Miguel Castro falters for Diamondbacks; Jordan Romano finally takes mound

July 21, 2023

Arizona Diamondbacks — Pitching with a 5-3 lead in the eighth inning, the Diamondbacks went with Miguel Castro, who was… not good. He allowed a double, a walk and a three-run, go-ahead homer and was charged with the loss. Kevin Ginkel had gone in two straight so he might not have appeared in the ninth – perhaps that would have been Andrew Chafin or even Scott McGough had Arizona held the lead, but we’ll never know. This bullpen situation remains a bit murky.

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

San Diego Padres — Robert Suarez has finally been activated off the injured list and should make his season debut soon. Last offseason, he received a $46 million deal to stay with the Padres, so it’s presumed he’ll be used for high-leverage work. If Thursday’s usage is any indication, Steven Wilson pitched the seventh inning with a one-run deficit and Josh Hader, Nick Martinez and Suarez never pitched in a game the Padres never had a lead. So we’ll make that swap in the hierarchy, though Suarez could be eased in, too. Stay tuned.

Updated hierarchy: Hader | Martinez | Suarez

Toronto Blue Jays — Jordan Romano returned to the mound Thursday for his first outing since exiting the All-Star Game with back tightness. He pitched a scoreless ninth in a non-save situation, allowing a hit but recording the final three outs on just nine pitches. So apparently all is well in Toronto’s bullpen?

Hierarchy remains: Romano | Swanson | Garcia.

Detroit Tigers — Jason Foley pitched a scoreless ninth inning Thursday for his fourth save. He’s been great this year (2.13 ERA and 1.06 WHIP), but it doesn’t appear he’s taking the closer’s gig or anything at this time. I mean, we just yanked the asterisk from this bullpen! It’s likely that manager A.J. Hinch did not want to use both Alex Lange and Foley in the same game again in case he needs one of them on Friday, as both had gone in two of three and three of five entering Thursday. Foley is now at three of four and four of six, so Lange should be fresher for Friday and the weekend.

Hierarchy remains: Lange | Foley | Cisnero.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Bryan Baker (BAL) – Felix Bautista threw 2 innings Thursday and also pitched Wednesday. Yennier Cano has also pitched in two straight.
2. Bryan Abreu (HOU) – Ryan Pressly has pitched in two straight games.
3. Erik Swanson (TOR) – Perhaps Jordan Romano won’t be available back to back yet.

Saturday:
1. Kirby Yates (ATL) – A Friday outing would be three of four and four of six for Raisel Iglesias.
2. Lucas Sims (CIN) – If he goes Friday, that would be four of six for Alexis Diaz.
3. Sam Moll (OAK) – A Friday appearance would be three of four for Trevor May.

Kevin Ginkel is now your best saves bet in Arizona

July 20, 2023

Arizona Diamondbacks — As we alerted you last night, two saves in two days for Kevin Ginkel is enough to depose Scott McGough and throw Arizona into committee mode. Still no updates from Torey Lovullo, but we continue to believe he’ll ride Ginkel’s hot hand, with Andrew Chafin and Miguel Castro alternate options in the committee. 

Updated hierarchy: *Ginkel | Chafin | Castro.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers — Alex Lange seems to have secured his position at the end of Detroit’s bullpen and we’ll pull the committee asterisk accordingly.

Hierarchy remains: Lange | Foley | Cisnero.

Oakland A’s — Trevor May earned his eighth save of the season and a revocation of the committee asterisk, while Sam Long’s eighth-inning hold secured his return to second in line ahead of Lucas Erceg.

Updated hierarchy: May | Moll | Long.

San Diego Padres — Steven Wilson has returned from the injured list and immediately resumed his high-leverage role, earning two holds this week.

Updated hierarchy: Hader | Martinez | Wilson.

Baltimore Orioles — Baltimore’s acquisition of Shintaro Fujinami from Oakland could have some late-inning implications. His surface stats don’t look great, but he’s striking out lots of batters and pushing 100 mph with his fastball in shorter appearances.

Hierarchy remains: Bautista | Cano | Baker.

St. Louis Cardinals — As predicted by Wednesday’s Vulture Save Watch, Chris Stratton was there to close out the win with Jordan Hicks and Giovanny Gallegos resting.

Hierarchy remains: Hicks | Gallegos | Stratton.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Taylor Clarke (KC) — Scott Barlow might need two days off after throwing 34 pitches Tuesday.
2. Sam Moll (OAK) — Trevor May has gone back-to-back.
3. Buck Farmer (CIN) — Alexis Diaz and Lucas Sims have each pitched in three out of four (as has Ian Gibaut).

Friday:
1. Jose Cisnero (DET) — An appearance Thursday by Alex Lange or Jason Foley would be three of four.
2. Tyler Rogers (SF) — Same with Camilo Doval (it would also be five of seven).
3. Adam Ottavino (NYM) — David Robertson has thrown a lot of pitches in his recent outings.
4. Giovanny Gallegos (STL) — Another Jordan Hicks outing would be three of four; whichever of Hicks and Gallegos does not pitch Thursday will likely be up for Friday.

