Yates snags a save while Scott moves up in Miami

July 22, 2023
Miami Marlins – Marlins manager Skip Schumaker gave out a vote of confidence for closer AJ Puk yesterday. Puk has had a brutal July, but with the Marlins in the middle of a 7 game skid he is still has their most recent save opportunity and conversion. One bright spot during the losing streak has been Tanner Scott, who has an 8 game scoreless streak going, and was mentioned as being in line for higher leverage spots. This is enough to get him on the hierarchy, but watch the Marlins come deadline day, they may be shopping for outside help. 

Updated hierarchy: Puk | Floro | Scott.

Atlanta Braves – After throwing 22 pitches on Thursday, Raisel Iglesias was given the night off, which left Kirby Yates to protect a 2 run lead. He walked a couple batters, but finished the game with a gorgeous back door slider after an 11 pitch at bat. Yates should continue to be the top choice for Atlanta when Iglesias needs a break, at least until AJ Minter and Nick Anderson are ready to return. 

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Yates | Jimenez.

Toronto Blue Jays — The Blue Jays acquired recently DFA’d Cardinal Genesis Cabrera in a trade yesterday. Just like the Cardinals, Cabrera has been struggling throughout the year. He has kept his K-rate high, but has been getting hit hard when batters do make contact so maybe a change of scenery will do wonders for him. He is nowhere near ready to crack the hierarchy in Toronto, but could be a holds option if he can turn his season around. 

Hierarchy remains: Romano | Swanson | Garcia.

Vulture Save Watch:

  1. Bryan Abreu (HOU) — Ryan Pressly has pitched 3 in a row.
  2. Jason Adam (TB) — Pete Fairbanks has pitched in back to back games, throwing 34 pitches in that span.
  3. Andres Munoz (SEA) — Paul Sewald has pitched back to back, throwing 37 pitches.

For Sunday:

  1. Erik Swanson/Yimi Garcia (TOR) — Today would be 3 in a row for everyone in the Toronto hierarchy.
  2. Lucas Sims/Buck Farmer (CIN) — Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for Alexis Diaz.
  3. Nick Martinez/Robert Suarez (SD) — Same for Josh Hader.

Aroldis Chapman records first save as a Ranger and could the Rays be moving towards the unthinkable?

July 16, 2023

Texas Rangers – Aroldis Chapman struck out a pair in a scoreless 9th inning and recorded his first save as a Ranger.  Manager Bruce Bochy said that Chapman is not the Rangers’ closer but that he and Will Smith will share the duties.  We will see if either one can establish himself as the primary closer or if this will be a true committee.   On other Rangers’ bullpen news, Josh Sborz was placed on the IL so Brock Burke replaces him on the hierarchy.

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

Tampa Bay Rays — Pete Fairbanks pitched a scoreless 9th inning for his 10th save of the season.  Don’t look now, but since returning from the IL in the middle of June, Pete Fairbanks has recorded all five Rays’ saves.  We wouldn’t dare pull the committee tag for the Rays given their history but if this was any other team, the asterisk would be gone.  We will see if the Closer Monkey Rays curse continues at the mere mention of removing the asterisk or if Fairbanks can keep this going. 

Hierarchy remains: *Fairbanks | Adam | Poche.
*=closer-by-committee

Chicago White Sox – Kendall Graveman allowed a run but was able to lock down his 8th save of the season yesterday.  Graveman has recorded the last two saves for the White Sox and his 8 saves lead the team.  The next closest is Reynaldo Lopez with 4, but he hasn’t recorded a save since the beginning of May so we will kick the asterisk for Graveman.  As we mentioned in our Trade Deadline Buy/Sell, Graveman is a trade candidate and Gregory Santos, and his 100 MPH sinker, could be a guy to watch.

Updated hierarchy: Graveman | Santos | Lopez.

New York Yankees — Clay Holmes closed out a 6-3 Yankees’ victory and earned his 11th save of the season.  Holmes is the best bet for a save on any given night but that’s not enough to kick the committee tag yet.  We will monitor if that changes and Holmes can settle in the role as the primary closer.

