Rain Soaked Thursday leads to a quiet Friday Night

April 8, 2023
Pittsburgh Pirates — Wil Crowe got the 7th inning with a 5 run lead, and stuck around for 2 more to pick up a 3 inning save. He gave up a pair of runs in the 9th along the way. Crowe began the year as the presumptive set up man in front of David Bednar, but has fallen out of favor recently. Until he gets more single inning looks, we’ll keep him off the hierarchy. 

Hierarchy Remains: Bednar | Holderman | Underwood.

Seattle Mariners — The rumors of Paul Sewald’s demise were greatly exaggerated. In the most traditional save situation the Mariners have seen all year they used Anthony Munoz for the 8th inning of a 2 run game and gave the ball to Paul Sewald for the 9th. Both pitched clean innings to pick up their first hold and save on the year respectively. Munoz continues to impress and will likely have a shot at taking over the closers spot at some point this year, but that won’t be today. 

Hierarchy Remains: *Sewald | Muñoz | Castillo.
* = closer-by-committee

Vulture Save Watch:

  1. Aroldis Chapman (KC) — Scott Barlow has pitched back to back games, including 23 pitches last night.
  2. Brad Boxberger (CHC) — Michael Fulmer threw 28 pitches over 2 innings while earning the save last night.

For Sunday:

  1. Erik Swanson/Yimi Garcia (TOR) — Today would be back to back and 4 of 5 for Jordan Romano, who has kept his pitch counts low.
  2. Rafael Montero/Hector Neris (HOU) — Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for Ryan Pressly or Rafael Montero.

Evan Phillips, Pierce Johnson get saves and might be on verge of full-time closer gigs

April 7, 2023

Los Angeles Dodgers – In two of the past three days, Evan Phillips has picked up two clean saves and is another consecutive one away from kicking the asterisk, though it should be noted Brusdar Graterol was not available Thursday due to back tightness. With Graterol ailing and Daniel Hudson slow to recover from knee surgery, Phillips could grab hold of the job and keep it for a long, long time for one of the best teams in baseball.

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

Colorado Rockies — Pierce Johnson has the first two saves for the Rockies this season, including one Thursday night against the Nationals. Another save for Johnson could lead us to drop the asterisk here, too, at least until Daniel Bard, who is working on his mechanics during side sessions but is not yet ready for game action, returns.

Hierarchy remains: *Johnson | Hand | Lamet.
* = closer-by-committee

Atlanta Braves — Collin McHugh was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. Nick Anderson (3.2 IP, 6 Ks and a hold) has looked impressive so we’ll give him a chance in the hierarchy. Jesse Chavez and Kirby Yates also loom. Meanwhile, Raisel Iglesias has not resumed throwing yet, so AJ Minter, who got the win Thursday, should continue to gobble up save chances.

Updated hierarchy: Minter | Jimenez | Anderson.

Toronto Blue Jays — The Vulture Save Watch correctly projected an off day Thursday for Jordan Romano, but it was Adam Cimber, not Yimi Garcia, who scored the save. Garcia had the last two outs of the eighth, leaving Cimber to pitch a 1-2-3 ninth. We’ll move Cimber into our hierarchy given this usage.

Updated hierarchy: Romano | Swanson | Cimber

Chicago White Sox — Congratulations are due for Liam Hendriks, who finished his final round of chemo earlier this week! He was only placed on the 15-day IL to start the year – not the 60-day IL. This suggests he could return sooner than June. Stay tuned!

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

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Joe Jimenez (ATL) – AJ Minter has pitched in three of four.
2. Alex Vesia (LAD) – Evan Phillips has gone in three of five. Plus, Brusdar Graterol is currently nursing a tight back.

Saturday:
1. Brad Hand (COL) – If he goes Friday, that would be three of four for Pierce Johnson.
2. Erik Swanson (TOR) – Same as above for Jordan Romano.

Jose Quijada grabs a save for the Angels

April 6, 2023

Los Angeles Angels — Jose Quijada is getting late-inning high-leverage work over Ryan Tepera and has moved into the Angel hierarchy as a result. On Wednesday, Carlos Estevez got an extra day of rest, with manager Phil Nevin trying to avoid overusing his top arms in the early season, and Quijada actually picked up the save.

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

Pittsburgh Pirates — David Bednar and Colin Holderman needed some rest after going in two straight games, so the Pirates used Rob Zastryzny and Duane Underwood Jr. with a late-inning lead. At least Underwood and Dauri Moreta appear to be ahead of Wil Crowe at this point in the season.

Updated hierarchy: Bednar | Holderman | Underwood.

Atlanta Braves — Protecting a four-run lead in the ninth, Collin McHugh gave up several consecutive hard-hit balls, surrendering a run and leading the Braves to call on 39-year-old Jesse Chavez for a one-out save.

Hierarchy remains: Minter | Jimenez | McHugh.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Yimi Garcia (TOR) — Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson have gone in two straight.

Friday:
1. Joe Jimenez (ATL) — If AJ Minter pitches Thursday, it will be three days in four.
2. Carl Edwards Jr. (WAS) — Kyle Finnegan threw 24 pitches on Tuesday.
3. Brad Hand (COL) — Pierce Johnson threw 28 pitches on Tuesday.

Finnegan sets a fire, Jameson puts one out

April 5, 2023

Arizona Diamondbacks – The Vulture Save Watch noted that Scott McGough and Andrew Chafin were both in line for a rest, but when Kevin Ginkel got the top of the order in the 7th inning, and the D-Backs took the lead in the 8th, they turned to Drey Jameson to hold off the Padres for the last 2 innings. Jameson gave up a run, but go the 6 outs he needed for his first career save. Jameson came up through the minors as a starter, and was solid as a major leaguer in limited action last year, but probably won’t see too many late inning chances going forward. Arizona’s hierarchy should be rested going into today, and McGough may be on the hot seat in the committee after a rough start to the season. 

