Seranthony Dominguez returns from the IL

July 26, 2023

Philadelphia Phillies – The Phillies activated Seranthony Dominguez from the IL on Tuesday and he immediately returns to the hierarchy. We’ll see whether the Phillies go back to Dominguez in the eighth inning ahead of Craig Kimbrel or if they stick with Gregory Soto in that role.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Soto | Dominguez.

Arizona Diamondbacks – After a tough outing for the Arizona bullpen on Monday, Kevin Ginkel closed out Tuesday’s win with a scoreless ninth inning. 

Hierarchy remains: *Ginkel | Chafin | Castro.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies — With Pierce Johnson now with Atlanta, Brad Hand enters the Colorado hierarchy. Hand earned a seventh-inning hold on Tuesday ahead of what turned out to be a disastrous eighth inning for Justin Lawrence in which he blew a three-run lead against the top of the Nationals order.

Updated hierarchy: *Lawrence | Bard | Hand.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Angels — Carlos Estevez gave up four unearned runs in the ninth to send the game to extras, but when the Angels retook the lead in the top of the 10th, Aaron Loup came on to earn his first save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Estevez | Moore | Soriano.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Yimi Garcia (TOR) – If Jordan Romano gets a second day off, Garcia would be in line for a save chance.
2. Carlos Hernandez (KC) – Same is true of Scott Barlow.
3. Bryan Abreu (HOU) – Ryan Pressly has pitched in two straight.
4. Matt Moore/Jacob Webb (LAA) – Carlos Estevez threw 26 pitches last night while Jose Soriano threw 24. Moore had an 18-pitch outing and has gone in two of three, leaving the rested Jacob Webb as a potential save candidate.
5. Andres Muñoz (SEA) – Paul Sewald has gone in three straight.
6. Buck Farmer (CIN) – Alexis Diaz has pitched in two straight and four of five while Lucas Sims threw 24 pitches last night.
7. Miguel Castro/Scott McGough (ARI) – Kevin Ginkel has made two straight appearances. Andrew Chafin may need a second day off after 37 pitches on Monday and Miguel Castro threw 20 pitches last night.
8. Daniel Bard (COL) – Justin Lawrence threw 31 pitches in last night’s blown save.
9. Nick Martinez (SD) – Josh Hader had a 24-pitch appearance last night.

Tomorrow
1. Trevor Stephan (CLE) – If Emmanuel Clase goes today that’ll be two in a row.
2. Jason Foley (DET) – If Alex Lange pitches Wednesday that will be two straight and three of four.

Another meltdown in Arizona

July 25, 2023

Kansas City Royals – Carlos Hernandez got the 8th inning ahead of Scott Barlow, which has been a trend as of late. He moves up to the handcuff spot after another successful bridge.

Updated hierarchy: Barlow | Hernandez | Clarke.

Baltimore Orioles – With most of the Orioles hierarchy on the shelf due to heavy usage, Cionel Perez was the man summoned for the 9th inning. He converted for his first save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Bautista | Cano | Baker.

Arizona Diamondbacks – A brutal stretch for the Arizona bullpen continued last night, as Andrew Chafin was unable to protect a 1-run lead in the 9th, while Kevin Ginkel allowed a backbreaking 3-run double when summoned to try and keep the game close. And while Scott McGough provided a clean 8th inning outing, that was actually his first scoreless appearance since July 5th. We’ll continue to keep a close eye as to how Torey Lovullo proceeds here.

Hierarchy remains: *Ginkel | Chafin | Castro.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Erik Swanson – Jordan Romano has gone back to back and four of five.
2. Justin Topa – Same for Paul Sewald, and Andres Munoz threw 24 pitches yesterday and took a blown save.
3. Carlos Hernandez – Scott Barlow has gone back to back.
4. Gregory Soto – Same for Craig Kimbrel…
5. Brusdar Graterol – …and Evan Phillips.
6. Lucas Sims – Alexis Diaz has gone in three of four.

Tomorrow
1. Griffin Jax/Emilio Pagan – If Jhoan Duran goes today, it’s three of four.
2. Joel Payamps – If Devin Williams goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.
3. Bryan Abreu – If Ryan Pressly goes today, it’s back to back.
4. Giovanny Gallegos – Same for Jordan Hicks.

