Tanner Scott placed on paternity list

September 27, 2023

Miami Marlins — Tanner Scott was placed on the paternity list Tuesday, which means the Marlins will turn to Andrew Nardi, David Robertson and A.J. Puk to close games over the next couple days as they fight for a playoff spot.

Updated hierarchy: *Nardi | Robertson | Puk.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. David Robertson (MIA) – The Marlins have a doubleheader…
2. Drew Smith (NYM) – …against the Mets
3. Ian Hamilton (NYY) – Clay Holmes has gone back-to-back.
4. AJ Minter (ATL) – Raisel Iglesias has pitched in two of three and the Braves aren’t likely to make him go three of four as they get ready for the playoffs.
5. Ian Gibaut (CIN) – Alexis Diaz has pitched in three of four, but the Reds are fighting for a playoff spot and have Thursday off, so they may pitch Diaz anyway.

Tomorrow
1. Shintaro Fujinami (BAL) – If Yennier Cano goes today it’ll be two straight.
2. Jordan Hicks (TOR) – The same is true of Jordan Romano.
3. Matt Brash/Justin Topa (SEA) – It’s also true for Andres Munoz and the entire Seattle hierarchy.
4. Carmen Mlodzinski/Ryan Borucki (PIT) – Same for David Bednar and the Pittsburgh hierarchy.
5. Justin Lawrence/Jake Bird (COL) – Ditto for Tyler Kinley and the Colorado hierarchy.
6. John King/Drew VerHagen (STL) – And for Ryan Helsley.

Tommy Kahnle’s season is over

September 26, 2023

New York Yankees – Tommy Kahnle was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation, effectively ending his season. Look for Ian Hamilton to get any opportunities that don’t go to Clay Holmes in the final week.

Updated hierarchy: Holmes | Hamilton | Weissert.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Brusdar Graterol – The Dodgers have a doubleheader…
2. Justin Lawrence – …against the Rockies.
3. Jose Cuas – The Cubs may given Julian Merryweather a second day off after he threw 62 pitches in a four day stretch ending Sunday.

Tomorrow
1. Ian Hamilton – If Clay Holmes goes today, it’s back to back.
2. AJ Minter – If Raisel Iglesias goes today, it’s two of three, and the Braves aren’t likely to make him go three of four as they get ready for the playoffs.
3. Andrew Nardi/AJ Puk – If Tanner Scott or Andrew Nardi go today, it’s three of four.
4. Ian Gibaut – Same for Alexis Diaz.

Rangers look to an old friend for 9th inning help

September 25, 2023

Cincinnati Reds – Coming off two rough outings on Wednesday and Saturday, the Reds opted to pitch Alexis Diaz in the 8th inning with a 1-run lead. Diaz did his job, leaving the 9th for Ian Gibaut, who converted for the save. Diaz had been so good all season long — save for the last two outings — and has been used as a traditional closer virtually the whole time, so we’re chalking this up as a blip for now. We will move Gibaut into the handcuff slot, though.

Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Gibaut | Sims.

Texas Rangers – With Will Smith scuffling for the past month or so, and Aroldis Chapman coming off back to back outings, the Rangers threw it back to 2022, relying on Jonathan Hernandez, Brock Burke, and then Jose Leclerc to navigate the late innings. It’s Leclerc’s 4th save of the season and his second in the past week, so we’ll move him up a rung in this patchwork committee.

Updated hierarchy: *Chapman | Leclerc | Smith.
* = closer-by-committee

Philadelphia Phillies – Craig Kimbrel had pitched three straight from Wednesday to Friday, and Jose Alvarado had gone in three of the last four, so the Phillies decided to look elsewhere to protect a seemingly-comfortable 3-run lead in the late innings. The strategy paid off, as the debuting Orion Kerkering (already a candidate for the hierarchy of top middle reliever names — watch out Arquimedes Caminero) and veteran Michael Lorenzen both pitched perfect innings to close out the Mets. It was Lorenzen’s first save of the year.

Hierarchy remains: *Kimbrel | Alvarado | Dominguez.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Tyler Rogers – Camilo Doval has gone two of three, including a loss last night.

Tomorrow
1. Bryan Abreu – If Ryan Pressly goes today, it’s back to back.
2. Matt Brash – Same for Andres Munoz.

Two hits for the vulture save watch and updates from playoff contenders

September 24, 2023
Pittsburgh Pirates — As the Vulture Save Watch noted, David Bednar needed a rest last night, so the 9th inning duties fell to Carmen Mlodzinski. Mlodzinski allowed a run and let the tying run reach 3rd base before an 11 pitch strikeout and a flyout stranded the runner for the first save of his career. Mlodzinski has put together an excellent season, and is a bright spot for the forward looking Pirates, but expect David Bednar to continue to hold his spot in this hierarchy for the rest of the year.

Hierarchy remains: Bednar | Mlodzinski | Borucki.

Philadelphia Phillies — Score another for the Vulture Save Watch as Jose Alvarado was summoned to protect a 2 run lead. He got the job done for his 10th save on the year. The Phillies are close to securing a wildcard spot so the last week could see some more use of Alvarado and Dominguez as they ramp up for the playoffs. 