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

Washington Nationals – Washington’s held a 1 run lead going into the 9th inning, and turned to closer/fireman Kyle Finnegan. Finnegan misunderstood the assignment, and started the fires instead of putting them out. He gave up back to back homers to blow the save, and then end up in line for the loss. 4 batters (and one pickoff) later, a 3 run shot pushed the lead to 4 runs. Finnegan was pulled after that, for a final line of 0.1 innings, 5 H, 5 ER, 3 HR surrendered. After the game, Davey Martinez referred to Finnegan as “our closer” and said they “need to get him right, right?” Based on those comments, we’ll leave the hierarchy in place for now, but it might be time to buy a little insurance in the form of Carl Edwards, who has come out of the gate strong. 

Hierarchy remains: *Finnegan | Edwards | Harvey.
* = closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners — With an 11 run lead, the Mariners gave the ball to Paul Sewald in the 8th inning. He gave up 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk, stranding a couple runners in the process. We shouldn’t overreact to a low leverage situation, but the fact that this was such a low leverage spot isn’t a great look for the leader of a committee. Sewald had just thrown 19 pitches on Sunday, so presumably this wasn’t just getting his work in. Andres Muñoz may have jumped to the top of this committee, but we’ll wait to see the next save chance to be sure. 

Hierarchy remains: *Sewald | Muñoz | Castillo.
* = closer-by-committee

Vulture Save Watch:

  1. Jeurys Familia, Zach Jackson (OAK) — The entire Oakland hierarchy could use a rest, with everyone throwing over 20 pitches last night. If they go off-hierarchy, Jeurys Familia was off yesterday.
  2. Andres Muñoz (SEA) — Paul Sewald threw 30 pitches last night, and likely needs a day off.
  3. Joe Jimenez, Colin McHugh (ATL) — AJ Minter has thrown back to back, while Jimenez threw 16 pitches last night.
  4. Carl Edwards (WAS) — Kyle Finnegan had a disaster outing, and might get a night off to settle himself.
  5. Wil Crowe, Colin Holderman (PIT) — David Bednar and Colin Holderman have pitched back to back, while Crowe is well rested.

For Thursday:

  1. Jason Adam (TB) — Today would be back to back for Pete Fairbanks.
  2. Erik Swanson, Yimi Garcia (TOR) — Same for the entire Toronto hierarchy.
  3. Seranthony Dominguez (PHI) — Same for Craig Kimbrel.
  4. Brusdar Graterol, Alex Vesia (LAD) — Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for Evan Phillips.

Alex Lange, Scott McGough blow saves

April 4, 2023

Cincinnati Reds – Alexis Diaz wasn’t available after going two straight, but the Cubs were nonetheless left breaking rocks in the hot sun, as Derek “the” Law came in and won the game for the Reds, allowing two hits as he picked up the save.

Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Sanmartin | Law.

Pittsburgh Pirates – Colin Holderman has made two appearances thus far, and on both occasions, the 6’7″ righty has gotten an 8th inning hold(erman) ahead of David Bednar. Based on usage thus far, he’s the handcuff in Pittsburgh.

Updated hierarchy: Bendar | Holderman | Crowe.

Detroit Tigers – After an Alex Lange blown save sent the game to extras, the Tigers scored twice in the top of the 11th inning, with Garrett Hill picking up his first career save in the bottom half. Hill, who was used as a swingman in 2022, isn’t cracking the hierarchy yet, but it was a good outing, as he only allowed the automatic runner to score.

Hierarchy remains: Lange | Cisnero | Foley.

Atlanta Braves – Raisel Iglesias still isn’t throwing, and while obviously this isn’t the best news for Braves fans or Iglesias owners, the team has deployed the bullpen pretty consistently thus far, including yesterday, when fill-in closer AJ Minter pitched the 9th in a 4-run game.

Hierarchy remains: Minter | Jimenez | McHugh.

Cleveland Guardians – Eli Morgan picked up his first save of the year in extra innings on Monday. He’s likely fourth in the pecking order here, as Emmanuel Clase and James Karinchak had both already pitched, while Trevor Stephan was likely unavailable.

Hierarchy remains: Clase | Karinchak | Stephan.

Arizona Diamondbacks – Scott McGough entered the bottom of the 9th with a one-run lead, and two batters later, it was over, as David Dahl and Ha-Seong Kim both took him deep to walk off the game for the Padres. We’ll see if this means Andrew Chafin ascends to the top here.

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

Milwaukee Brewers – Bryce Wilson got a 3-inning save in a blowout win on Monday. He doesn’t factor in to the usual late inning plans for Milwaukee.

Hierarchy remains: Williams | Bush | Strzelecki.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. James Karinchak – Emmanuel Clase has gone in three of four, including 19 pitches yesterday; he might get the day off today.
2. Jason Foley – Alex Lange has gone back to back and Jose Cisnero threw 23 pitches yesterday.
3. Ryan Tepera – Carlos Estevez has gone back to back and Tepera seems the best-rested option amongst the cadre of set-up men here.
4. Dany Jimenez – Jimenez is the only high-leverage Oakland reliever who didn’t have a long outing yesterday.
5. Kevin Ginkel – Scott McGough and Andrew Chafin have both gone back to back.

Tomorrow
1. Cionel Perez – If Felix Bautista goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.
2. Jonathan Loaisiga – Same for Clay Holmes.
3. Joe Jimenez – If AJ Minter goes today, it’s back to back.