Yunior Marte cleans up Jeff Hoffman’s mess

July 24, 2023

Cincinnati Reds – Lucas Sims picked up the save on Sunday, with Alexis Diaz getting the day off after a heavy workload. +1 for the Vulture Save Watch.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Sims | Farmer.

Houston Astros – Ryan Pressly got a second day off after pitching in three straight, allowing Bryan Abreu to pick up his third save of the year. +2 for the Vulture Save Watch.

Hierarchy remains: Pressly | Abreu | Neris.

Philadelphia Phillies – With a 4-run lead in extra innings, and with Craig Kimbrel and Gregory Soto having already pitched, the Phillies turned to Jeff Hoffman for the bottom of the 10th. Hoffman allowed the first three hitters he faced to reach, and Yunior Marte was summoned to bail him out. Marte got the job done, retiring all three hitters he faced for his second save.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Soto | Hoffman.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Yimi Garcia – Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson have gone in three of the last four.
2. Andres Munoz – Same for Paul Sewald.
3. Emilio Pagan – Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax have gone back to back.
4. Daniel Bard – Same for Justin Lawrence.

Tomorrow
1. Jason Foley/Jose Cisnero – If Alex Lange and Jason Foley go today, it’s back to back.
2. Taylor Clarke/Carlos Hernandez – Same for Scott Barlow and Taylor Clarke…
3. Matt Moore/Jose Soriano – …and Carlos Estevez and Matt Moore…
4. Aroldis Chapman/Brock Burke – …and Will Smith and Aroldis Chapman…
5. Gregory Soto/Jeff Hoffman – …and Craig Kimbrel and Gregory Soto…
6. Kirby Yates – …and Raisel Iglesias…
7. Brusdar Graterol – …and Evan Phillips.
8. Lucas Sims – If Alexis Diaz goes today, it’s three of four.

Clay Holmes and Adbert Alzolay kick their committee tags

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.

Yates snags a save while Scott moves up in Miami

July 22, 2023
Miami Marlins – Marlins manager Skip Schumaker gave out a vote of confidence for closer AJ Puk yesterday. Puk has had a brutal July, but with the Marlins in the middle of a 7 game skid he is still has their most recent save opportunity and conversion. One bright spot during the losing streak has been Tanner Scott, who has an 8 game scoreless streak going, and was mentioned as being in line for higher leverage spots. This is enough to get him on the hierarchy, but watch the Marlins come deadline day, they may be shopping for outside help. 

Updated hierarchy: Puk | Floro | Scott.

Atlanta Braves – After throwing 22 pitches on Thursday, Raisel Iglesias was given the night off, which left Kirby Yates to protect a 2 run lead. He walked a couple batters, but finished the game with a gorgeous back door slider after an 11 pitch at bat. Yates should continue to be the top choice for Atlanta when Iglesias needs a break, at least until AJ Minter and Nick Anderson are ready to return. 

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Yates | Jimenez.

Toronto Blue Jays — The Blue Jays acquired recently DFA’d Cardinal Genesis Cabrera in a trade yesterday. Just like the Cardinals, Cabrera has been struggling throughout the year. He has kept his K-rate high, but has been getting hit hard when batters do make contact so maybe a change of scenery will do wonders for him. He is nowhere near ready to crack the hierarchy in Toronto, but could be a holds option if he can turn his season around. 

Hierarchy remains: Romano | Swanson | Garcia.

Vulture Save Watch:

  1. Bryan Abreu (HOU) — Ryan Pressly has pitched 3 in a row.
  2. Jason Adam (TB) — Pete Fairbanks has pitched in back to back games, throwing 34 pitches in that span.
  3. Andres Munoz (SEA) — Paul Sewald has pitched back to back, throwing 37 pitches.

For Sunday:

  1. Erik Swanson/Yimi Garcia (TOR) — Today would be 3 in a row for everyone in the Toronto hierarchy.
  2. Lucas Sims/Buck Farmer (CIN) — Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for Alexis Diaz.
  3. Nick Martinez/Robert Suarez (SD) — Same for Josh Hader.