Hierarchy remains: *Kimbrel | Alvarado | Dominguez.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago Cubs – With a 1 run lead the Cubs turned to Julian Merryweather in the 8th inning, and although he struggled he escaped without giving up a run. This left the 9th not to Mark Leiter Jr. but to Jose Cuas who was acquired by the Cubs in a quiet trade with the Royals. The Cubs scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the 8th to make it a 3 run game, and Cuas converted the save for his first on the year. Mark Leiter has been reluctant to throw his splitter recently (by far his best pitch) and this usage suggests the Cubs don’t trust him without that pitch in his arsenal. We will bump him down for now while bringing Cuas up on the strength of his most recent save.  

Updated hierarchy: *Merryweather | Cuas | Leiter Jr.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox — Kenley Jansen was reinstated from the COVID IL, and although he didn’t pitch yesterday, he will resume closing duties for Boston. 

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Martin | Winckowski.

Tampa Bay Rays — Jason Adam was returned to injured list Saturday morning and will miss the rest of the regular season. Tampa Bay has locked up a playoff spot so they may be resting key parts of their bullpen anyway, but we expect Andrew Kittridge to see some more late inning looks without Adam.

Updated hierarchy: Fairbanks | Poche | Kittridge.

Chicago White Sox – Aaron Bummer took the 8th inning yesterday which left the 9th for Bryan Shaw. Shaw converted for his 3rd save on the year. We will swap these guys at the top of the hierarchy but with Santos out there is no clear cut number 1 in Chicago.

Updated hierarchy: *Shaw | Bummer | Crochet.
* = closer-by-committee

Baltimore Orioles – Yannier Cano was called in to put a fire out in the 8th inning, and with the rest of the Baltimore hierarchy resting the save chance fell to Cionel Perez. Perez converted for his 3rd save on the year. With the Orioles having locked up a playoff spot, don’t expect them to stretch their top arms too far heading into the postseason. 

Hierarchy remains: Cano | Fujinami | Coulombe.

Kansas City Royals – The Royals cannot be stopped. Having won 4 in a row and 8 of their last 9 they gave the ball to Taylor Clarke for the last 2 outs of the 8th in a 1 run game. He got out of the jam, and stuck around for the 9th to land his 3rd save on the year. James McArthur had thrown 19 pitches the day before and was resting, but everything is working for Kansas City right now. Expect this bullpen to continue to be flexible with a week remaining, but McArthur is still the best arm to own. 

Hierarchy remains: *McArthur | Hernandez | Clarke.
* = closer-by-committee

Vulture Save Watch:

  1. Shintaro Fujinami (BAL) — Yennier Cano has pitched in back to back games and may get the day off.
  2. Jordan Hicks (TOR) — Jordan Romano has gone back to back and thrown 43 pitches in that time.
  3. Aaron Bummer (CHW) — Bryan Shaw has thrown back to back and 42 pitches.
  4. Jose Soriano (LAA) — Carlos Estevez has pitched in 3 of 4, including a 19 pitch save yesterday.
  5. AJ Minter (ATL) — The Braves have a doubleheader today…
  6. Hunter Harvey (WAS) — …against the Nationals.

For Monday:

  1. Kevin Ginkel (ARI) — The Diamondbacks play a doubleheader…
  2. Tommy Kahnle (NYY) — …against the Yankees.

James McArthur pitches his way to the top of the Royals’ hierarchy

September 23, 2023

Kansas City Royals – James McArthur pitched 1.2 scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts to pick up his second save.  McArthur has an ugly ERA because he gave up 7 earned runs in one inning in his first appearance of the season but he has reeled off nine straight scoreless outings and his WHIP on the season is under 1.00.  McArthur moves to the top of this hierarchy and could be worth a pickup for the last week of the season if you need some potential saves and strong ratios.

Updated hierarchy: *McArthur | Hernandez | Clarke.
* = closer-by-committee

Pittsburgh Pirates — Colin Holderman has been placed on the IL with a right thumb injury.  Ryan Borucki picked up the 7th inning hold yesterday and should see more time in the later innings while Holderman is out.

Updated hierarchy: Bednar | Mlodzinski | Borucki.

New York Yankees — Jhony Brito pitched the final 3.2 innings of a Yankees 7-1 win to pick up his first save.  In other Yankees’ bullpen news, Wandy Peralta was placed on the IL with a triceps injury.  Ian Hamilton will take his place on the hierarchy.  

Updated hierarchy: Holmes | Kahnle | Hamilton.

Boston Red Sox — Kenley Jansen remained out on Friday and Chris Martin pitched a perfect inning for his 3rd save of the season. 

Hierarchy remains: Martin | Winckowski | Whitlock.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Trevor Stephan (CLE) – Emmanuel Clase has pitched in two straight, throwing a total of 57 pitches.
2. Griffin Jax (MIN) – Jhoan Duran has pitched in two of three, including a 34 pitch outing yesterday.
3. Jose Alvarado (PHI) – Craig Kimbrel has pitched in three straight.
4. Carmen Mlodzinski (PIT) – David Bednar has pitched in two straight, throwing a total of 44 pitches.

Sunday
1. AJ Minter (ATL) – The Braves have a doubleheader on Sunday…
2. Hunter Harvey (WAS) – …against the Nationals.