Scott McGough takes the reins in Arizona

June 22, 2023

Arizona Diamondbacks — This is now Scott McGough’s committee to lead after a dominant two-inning, four-strikeout save on Wednesday. McGough has now gone 15 straight appearances (20.1 IP) without allowing an earned run.

Updated hierarchy: *McGough | Chafin | Castro.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Yankees — Clay Holmes did in fact get Wednesday off after a five-out save on Tuesday, but Michael King wasn’t able to finish things off. With a three-run lead and runners on the corners, Aaron Boone turned to Tommy Kahnle, who surrendered a sac fly before shutting the door with a strikeout. Kahnle has been unhittable since his return from injury, striking out nine in eight appearances and allowing only a hit batsman over the last six. Kahnle is pushing Wandy Peralta hard for a spot in this closer committee.

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

Toronto Blue Jays — Trevor Richards was called on with a three-run lead in the eighth on Wednesday, but he’s the Jays’ fifth starter when they need one. Tim Mayza and Erik Swanson should see the bulk of the late-inning holds ahead of Jordan Romano

Updated hierarchy: Romano | Swanson | Mayza.

Colorado Rockies — Jake Bird started Wednesday’s game, but only as a fill-in opener when an injury call-up couldn’t make it to Cincinnati in time. He should keep getting high-leverage looks for the Rockies.

Hierarchy remains: *Lawrence | Bard | Bird.
* = closer-by-committee

Cincinnati Reds — Alexis Diaz got the rest we predicted for him, but when the Reds used Lucas Sims and Ian Gibaut in the seventh and eighth innings of a tied game, that left Buck Farmer to grab the save once the team took the lead. Farmer and Gibaut are neck-and-neck for that second-in-line spot, and we’ll give the edge to Farmer for now.

Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Sims | Farmer.

Washington Nationals — Carl Edwards Jr. headed to the injured list with shoulder inflammation, moving Mason Thompson into the Nationals’ hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: *Finnegan | Harvey | Thompson.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s — Zach Jackson was transferred to the 60-day injured list and will not be returning to the team before the All-Star break. 

Hierarchy remains: *May | Long | Moll.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Trevor Stephan (CLE) — Emmanuel Clase has pitched in two straight (30 pitches).
2. Brock Stewart/Griffin Jax (MIN) — Jhoan Duran threw 32 pitches in a blown save on Wednesday.
3. Taylor Rogers (SF) — Camilo Doval has now appeared in three out of four.

Friday:
1. Mason Thompson (WAS) — Kyle Finnegan and Hunter Harvey have seen heavy use lately.
2. Dauri Moreta (PIT) — David Bednar threw 22 pitches Wednesday.
3. Andrew Chafin/Miguel Castro (ARI) — So did Scott McGough.

Alex Lange’s struggles push Detroit toward committee approach

June 19, 2023

Cincinnati Reds – Alexis Diaz didn’t pitch on Saturday, but apparently the Reds felt like they needed to give him Sunday off as well. This allowed Alex Young to pick up his first save in the 10th inning. Young has had a good season, but it remains to be seen whether he’s vaulted his way into the hierarchy at this point.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Sims | Gibaut.

Detroit Tigers – Alex Lange had a dreadful appearance, allowing all five hitters he faced to reach base (1 hit, 2 walks, 2 HBP), but the Tigers hung on thanks to a 2-inning save from Jason Foley, who relieved Lange and was spectacular, logging 4 Ks and allowing just one hit as he closed out the victory. We’ve got a committee here, folks.

Updated hierarchy: *Lange | Foley | Cisnero.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins – Andrew Nardi is for real! The Nard Dog picked up his first save of the season on Sunday, notching his 19th consecutive appearance without an earned run. He’s made his way onto this hierarchy, though we still expect that AJ Puk to handle the 9th on most nights.

Updated hierarchy: Puk | Floro | Nardi.

St. Louis Cardinals – Two days, two saves for Jordan Hicks. The flamethrower moves to the top of the hierarchy as a result, though we’ll keep the committee tag on here until he gets a couple more.

Updated hierarchy: *Hicks | Gallegos | VerHagen.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Giovanny Gallegos – Jordan Hicks has gone back to back.
2. Tim Hill – The entire San Diego hierarchy has gone back to back, so taking a stab here with lefty Tim Hill.

Tomorrow
1. Chris Martin/Josh Winckowski – If Kenley Jansen or Chris Martin go today, it’s back to back.
2. Jose Cisnero – Same for Alex Lange and Jason Foley…
3. Bryan Abreu/Hector Neris – …and Ryan Pressly and Bryan Abreu.

Matt Carasiti, Ricky Karcher, Ken Waldichuk: a trifecta of first-career saves

June 13, 2023

Colorado Rockies – Matt Carasiti was drafted by the Rockies in 2012. Then, in late 2022, he was re-signed by the Rockies to a minor league contract. In the 10 years in between, he had two cups of coffee in the bigs (2016 and 2019) amidst stops in eight other places, including the Tokyo Yakult Swallows and the Long Island Ducks. And yesterday, in his 8th outing of the season, he picked up his first Major League save, closing out a 10th-inning victory against the Red Sox. Congratulations, Matt – it was a long time coming.

Hierarchy remains: *Lawrence | Bird | Bard.
* = closer-by-committee

Cincinnati Reds – With their top two arms getting a night off, the Reds went to rookie Ricky Karcher — just called up over the weekend — for the 10th inning save chance. In his first big league appearance, Karcher converted, stranding the game-winning and game-tying runs at 2nd and 3rd base.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Sims | Gibaut.

