A.J. Minter gets first Braves save after Kenley Jansen was placed on IL

June 29, 2022

Atlanta Braves – The Braves might have tipped their hands on who they think should be closing games without Kenley Jansen. A.J. Minter got the first post-Jansen save chance Tuesday and converted for his first save of 2022. Will Smith was presumably available, but he did not appear. Consider this a fluid situation for now, but given the usage, we’ll slide Minter ahead of Smith and slap on the committee tag.

Updated hierarchy: *Minter | Smith | McHugh.
* = closer-by-committee

Pittsburgh Pirates — David Bednar has been dealing with a lower back issue and was not available Tuesday night. Manager Derek Shelton said they hope to avoid an IL stint.

Hierarchy remains: Bednar | Crowe | Stratton.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Ian Kennedy (ARI) – Mark Melancon has pitched in three of four.

Thursday:
1. Michael King/Miguel Castro (NYY) – A Wednesday outing would be three of four for Clay Holmes. Michael King, meanwhile, has already gone in three of four entering Wednesday.

Kendall Graveman to close for White Sox after Liam Hendriks hits IL

June 15, 2022

Chicago White Sox – We alerted you yesterday that Liam Hendriks will need an IL stint thanks to a right forearm strain; no word yet on the severity. Kendall Graveman will close in his absence. We’ll also welcome Joe Kelly to the hierarchy. He was activated from the IL on Tuesday and protected a 5-1 lead with a perfect eighth inning against the Tigers’ 4-5-6 hitters. After the game, Tony La Russa expressed confidence in using Kelly in any situation. 

Updated hierarchy: Graveman | Ruiz | Kelly.

Philadelphia Phillies – Corey Knebel’s struggles continued on Tuesday night, as he blew a one-run lead in the ninth inning thanks to a less-than-encouraging performance. Knebel was a candidate for the IL over the weekend and he has a good chance of landing there later today. 

Hierarchy remains: Knebel | Dominguez | Hand.

St. Louis Cardinals — With one out in the eighth and the 2-3-4 hitters due up, the Cardinals turned to Ryan Helsley to protect a 3-1 lead. Helsley walked the first batter he faced but struck out the next two. That allowed Giovanny Gallegos to close out the win in the ninth. Helsley is still the favorite for saves, but Tuesday’s usage shows that manager Oliver Marmol is willing to use Helsley in the highest leverage situation no matter what inning it is.

Hierarchy remains: *Helsley | Gallegos | Cabrera.
* = closer-by-committee

Cincinnati Reds – The third time was the charm for the Reds bullpen, as they held the lead in the 10th, 11th and 12th innings. Alexis Diaz was the first reliever out of the ‘pen, but he allowed the ghost runner to score. Luis Cessa got a two-run lead to protect in the 11th, but a couple wild pitches helped him blow a 3-1 lead. Finally, in the 12th, Joel Kuhnel needed just five pitches to protect a 5-3 lead and earn his first MLB save. We keep saying that this bullpen is “extremely fluid,” and that remains true. Alexis Diaz probably has the best stuff of all the Reds’ late-inning options and has now had two clear save chances over the last three games, so we’ll welcome him back to the hierarchy after a brief hiatus.

Updated hierarchy: *Santillan | Strickland | Diaz.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies – Tyler Kinley is on the IL with an elbow injury and unfortunately the prognosis isn’t good, with Tommy John surgery a possibility. We’ll add Carlos Estevez back to the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Bard | Colome | Estevez.

Atlanta Braves – Jackson Stephens earned his second three-inning save of the season on Tuesday night in a 10-4 victory over Washington.

Hierarchy Remains: Jansen | Smith | Minter.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Daniel Hudson (LAD) – Craig Kimbrel threw 27 pitches last night.
2. Jake McGee (SF) – Camilo Doval has gone in two straight, including a 22-pitch outing last night.
3. Felix Bautista (BAL) – Jorge Lopez earned a five-out save on Tuesday so he may need today off, though he only threw 17 pitches last night.
4. Brad Hand (PHI) – We’re expecting Corey Knebel to be placed on the IL and Seranthony Dominguez has pitched in two straight.

