Rockies manager Bud Black to ‘address’ team’s closer situation

June 9, 2023

Colorado Rockies — Pierce Johnson was given a save chance with a one-run lead and he blew it, giving up three runs on two walks and two hits. He three 30 pitches in the ugly outing, which inflated his ERA to 7.50. After the game, manager Bud Black said he would “address” the closer situation. We’ve already taken Johnson out of the role and we have to imagine Black is intending to do the same. We’ll slide Johnson down in anticipation that a committee led by Justin Lawrence will take over. Keep an eye on Daniel Bard and Brad Hand, too.

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

Philadelphia Phillies – Jose Alvarado is slated to return Friday and we’ll slot him in accordingly. He’ll likely compete for saves but Craig Kimbrel has been better as of late (1 ER in 4 IP with two saves and win in June).

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Alvarado | Dominguez.

New York Yankees – Michael King allowed two runs across two innings in Game 1 of a doubleheader Thursday to take the blown save and loss. In Game 2, Clay Holmes tossed a scoreless ninth inning for his seventh save, as projected by the Vulture Save Watch. Holmes has three of New York’s past four saves as this bullpen situation continues to be murky.

Hierarchy remains: *King | Holmes | Peralta.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago White Sox – In Game 1 of a doubleheader Thursday, Kendall Graveman secured his sixth save, an outcome predicted by the Vulture Save Watch. Liam Hendriks did not appear in either game as it appears he is being eased back. It’s also possible he would have been used if Chicago had a late-inning lead in the nightcap.

Hierarchy remains: *Hendriks | Graveman | Kelly.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers – Alex Lange was rocked Thursday, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk to blow the save and take his second loss. He has allowed six earned runs in two appearances this week to raise his ERA from 1.11 to 3.20.

Hierarchy remains: Lange | Foley | Cisnero.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Erik Swanson (TOR) – Jordan Romano has pitched in two straight.
2. Kevin Kelly (TB) – Colin Poche and Jason Adam have each worked in two straight and three of four.
3. John Brebbia (SF) – Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers have also gone in two in a row.
4. Justin Foley (DET) – Alex Lange had a rough outing Thursday (22 pitches) and is in a bit of a funk. He could need a day off.
5. Adam Ottavino (NYM) – David Robertson three 33 pitches in a blown save Thursday.

Saturday:
1. Yennier Cano (BAL) – A Friday outing would be three of four for Felix Bautista.
2. A.J. Minter (ATL) – If he goes Friday, that would be three of four for Raisel Iglesias.
3. Chris Devenski (LAA) – Same as above for Carlos Estevez.
4. Brusdar Graterol (LAD) – A Friday appearance would be four of six for Evan Phillips.

Non-standard usage for Justin Lawrence

June 8, 2023

Colorado Rockies — Justin Lawrence was used as a fireman on Wednesday, coming in with two on in the seventh with a one-run lead. When he escaped that jam, he stayed in for the eighth, but gave up the go-ahead run on a squeeze bunt. If Lawrence keeps getting summoned in high-leverage spots before the ninth, his asterisk could be a permanent appendage.

Hierarchy remains: *Lawrence | Johnson | Bard.
* = closer-by-committee

Atlanta Braves — With Raisel Iglesias resting after three games in four days, AJ Minter came on for a clean ninth, earning his eighth save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Minter | Anderson.

Oakland A’s — Trevor May picked up a two-out save, entering with two on and the tying run on deck. He gave up a single before shutting the door.

Hierarchy remains: *Lovelady | May | Acton.
* = closer-by-committee

Kansas City Royals — Josh Staumont is headed to the IL with a neck strain, putting Taylor Clarke back into the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Barlow | Chapman | Clarke.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Caleb Ferguson/Shelby Miller (LAD) — Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol have each gone in three of four. Ferguson threw 30 pitches Tuesday.
2. Kevin Kelly (TB) — Jason Adam and Colin Poche have each been used in two of three (and three of five).
3. Pierce Johnson (COL) — Justin Lawrence threw 31 pitches Wednesday.
4. Kendall Graveman (CWS) — The White Sox have a doubleheader…
5. Clay Holmes (NYY) — …against the Yankees.