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

Atlanta Braves – AJ Minter was placed on the IL, but the Braves said it was more as a precautionary move so hopefully he will be able to return as soon as he is eligible.  While he is out, Joe Jimenez should see more time in the later innings.

Updated hierarchy: Iglesias | Yates | Jimenez.

Toronto Blue Jays — Jordan Romano was unavailable yesterday and is considered day-to-day.  With the top of the order due up in the 8th inning and the Blue Jays clinging to a 3-2 lead, Erik Swanson got the call and pitched a scoreless inning.  After the Blue Jays added a couple insurance runs, Yimi Garcia got the 9th inning and also pitched a scoreless inning to pick up his second save of the season.  Swanson and Garcia are both options to close if Romano misses more time.

Updated hierarchy: Romano | Swanson | Garcia.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Bryan Baker (BAL) – Felix Bautista and Yennier Cano have both pitched in two straight.
2. Griffin Jax/Emilio Pagan (MIN) – Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax have both pitched in two straight, though Jax only threw 6 pitches yesterday.
3. Bryan Abreu/Ryne Stanek (HOU) – Ryan Pressly has pitched in two straight, including a 32 pitch blown save yesterday. The entire Astros hierarchy has pitched in two straight with Abreu throwing the fewest number of pitches yesterday.
4. Bryse Wilson (MIL) – The entire Brewers’ hierarchy has pitched in two straight.
5. Tyler Rogers (SF) – Camilo Doval has pitched in two straight.
6. Fernando Rodney (TB) – We mentioned a possible end to the Rays’ committee so we fully expect them to go crazy and bring back Fernando Rodney to close out today’s game to really stick it to us.

Monday
1. Jason Foley (DET) – If Alex Lange pitches today, it will be two of three, including a 29 pitch outing on Friday.

Kirby Yates gets his first save in three years

June 27, 2023

Atlanta Braves – With the entire Atlanta hierarchy needing a night off after a busy stretch, Kirby Yates picked up his first save of the season. It was only four years ago when Yates was maybe the best reliever in baseball, and while he hasn’t fully recaptured his old form, he’s been a nice piece in the middle of the Atlanta bullpen.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Minter | Anderson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Joel Payamps – Devin Williams has gone back to back.

Tomorrow
1. Adam Ottavino/Brooks Raley – If David Robertson or Adam Ottavino go tonight, it’s back to back.
2. Andres Munoz/Justin Topa – Same for Paul Sewald and Andres Munoz…
3. Chris Devenski – …and Carlos Estevez.
4. Jason Foley – If Alex Lange goes tonight, it’s three of the last four, including two long outings on Saturday and Sunday.

Rays’ Pete Fairbanks returns, records save as Jason Adam sets him up

June 16, 2023

Tampa Bay Rays — Pete Fairbanks returned from the IL Thursday and slid right into ninth-inning duty, retiring the side on 10 pitches to earn his seventh save. Jason Adam pitched the eighth inning. We’ll move Fairbanks to the front of this committee as a result.

Updated hierarchy: *Fairbanks | Adam | Poche.
*=closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s – Richard Lovelady recorded three outs on 11 pitches Thursday but was pulled in the seventh inning after he threw a pitch and grabbed his left arm. He apparently felt a burning sensation in his elbow and will receive an MRI. It didn’t look good. We’ll preemptively yank him from the hierarchy and toss in Sam Moll, who leads Oakland with five holds.

Updated hierarchy: *May | Long | Moll.
* = closer-by-committee

San Francisco Giants – John Brebbia’s last three appearances have been starts, and he’s slated to kick things off Friday night against the Dodgers. All of the appearances were as an opener, of course, but he can’t have a save chance in the ninth if he’s out there in the first.

Updated hierarchy: Doval | Ty. Rogers | Ta. Rogers.