Tomorrow
1. Eli Morgan/Trevor Stephan (CLE) – If Emmanuel Clase pitches today that will be two straight and three of four. Eli Morgan should get today off after a 24-pitch Tuesday, but if he appears on Wednesday then Trevor Stephan may get a chance on Thursday.
2. Alex Colome/Carlos Estevez (COL) – If Daniel Bard pitches today that will be two straight and four of five. An appearance for Alex Colome today will be two straight for him as well.

Jordan Romano remains day-to-day

May 18, 2022

Toronto Blue Jays – Adam Cimber pitched a perfect ninth inning for his second save in as many days. Jordan Romano remains day-to-day as he tries to recover from a non-COVID illness.

Hierarchy remains: Romano | Cimber | Garcia.

Cincinnati Reds – After Art Warren blew a save chance in the ninth, the Reds regained the lead in the 10th and set the stage for Alexis Diaz to earn his first MLB save. Diaz struck out the first two batters he faced, then walked two straight before recording another strikeout to end the game. Diaz has been terrific this year and has certainly earned the trust of his manager. We expect him to continue to see high-leverage looks and likely challenge for more save opportunities, even when Lucas Sims returns from the IL.

Updated hierarchy: *Warren | Diaz | Santillan.
* = closer-by-committee

Atlanta Braves – Tyler Matzek was placed on the IL with discomfort in his pitching shoulder. A.J. Minter will slide into the hierarchy for now, though Brian Snitker did mention Spencer Strider as a reliever that could see more high-leverage work in Matzek’s absence.

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Smith | Minter.

Kansas City Royals – Scott Barlow had pitched in two straight and three of four, so Josh Staumont tossed a perfect ninth inning to close out a 2-1 win in game two of Tuesday’s doubleheader with the White Sox.

Hierarchy remains: *S.Barlow | Staumont | Garrett.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Adam Cimber/Yimi Garcia (TOR) – Jordan Romano is still day-to-day with an illness and Cimber has pitched in two straight and three of four.
2. Daniel Hudson (LAD) – Craig Kimbrel has pitched in two straight, including a 29-pitch outing yesterday.
3. Kendall Graveman (CHW) – Liam Hendriks has gone in two straight and three of four.
4. Clay Holmes (NYY) – The same is true for Aroldis Chapman.
5. Tyler Rogers/John Brebbia (SF) – All three members of the Giants hierarchy have gone in two straight, with Camilo Doval having tossed 24 pitches last night. If Rogers, Brebbia and the equally busy Dominic Leone all get rested, then the Giants may go off the board with someone like Jarlin Garcia or Zack Littel for Wednesday’s save chance.

Tomorrow
1. Ryan Helsley/Genesis Cabrera (STL) – The entire Cardinals hierarchy pitched yesterday, so today’s usage will dictate who is available on Thursday.
2. Drew Smith/Seth Lugo (NYM) – If Edwin Diaz, Smith or Lugo pitch on Wednesday that will be two straight days of work.
3. Steven Wilson (SD) – If Taylor Rogers goes today it will be two straight and three of four.

Liam Hendriks is day-to-day; Anthony Bender returns

April 27, 2022

Chicago White Sox — Liam Hendriks is day-to-day with back spasms and was potentially available on Tuesday, though he wasn’t needed in a 6-0 loss. 

Hierarchy remains: Hendriks | Graveman | Bummer.

Miami Marlins – Anthony Bender had been unavailable over the weekend with hip soreness, but he returned on Tuesday and pitched a perfect ninth inning for his third save of the season.

Updated hierarchy: *Bender | Scott | Sulser.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox — The Red Sox may want Matt Barnes to take over as closer but they sure didn’t act like it on Tuesday. After Hansel Robles picked up an eighth-inning hold facing the middle of the Toronto order, Jake Diekman entered the ninth for the save. He gave up back-to-back doubles, struck out two and then allowed a homer to George Springer before Barnes came in to get send the game to extras and an eventual Sox loss. It’s hard to trust anyone in the Sox bullpen right now without Garrett Whitlock.

Updated hierarchy: *Diekman | Robles | Barnes.
* = closer-by-committee

Atlanta Braves – Tyler Matzek earned his fourth hold of the season on Tuesday with a clean eighth inning. Matzek has allowed just one hit and only one earned run in 6.2 IP, and all four of his holds this year have come in the eighth inning of Atlanta wins.

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Matzek | Smith.

New York Yankees — Clay Holmes continued his strong season on Tuesday with a seventh-inning hold that lowered his ERA to 1.04. Chad Green has allowed two runs on three hits in each of his last two outings, including this past Saturday.