Friday:
1. Nick Anderson/AJ Minter (ATL) — Raisel Iglesias has had a heavy recent workload, as has Minter.
2. Lucas Sims (CIN) — Alexis Diaz has gone in two of three.

Liam Hendriks earns his first save of the season

June 7, 2023

Chicago White Sox – After giving up a leadoff homer, Liam Hendriks bounced back to retire the next three Yankee hitters he faced on Tuesday to earn his first save since returning from chemotherapy. He’s pitched the ninth in each of his last two appearances, earning a win and a save, and looks to be back in his usual role as White Sox closer. 

Updated hierarchy: *Hendriks | Graveman | Kelly.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins – A.J. Puk was activated from the IL on Tuesday. We’ll move him back to the closer’s role but we’ll slap an asterisk on this hierarchy until we see just how quickly the Marlins use Puk in high-leverage situations.

Updated hierarchy: *Puk | Floro | Scott.
* = closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners – Andres Muñoz returned from the IL on Tuesday in a big way, striking out two in a 1-2-3 eighth inning to preserve a 4-1 lead. Manager Scott Servais said he doesn’t plan to use Muñoz on back-to-back days for a while, but it’s a good sign that Muñoz immediately got the ball in a high-leverage spot and was successful.

Updated hierarchy: Sewald | Muñoz | Topa.

Philadelphia Phillies – Seranthony Dominguez has secured an eighth-inning hold in each of Craig Kimbrel’s last two saves, including last night’s 1-0 win. We’ll swap him with Gregory Soto, who got the seventh inning in his last appearance.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Dominguez | Soto.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Grant Anderson (TEX) – Will Smith has pitched in two straight and Josh Sborz threw 25 pitches last night.

Tomorrow
1. Kendall Graveman/Joe Kelly/Reynaldo Lopez (CHW) – If Liam Hendriks or anyone else in the White Sox hierarchy pitches today, that’ll be back-to-back appearances. Lopez has not pitched since Saturday.
2. Chris Devenski/Ben Joyce (LAA) – If either Devenski or closer Carlos Estévez pitch today that will be back-to-back and three of four.
3. AJ Minter/Nick Anderson (ATL) – If Raisel Iglesias pitches today that will be two straight and four of five. If Minter goes on Wednesday, that’ll be two straight and three of four.

Colin Holderman becomes Colin Saverman

June 6, 2023

Pittsburgh Pirates – Colin Holderman had as adventurous a scoreless inning as a pitcher can have (the first three batters got hits; one was erased via caught stealing), but got the job done and picked up his first save of the year. As the Vulture Save Watch stated yesterday, David Bednar had gone three straight and got the night off.

Hierarchy remains: Bednar | Holderman | Moreta.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Tanner Scott – Dylan Floro has gone back to back.

Tomorrow
1. Colin Poche/Kevin Kelly – If Jason Adam and Colin Poche go today, it’s back to back and three of four.

Yankees’ committee continues to get the job done

June 5, 2023

New York Yankees – With Michael King having thrown 33 pitches on Saturday, the Yankees leaned on Clay Holmes, who finished the 7th inning and got the first two outs of the 8th, followed by Wandy Peralta, who notched the final four outs for his 4th save of the year.

Hierarchy remains: *King | Holmes | Peralta.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Colin Holderman – David Bednar has gone three straight.
2. Chris Martin – Kenley Jansen threw 43 pitches on Saturday and might need an extra day off.
3. Jose Cisnero – Alex Lange and Jason Foley have both gone back to back.
4. Aroldis Chapman – Same for Scott Barlow.

Tomorrow
1. Erik Swanson – If Jordan Romano goes today, it’s back to back and four of five.
2. Tanner Scott – If Dylan Floro goes today, it’s back to back.