Pittsburgh Pirates – Colin Holderman was placed on the IL Thursday with right wrist inflammation. Righty Yohan Ramirez has a trio of holds, including some relatively recent looks in the eighth inning, so we’ll give him a shot in this hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Bednar | Moreta | Ramirez.

Washington Nationals — Given a 1-0 lead Thursday, Hunter Harvey blew the save, but if you played him in your lineup, you were fortunate he earned the win. Washington took the lead in the top of the tenth, giving space for Carl Edwards Jr. to record three outs for his second save. Kyle Finnegan pitched the eighth inning, allowing one hit but striking out three against the Astros 8-9-1-2 hitters. This is a messy situation, and given Harvey’s blown save, we’ll leave the committee as is for now.

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

Los Angeles Angels — Carlos Estevez has been amazing this season, but he ran into trouble on Thursday with a three-run lead against the Rangers, walking all three hitters he faced. Jacob Webb entered the game and induced a foul-out and a line-out before walking in a run (charged to Estevez). He struck out Adolis Garcia to end the threat and secure his first save. Chris Devenski and Jose Soriano pitched earlier in the game. 

Hierarchy remains: Estevez | Devenski | Soriano.

Atlanta Braves — Michael Tonkin pitched the final 3.1 innings with just one hit and one walk to go with six strikeouts to earn his first career save. While he has pitched nicely this year, Tonkin (3.21 ERA, 0.95 WHIP in 33.2 IP) likely won’t be a factor in the saves discussion moving forward.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Minter | Anderson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Jose Alvarado (PHI) – Craig Kimbrel has gone in two straight.
2. Chris Devenski (LAA) – Carlos Estevez could not find the strike zone Thursday and has gone in three of four.
3. Bryan Abreu (HOU) – Ryan Pressley was shaky Thursday and has pitched in back-to-back days.
4. Brusdar Graterol (LAD) – Evan Phillips pitched two innings Thursday (27 pitches) and has gone in two of three.
5. Lucas Sims (CIN) – Alexis Diaz has gone in four of the past six days.

Saturday:
1. Adbert Alzolay (CHC) – If he goes Friday, it would be three of four for Mark Leiter Jr.
2. A.J. Minter (ATL) – An outing Friday would be three of five for Raisel Iglesias.
3. Josh Sborz (TEX) – An appearance Friday would be three of five for Will Smith.

Griffin Jax gets a save for Minnesota

June 15, 2023

Minnesota Twins — Griffin Jax has put together 10 straight scoreless appearances for the Twins (9.2 IP, 3 H, 12 K), including Wednesday night’s save after Jhoan Duran was used in the eighth. Jax is right there with Duran, Brock Stewart, and Jorge Lopez in the Twins’ committee.

Updated hierarchy: *Duran | Stewart | Jax.
* = closer-by-committee

Philadelphia Phillies — Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth with the score tied, allowing Jose Alvarado to pick up the save in the bottom of the tenth.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Alvarado | Dominguez.

Atlanta Braves — Raisel Iglesias threw 31 pitches in the first game of Atlanta’s doubleheader on Wednesday, so it was Joe Jimenez and lefty AJ Minter who split the ninth in the second game with a one-run lead. Minter got the final out to earn his tenth save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Minter | Anderson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Jesse Chavez (ATL) — Raisel Iglesias threw 31 pitches Wednesday and 27 pitches Monday, while Nick Anderson has similar numbers (26 and 25). Meanwhile, AJ Minter was used in both ends of yesterday’s doubleheader. It’s Chavez time.
2. Adbert Alzolay (CHC) — Mark Leiter Jr. has gone in two straight.

Friday:
1. Chris Devenski (LAA) — An appearance today would be three of four for Carlos Estevez.
2. Jose Leclerc/Brock Burke (TEX) — The Rangers’ hierarchy guys have all thrown a ton of pitches recently and Texas might have to go off-menu for a Friday save, even as far as Joe Barlow.
3. Lucas Sims (CIN) — Alexis Diaz has appeared in two straight (and four of five) and might need two days off.