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Loaisiga | Holmes. 

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Kendall Graveman – As mentioned above, Liam Hendriks is still day-to-day.
2. Ryan Tepera – Raisel Iglesias has pitched in back-to-back games.
3. Trevor May – Edwin Diaz has gone in two straight.

Thursday
1. Jonathan Loaisiga – Aroldis Chapman threw 24 pitches on Tuesday and if he doesn’t get Wednesday off he’ll surely avoid a third straight day of work.
2. Yimi Garcia/Adam Cimber – A Wednesday appearance would be two straight for both Jordan Romano and Garcia.
3. Tyler Matzek/Will Smith – Likewise for Kenley Jansen and the rest of the Atlanta hierarchy.
4. Michael Fulmer/Joe Jimenez – If either Gregory Soto or Fulmer pitch today, that’ll be two in a row, though Soto may sit out today in protest of last night’s shenanigans.

David Robertson earns another save

April 13, 2022

Chicago Cubs –  David Robertson pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his second save of the season. Mychal Givens got the eighth inning, allowing a run but striking out three to preserve the lead. Meanwhile, Rowan Wick hasn’t been seen since Opening Day last week and may not be on this hierarchy much longer.

Updated hierarchy: *Robertson | Givens | Wick.
* = closer-by-committee

Philadelphia Phillies – The Phillies placed Corey Knebel on the COVID IL on Tuesday. Look for them to take a committee approach in his absence, with Seranthony Dominguez being the most likely choice to get a save on any given night.

Updated hierarchy: *Dominguez | Hand | Familia.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies – Daniel Bard bounced back from Monday’s blown save by closing out Tuesday’s win. Bard continues to look like the guy to own in Colorado. Carlos Estevez pitched the eighth on Tuesday, as Alex Colome got the day off after throwing 49 pitches over the past three games.

Hierarchy remains: *Bard | Colome | Estevez.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays — JT Chargois landed on the IL with left oblique tightness. We’ll add Matt Wisler to the hierarchy, but it’s the Rays so we really could have picked anyone.

Updated hierarchy: *Kittredge | Feyereisen | Wisler.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Mets – Edwin Diaz returned from mourning the loss of his grandfather to close out Tuesday’s win. Trevor May is day-to-day after an MRI showed a “very, very low-grade triceps strain,” and he should avoid an IL stint.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Lugo | May.

Minnesota Twins – Jorge Alcala won’t be part of the Twins late-inning plans for the next week or so, as he was placed on the IL with right elbow inflammation. Of more concern is that Emilio Pagan, the current leader of our hierarchy, pitched a scoreless seventh and then took the loss in the eighth after walking the only batter he faced in that frame and getting no help from Caleb Thielbar and Jhon Romero. We’ll see how the Twins approach their next save chance, but it seems likely that Jhoan Duran gets an opportunity sooner rather than later.

Hierarchy remains: *Pagan | Duran | Duffey.
* = closer-by-committee

Atlanta Braves – Prior to Tuesday’s game, the Braves purchased the contract of Jackson Stephens, the reigning pitcher of the year in the Venezuelan Winter League. Stephens, making his first MLB appearance since 2018, earned his first career save by pitching the final three innings in a 16-4 Atlanta win. If you had Stephens in your lineup, send us a picture so we can see how good at Photoshop you are.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Smith | Matzek.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Ryan Tepera – Raisel Iglesias has pitched in two straight.

Thursday
1. Domingo Acevedo – If Lou Trivino goes today, it’s two straight and three of four
2. Devin Williams/Brad Boxberger – A Wednesday appearance by either Josh Hader, Devin Williams or Brad Boxberger will be two straight and three of four.
3. Genesis Cabrera/Jordan Hicks – If Giovanny Gallegos, Genesis Cabrera or Jordan Hicks pitches on Wednesday, it will be two straight.
4. Chris Stratton/Heath Hembree – The same is true for David Bednar and Chris Stratton.
5. Art Warren/Hunter Strickland – It’s also true for Tony Santillan, Art Warren and Hunter Strickland.
6. Kendall Graveman/Aaron Bummer – Same goes for Liam Hendriks and the rest of the White Sox hierarchy…
7. Jonathan Loaisiga/Chad Green – …as well as Aroldis Chapman and Jonathan Loaisiga.