Shakeups in the AL West

April 22, 2023
Oakland A’s — The A’s found themselves in a tie game late, and turned to Zach Jackson to face to top of the order in the 8th inning. He let the first two runners reach base, but got the next three outs and was in line for the win after the A’s scored in the top of the 9th. This left the save opportunity to Jeurys Familia, who converted with a timely doubly play. Jackson had the harder assignment, but didn’t perform quite as well, so we will slap a committee tag on this at least until May or Jimenez are ready to return.

Updated hierarchy: *Jackson | Familia | Moll.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Angels – With a 2 run lead in the 8th, the Angels turned to Carlos Estevez which left the 9th inning for Jose Quijada. Quijada converted for his 4th save on the year, which leads the team. Quijada continued his scoreless streak, and while Estevez will remain in the mix for saves, it looks like the inside track belongs to Quijada at this point, at least until he gives up a run. The Angels also optioned Jimmy Herget to AAA, and called up Austin Warren. Warren had an electric finish to 2021 before struggling throughout 2022, but he has been on fire in the minors and the Angels may give him some late inning chances if he can continue at the major league level. These transactions open up a hierarchy spot for Matt Moore, who picked up a 7th inning hold earlier this week.  

Updated hierarchy: *Quijada | Estevez | Moore.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago White Sox – With a 2 run lead in the 9th the White Sox brought in Reynaldo Lopez, who had an outing to forget. A leadoff homer brought the game closer, then a single and a walkoff homer ended the game with Lopez taking the loss while failing to record an out. Lopez is still the only player to record a save, but his ERA sits at an ugly 9.35. The saving grace for Lopez is that nobody else is pitching well out of the bullpen either, so he holds onto his top spot for now, but don’t be surprised if the next save chance goes to someone else. 

Hierarchy remains: *Lopez | Graveman | Bummer.
* = closer-by-committee

Philadelphia Phillies – Jose Alvarado continues to impress in the early going, pitching a clean 9th inning and recording his 3rd save in the last 4 days. Craig Kimbrel wasn’t used last night, but he did pick up holds in Alvarado’s other 2 saves this week. Normally 3 clear saves in a row is enough to kick an asterisk, but Kimbrel has been just as good over the last 2 weeks, striking out 8 of the 14 batters he has faced. If Alvarado gets the next save though, it looks like he will have the job to himself. 

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

Vulture Save Watch:

  1. Duane Underwood/Colin Holderman (PIT) — David Bednar has pitched in back to back and 3 of 4, while Holderman has pitched back to back as well, leaving a good chance for Underwood to snag a save today.
  2. Craig Kimbrel (PHI) — Jose Alvarado has pitched in 3 of the last 4, while Kimbrel was rested last night.
  3. Brusdar Graterol (LAD) — Evan Phillips is still on the paternity list.
  4. James Karinchak (CLE) — The Guardians have a doubleheader today…
  5. Dylan Floro (MIA) — …Against the Marlins.

For Sunday:

  1. Sam Moll (OAK) — Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for both Zach Jackson and Jeurys Familia.
  2. Will Smith (TEX) — Same for Jose Leclerc.

Michael Fulmer floundering for Cubs; Evan Phillips hits paternity list

April 21, 2023

Chicago Cubs – Michael Fulmer had a rough outing Thursday, yielding four runs on three hits and a walk while recording just one out to take his second loss. His ERA is now above 7.00 and recent evidence suggests he might not be the top option for saves. He tossed a scoreless eighth inning in a 4-0 win Tuesday and pitched the eighth last Sunday to set up Brad Boxberger, who converted the save then. We’ll slide Boxberger up, especially given the disparity in their numbers – 1.23 ERA, 1.09 WHIP for Boxberger and a 7.56 ERA and 1.80 WHIP for Fulmer.

Updated hierarchy: *Boxberger | Fulmer | Hughes.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Dodgers – Evan Phillips was placed on the paternity list, so he will be out of action for a few days. Expect Brusdar Graterol to get the bulk of the save chances in his stead. While we’re talking about the Dodgers, it’s time to address how bad Alex Vesia has been to start the season – 11.12 ERA, 3.53 WHIP. He won’t be sniffing the ninth anytime soon. We’ll slide up Caleb Ferguson, who has looked impressive in the early going (2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP).

Updated hierarchy: *Phillips | Graterol | Ferguson.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox – It appears the days of “high-leverage Ryan Brasier” are already over. Brasier was used in mop-up roles Wednesday (he allowed three runs with the Red Sox trailing 7-2) and Thursday (he allowed two runs with the Red Sox leading 11-2). He now has a 7.94 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP. With Chris Martin injured, look for John Schreiber and Josh Winckowski to set things up for Kenley Jansen.

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Schreiber | Winckowski.

Chicago White Sox – We are incredibly happy to report that Liam Hendriks is now cancer-free! The White Sox closer made the announcement on social media on Thursday. Remember that he was not placed on the 60-day IL to start the season, so perhaps he could return at some point soon. No timetable has been announced yet but we will keep you posted.

Hierarchy remains: *Lopez | Graveman | Bummer.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Luis Garcia (SD) – Josh Hader has gone in two straight.
2. Brusdar Graterol (LAD) – Evan Phillips is on the paternity list.