Arizona Diamondbacks – After Andrew Chafin pitched the 8th inning, Miguel Castro got the save chance in the 9th. He allowed a run, but then closed the door for his 7th save. This bullpen remains fluid, with Chafin, Castro, and potentially Scott McGough all candidates for saves on any given night.

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

Oakland A’s – Break up the A’s! The Oakland machine kept on humming Monday with their 6th straight victory, this time thanks in part to a 3-inning save from Ken Waldichuk. This wasn’t your traditional blowout 3-inning job, though, as Waldichuk entered in a one-run game and pitched three scoreless to lock it up in easily his best appearance of the year. It was his first career save; we’ll see if the bullpen suits him better than the rotation did.

Hierarchy remains: *May | Lovelady | Long.
* = closer-by-committee

St. Louis Cardinals – Ryan Helsley was placed on the injured list on Monday. Expect Giovanny Gallegos to lead this committee in his absence. It’s worth noting that Gallegos and Helsley have all 15 of the team’s saves, so it’s possible Gallegos has the closer gig outright with Helsley on the shelf. 

Updated hierarchy: *Gallegos | VerHagen | Hicks.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Chris Martin – Kenley Jansen has gone back to back and three of four.
2. Jason Foley – Alex Lange has gone back to back.
3. AJ Minter – Raisel Iglesias had a 27-pitch blown save last night and could get today off.

Tomorrow
1. Aroldis Chapman – If Scott Barlow goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.
2. Josh Sborz/Grant Anderson – Same for Will Smith and Josh Sborz.
3. Chris Devenski – If Carlos Estevez goes today, it’s back to back.
4. Tyler Rogers/John Brebbia – Same for Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers.

Saves for Hunter Harvey, Jalen Beeks, and Buck Farmer

June 1, 2023

Milwaukee Brewers — Joel Payamps has been getting the seventh inning ahead of Peter Strzelecki and Devin Williams, and we think he’s best-positioned to pick up a save if those two need a night off.

Updated hierarchy: Williams | Strzelecki | Payamps.

Washington Nationals — Washington just won’t commit to a traditional reliever setup, using putative closer Kyle Finnegan to start the seventh on Wednesday night. He surrendered the lead, but was staked to a three-run advantage entering the eighth — where he gave up a leadoff home run. Enter Hunter Harvey, who pitched two scoreless innings to earn the save.

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

Tampa Bay Rays — The Rays used Colin Poche in the seventh and Jason Adam in the eighth, leaving Kevin Kelly to go for the save in the ninth. But when Kelly loaded the bases on a walk, hit by pitch, and error, it was Jalen Beeks who wound up coming in — and he earned the save with a clutch strikeout and flyout.

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

Cincinnati Reds — Alexis Diaz had pitched in three of four games, so he got Wednesday off, which surprisingly left the save opportunity for Buck Farmer. We’ll see if Farmer edges into a setup role going forward.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Sims | Gibaut.

Los Angeles Angels — Long man Tucker Davidson picked up his second save of the season, a gawky three-inning job that featured four runs and seven hits allowed.

Hierarchy remains: Estevez | Devenski | Silseth.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. James Karinchak (CLE) — Emmanuel Clase has pitched in two of three and Trevor Stephan threw 20 pitches yesterday.
2. Adam Ottavino/Brooks Raley (NYM) — David Robertson has gone back-to-back (38 pitches). Ottavino has too, with fewer pitches, and Raley pitched only yesterday (23 pitches). The Mets could also go off the board to Drew Smith or Jeff Brigham.

Friday:
1. Lucas Sims/Ian Gibaut (CIN) — Alexis Diaz has gone in three of the last five games.

The Reds call up Eduardo Salazar

May 25, 2023

Arizona Diamondbacks — In what can only be described as an obscene abuse of power, Major League Baseball robbed Miguel Castro of Tuesday’s committee-making save and stuck him with some nineteenth-century anachronism called a “win.” On Wednesday, in solidarity with Castro, Jose Ruiz selflessly gave up his shot at a vulture save by letting the Phillies tie the score in the ninth inning. Arizona’s overworked relievers are ready for the off day on Thursday.

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

Cincinnati Reds — Cincinnati has called up 25-year-old reliever prospect Eduardo Salazar. In 17.2 minor league innings this season, Salazar allowed one earned run while boasting a 35% K rate and a 63% groundout rate, which doesn’t leave room for much else. Something to think about.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Sims | Gibaut.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Yennier Cano/Bryan Baker (BAL) — Felix Bautista has gone in two straight. Cano threw 30 pitches on Tuesday.
2. Jason Foley (DET) — Alex Lange has pitched in two of three.
3. Adbert Alzolay (CHC) — Mark Leiter Jr. has gone in two straight.

Friday:
1. Colin Poche (TB) — Pete Fairbanks has gone in two of three, and Jason Adam threw 22 pitches Wednesday.
2. A.J. Minter (ATL) — Both Raisel Iglesias and Nick Anderson threw 20+ pitches last night.
3. Giovanny Gallegos (STL) — Ryan Helsley has gone in two of three (and three of five).
4. Justin Lawrence (COL) — Same for Pierce Johnson.
5. Tyler Rogers (SF) — Camilo Doval has appeared in three of five.