September 9, 2022
Cincinnati Reds – Alexis Diaz pitched for the first time in six days on Thursday, entering a tied game in the eighth inning. He allowed a go-ahead home run but otherwise was sharp in recording five outs across the seventh and eighth innings. When the Reds took the lead in the ninth, that put Diaz in line for the win. But who took the ninth? Enter Ian Gibaut, who allowed a hit but retired the side on 12 pitches for his first big-league save. After Diaz, this bullpen is a bit of a disaster, so it doesn’t take much to enter the hierarchy. So, we’ll add Gibaut (4.33 ERA, 1.48 WHIP) in place of Reiver Sanmartin (7.04 ERA, 1.78 WHIP).
Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Kuhnel | Gibaut.
Minnesota Twins – Jorge Lopez was called into the eighth inning Thursday, but the situation certainly called for it given the two-run lead and Aaron Judge due up. Judge doubled and another man reached before Lopez allowed a fielder’s choice and a run-scoring wild pitch. Caleb Theilbar struck out Giancarlo Stanton to end the threat, but the Twins still had to get through the final inning. Theilbar stayed on to start the ninth with a one-run lead, yielding a groundout and allowing a single before he was yanked for Michael Fulmer. Fulmer loaded the bases on a double and an intentional walk of Judge but retired the next two hitters for his third save.
Hierarchy remains: Lopez | Duran | Fulmer.
Washington Nationals — After a rough outing Wednesday, Kyle Finnegan was called into Thursday’s game in the eighth inning to face the 7-8-9 hitters with a three-run lead. He retired the side to earn a hold, and the game got out of reach in the ninth so no save was to be had. The usage is notable because it wasn’t the ninth inning, and while the game was within three runs, the bases were empty when he entered and he was tasked with taking care of the bottom of the order, so not exactly the game’s tightest spot. He’s the top guy, but there some days when he won’t pitch the ninth. We’ll monitor his usage the next several days to see if an asterisk is needed for this hierarchy.
Hierarchy remains: Finnegan | Edwards | Harvey.
Chicago Cubs — Brandon Hughes entered Thursday’s game with a slim 2-1 lead in the seventh inning to face the 4-5-6 hitters and allowed a hit and a walk but recorded two outs, earning a hold. Later on, Rowan Wick was called into a 2-1 game with two men on in the eighth and walked two straight to let in a run before inducing an inning-ending groundout. After Seiya Suzuki gave the Cubs the lead, Mark Leiter Jr. was given the save opportunity in the ninth, and it did not go as planned. Leiter allowed a walk, a triple and a single to give up the lead. We’ll keep the hierarchy as is for now because a) Hughes is the team’s best reliever and might be called into tough situations earlier than the ninth, and b) the Cubs have lost 13 of 18 so it’s hard to get a good read on this bullpen.
Hierarchy remains: *Hughes | Wick | Rucker.
* = closer-by-committee
Oakland A’s – Oakland might have something in this Sheldon Neuse character. He pitched a scoreless ninth on Thursday in a 14-2 laugher, his third appearance of the year (0.00 ERA, 0.27 WHIP).
Hierarchy remains: *Puk | Acevedo | Moll.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Hunter Harvey (WAS) – Kyle Finnegan and Carl Edwards Jr. have each gone in two straight.
2. Jhoan Duran (MIN) – Jorge Lopez has pitched in two straight.
3. Jose Alvarado (PHI) – David Robertson threw 21 pitches Thursday and has gone in two of three and three of five.
Saturday:
1. Taylor Rogers (MIL) – A Friday outing would be two straight and three of five for Devin Williams.
2. Joel Kuhnel (CIN) – Alexis Diaz was well-rested entering Thursday’s action, but he threw 27 pitches over 1.2 IP. If he goes again Friday, he’d likely need Saturday off.
3. Jonathan Loaisiga (NYY) – A Friday appearance would be four of six for Clay Holmes.
4. Kendall Graveman (CHW) – If he goes Friday, that would be three of five for Liam Hendriks.