Saturday:
1. Colin Holderman (PIT) – If he goes Friday, that would be three of four for David Bednar.
2. Craig Kimbrel (PHI) – Same as above for Jose Alvarado.
3. Caleb Ferguson (LAD) – If Evan Phillips is still on the paternity list and Brusdar Graterol pitches Friday (which make it three of four for him), perhaps Caleb Ferguson gets a chance.
4. Jose Quijada (LAA) – A Friday outing would be three of five for Carlos Estevez.

Daniel Bard back from the injured list

April 20, 2023

Colorado Rockies — Daniel Bard returned from the injured list and had an uneventful eighth inning with the Rockies up 11. He should immediately resume his role as Colorado’s regular closer.

Updated hierarchy: Bard | Johnson | Hand.

Milwaukee Brewers — Devin Williams had thrown 53 pitches over the last three days, so the Brewers used Matt Bush to nail down the save on Wednesday.

Hierarchy remains: Williams | Bush | Strzelecki.

New York Mets — The Mets’ two-headed closer continues to roll. Adam Ottavino picked up his second straight save after David Robertson was called on for a high-leverage eighth. Over the past five days, each man has two saves.

Hierarchy remains: *Robertson | Ottavino | Raley.
* = closer-by-committee

San Francisco Giants — Taylor Rogers has had a rough start to this season (13.50 ERA, 2.36 WHIP, 11.6 BB/9), but in closing out the eleventh inning on Wednesday, he earned his first save.  

Hierarchy remains: Doval | Ty. Rogers | Brebbia.

Minnesota Twins — Brent Headrick’s MLB debut came Wednesday, and for protecting a big lead for three innings, he left Fenway Park with a three-inning save. If you had Headrick in your lineup yesterday, congratulations are in order — because you are Brent Headrick.

Hierarchy remains: *Duran | Lopez | Thielbar.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Jose Quijada (LAA) — Carlos Estevez has pitched a lot lately (56 pitches over three days).
2. Seranthony Dominguez (PHI) — Jose Alvarado and Craig Kimbrel have pitched in two straight.

Friday:
1. Brooks Raley (NYM) — Both David Robertson and Adam Ottavino have seen some heavy use.

Jose Alvarado gets a rare save for the Phillies

April 19, 2023

Philadelphia Phillies – Saves have been few and far between for the Phillies this year with Craig Kimbrel getting one on April 7 and Jose Alvarado delivering the team’s second save on Tuesday. Kimbrel faced the top of the order in the seventh inning while Seranthony Dominguez pitched the eighth. What’s most impressive about Alvarado this season is that 18 of the 22 outs he has recorded his season have been strikeouts. We’ll move him to the top of this committee and see if he can get a few more save opportunities.

Updated hierarchy: *Alvarado | Kimbrel | Dominguez.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Angels – Carlos Estevez got the night off after a 26-pitch save on Monday, which allowed Jose Quijada to pick up his third save of the season with a 1-2-3 inning. Not only has Quijada not allowed a run yet this season, but he has only given up two hits in 7.0 IP.

Hierarchy remains: *Estevez | Quijada | Herget.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers — Alex Lange pitched in game one of Tuesday’s doubleheader, which left the save chance in game two to Jason Foley. Foley tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his first career save and extend his scoreless streak to 6.2 IP.. He has allowed just one hit over that scoreless stretch.

Updated hierarchy: Lange | Foley | Cisnero.

Miami Marlins – AJ Puk recorded his third save of the season (and second in as many days) on Tuesday with a scoreless ninth inning. Once again it was Dylan Floro who pitched the eighth, though it should be noted that Floro faced the 2-3-4 hitters in the Giants’ lineup, retiring them in order to extend his scoreless streak to 8.2 IP to start the season. Floro, who has given up just one hit all season, looks like he’ll get the toughest matchup regardless of inning in this committee.

Hierarchy remains: *Puk | Floro | Scott.
* = closer-by-committee

Arizona Diamondbacks – The same day we removed the asterisk from this committee, Andrew Chafin had a rough outing. Facing the top of the order, he allowed a walk, double, RBI ground out and home run to turn an 8-4 lead into just an 8-7 advantage. Miguel Castro came on in relief and retired the next three hitters to earn the save. One bad outing isn’t enough to put the asterisk back, but we’ll see if Chafin can rebound in his next outing. In other news, Joe Mantiply returned from the IL and immediately got thrown into a high-leverage spot, entering the sixth inning with two on and one out in a 7-3 game. Mantiply got out of that jam by retiring the top two hitters in the St. Louis lineup, though he did allow a solo homer in the seventh before being pulled after 1.1 IP. Castro has been solid this season, so we’ll keep him in the hierarchy for now, but Mantiply should see more high-leverage work.

Hierarchy remains: Chafin | McGough | Castro.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Scott McGough (ARI) – Andrew Chafin has gone in two straight.
2. Dylan Floro/Tanner Scott (MIA) – Both AJ Puk and Floro have pitched back-to-back nights, but Floro only threw nine pitches in each outing.

Tomorrow
1. Ryan Brasier (BOS) – If Kenley Jansen pitches today that’s two in a row.
2. Colin Holderman (PIT) – Same for David Bednar.
3. Brad Hand (COL) – And for Pierce Johnson.