two straight.
6. Lucas Sims (CIN) – Alexis Diaz has pitched in two straight and three of four.
Monday
1. Trevor Stephan (CLE) – If Emmanuel Clase pitches today, it will be three straight.
2. Joel Payamps (MIL) – Devin Williams threw 29 pitches yesterday so if he pitches again today, he will likely get Monday off.
