April 25, 2023
Baltimore Orioles – Cuban-born Yennier Cano made his MLB debut last season, and his cup of coffee in the bigs yielded an 11.50 ERA across 18 innings, so you’d be forgiven if he wasn’t on your radar coming into the season. But the 29-year-old righty made some mechanical tweaks in the offseason, and the results have been nothing short of spectacular. Cano has now faced 21 hitters in 2023 and retired every single one. That’s right, a 0.00 WHIP across 7 innings, including 9 strikeouts and his first save of the season last night, as he spelled a resting Felix Bautista. Cano’s 95-mph sinker, which sports some absurd late movement, along with his change-up that seems to defy physics, have been his most notable weapons so far. We’ll see how long he can maintain this form.
Updated hierarchy: Bautista | Cano | Baker.
Oakland A’s – Scoffing at the 3-run lead that he’d been summoned to protect in the 10th inning, Jeurys Familia decided to up the challenge level by immediately allowing a 2-run home run, followed by a single, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch. The saving grace was that the second batter in the sequence, Luis Rengifo, tried to stretch his single into a double and was thrown out in the process. With only two outs to go, Familia managed a strikeout of Taylor Ward followed by a game-ending groundout from Mike Trout. Though it was perhaps the least-convincing save of the season, Familia still got the job done, and that’s what tends to matter in terms of who gets the ball next. We’ll move him to the top of this committee… for now.
Updated hierarchy: *Familia | Jackson | Moll.
* = closer-by-committee
Texas Rangers – It was a rough night for Jose Leclerc, as the co-closer allowed two runs to score on bases loaded walks in the 8th, then walked the leadoff hitter in the 9th and ended up with the loss. His ERA stayed at 0.00, because the inherited runners weren’t his, and the 9th-inning batter that he faced advanced a base on an error before scoring the winning run, but obviously this was still Leclerc’s worst outing of the season. We’ll monitor to see if this means Will Smith’s share of save chances increases.
Hierarchy remains: *Leclerc | Smith | Hernandez.
* = closer-by-committee
Toronto Blue Jays – Adam Cimber was placed on the IL with a right rhomboid strain; look for Yimi Garcia’s hold chances to increase over the next couple weeks.
Updated hierarchy: Romano | Swanson | Garcia.
Los Angeles Dodgers – Evan Phillips was moved from the paternity list to the bereavement list, which we’re praying is a procedural move rather than something more ominous. Additionally, Brusdar Graterol also went on the paternity list, leaving the Dodgers thin at the back end of the bullpen. We don’t traditionally update hierarchies for short-term leave like this, so check the Vulture Save Watch for speculative save chances for the next few days.
Hierarchy remains: *Phillips | Graterol | Ferguson.
* = closer-by-committee
Milwaukee Brewers – Matt Bush was placed on the IL on Monday; look for Bryse Wilson to get more late-inning chances.
Updated hierarchy: Williams | Strzelecki | Wilson.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jason Foley – Alex Lange has gone back to back.
2. Zach Jackson – Jeurys Familia’s adventurous outing took 27 pitches; he might be off today.
3. Miguel Castro/Joe Mantiply – Andrew Chafin threw 35 pitches last night and Scott McGough threw 26 (after a 21-pitch outing on Saturday).
4. Caleb Ferguson/Shelby Miller – The Dodgers’ top two arms are away from the team.
Tomorrow
1. Erik Swanson – If Jordan Romano goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.
2. Ian Gibaut – Same for Alexis Diaz.