Scott McGough loses his job in Arizona

July 19, 2023

Arizona Diamondbacks — A second straight save for Kevin Ginkel — punctuated by a weird showdown with Ronald Acuña Jr. — is enough for us to call an end to the Scott McGough era. No official word yet from Torey Lovullo, but our guess is a committee that will include Miguel Castro, Andrew Chafin (upon his return from the paternity list), and the irascible Ginkel. 

Updated hierarchy: *Ginkel | Chafin | Castro.
* = closer-by-committee

Kevin Ginkel grabs a save

July 19, 2023

Arizona Diamondbacks — With Andrew Chafin on the paternity list and Miguel Castro having faced the 9-1-2 hitters in the eighth, Kevin Ginkel got the ball in the ninth with the Diamondbacks leading Atlanta, 16-13. Ginkel struck out the side to earn his first save of the season. The struggling Scott McGough got a second straight day off after back-to-back rough outings in Toronto in which he combined for 49 pitches. It’s looking more and more like Arizona will be moving back to a committee approach, and it will be interesting to see how McGough is used, if at all, if the Diamondbacks have a late-inning lead tonight.

Hierarchy remains: McGough | Chafin | Castro.

Texas Rangers – Will Smith needed just 10 pitches to complete a 1-2-3 ninth inning and secure the save in Tuesday’s win over the Rays. Aroldis Chapman did not pitch, having gone in three of four, but could very well see a save chance today as Smith has now appeared in three of four.

Hierarchy remains: *Smith | Chapman | Burke.
* = closer-by-committee

St. Louis Cardinals — With Genesis Cabrera designated for assignment, we welcome Chris Stratton to the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Hicks | Gallegos | Stratton.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Aroldis Chapman (TEX) – As noted above, Will Smith has gone in three of four.
2. Matt Moore (LAA) – Same for Carlos Estevez, though he only threw eight pitches last night.
3. Taylor Clarke (KC) – Scott Barlow threw 34 pitches last night.
4. Dylan Floro/Huascar Brazoban (MIA) – A.J. Puk has gone in two straight while Floro may need a second day of rest after throwing 30 pitches on Monday.
5. Adam Ottavino (NYM) – David Robertson has gone in two of three, including a 22-pitch save last night.
6. Gregory Soto/Jeff Hoffman (PHI) – Both Craig Kimbrel and Gregory Soto have gone in two of three.
7. Chris Stratton (STL) – Both Jordan Hicks and Giovanny Gallegos have gone in two straight.
8. Tyler Rogers (SF) – Camilo Doval has gone in two straight and four of five. Rogers, who was coming off pitching two straight and three of four, was one of the only Giants relievers to get a day off yesterday.

Tomorrow
1. Taylor Clarke/Carlos Hernandez (KC) – Scott Barlow may need two days off. If Clarke pitches today, that’ll be three of four for him. Hernandez should be off today after pitching two in a row but may be in line to steal a save on Thursday.
2. Kirby Yates/Joe Jimenez (ATL) – If any of the Braves’ hierarchy pitches today it’ll be two straight.
3. Gregory Soto/Jeff Hoffman (PHI) – If either Craig Kimbrel or Soto goes today it’ll be two straight and four of five.
4. Mark Leiter Jr. (CHC) – Should Adbert Alzolay pitch today that’ll be two in a row.

High-leverage Ryan Brasier returns

July 18, 2023

Los Angeles Dodgers – Plucked off the scrap heap after an unceremonious end to his tenure in Boston, Ryan Brasier has pitched surprisingly well (12.1 IP, 2 ER) for the Dodgers since being called up from AAA in June. Yesterday, with Evan Phillips getting a breather, Brasier picked up his first save as a Dodger.

Hierarchy remains: *Phillips | Graterol | Ferguson.
* = closer-by-committee

Washington Nationals – Kyle Finnegan did indeed get the first save opportunity following Hunter Harvey’s injury. It was his 12th of the year. Also as expected, Mason Thompson bridged the gap to Finnegan.

Hierarchy remains: Finnegan | Thompson | Weems.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Justin Topa – Paul Sewald and Andres Munoz have gone back to back.
2. Griffin Jax – Jhoan Duran might need a second day off after pitching three straight over the weekend.
3. Joel Payamps – Likewise for Devin Williams.

Tomorrow
1. Jason Adam – If Pete Fairbanks goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.
2. Matt Moore – If Carlos Estevez goes today, it’s three of four.
3. Aroldis Chapman – Same for Will Smith…
4. Brusdar Graterol – …and Evan Phillips.
5. Trevor Stephan – If Emmanuel Clase goes today, it’s back to back.
6. Jason Foley – Same for Alex Lange…
7. Mason Thompson – …and Kyle Finnegan…
8. Giovanny Gallegos – …and Jordan Hicks.