Garrett Whitlock and John Schreiber to lead Red Sox committee while Tanner Houck is on IL

August 10, 2022

Boston Red Sox – As we alerted you yesterday, Tanner Houck was placed on the 15-day IL due to lower back inflammation. Garrett Whitlock and John Schreiber are the only Red Sox relievers worth owning while Houck is on the IL, but if you enjoy being disappointed, you can pick up Hirokazu Sawamura, Austin Davis or Ryan Brasier.

Updated hierarchy: *Whitlock | Schreiber | Sawamura.
* = closer-by-committee

Philadelphia Phillies — David Robertson pitched a perfect eighth inning against the Marlins’ 4-5-6 hitters, which allowed Seranthony Dominguez to secure a five-pitch save in the ninth. This will remain a committee until further notice. Meanwhile, Jose Alvarado struck out two in a scoreless seventh inning for his second hold in a week. He seems to be the preferred late-inning lefty in Philadelphia, as Brad Hand hasn’t recorded a hold since July 15. 

Updated hierarchy: *Robertson | Dominguez | Alvarado.
* = closer-by-committee

Milwaukee Brewers – The Brewers had yesterday off, which made Devin Williams’ absence from Tuesday’s ninth inning a bit suspicious. Milwaukee instead turned to Matt Bush for the save, and he tossed a perfect frame for his first save with the Brewers. After the game, manager Craig Counsell explained that Williams needed an extra day of rest to recover from last week’s heavy workload. In addition, Counsell said that Taylor Rogers got a cortisone shot in his knee over the weekend, which meant he was also unable to pitch on Tuesday.

Hierarchy remains: Williams | Boxberger | Rogers.

Kansas City Royals – The Royals needed to use Scott Barlow to get out of an eighth-inning jam in game one of a doubleheader, so after Barlow protected their 4-1 lead, Dylan Coleman got the ball in the ninth. Coleman struggled, however, allowing two hits, giving up an RBI sac fly and hitting a batter. Jose Cuas, recalled from Triple-A on Tuesday when Taylor Clarke landed on the 15-day IL with a left oblique strain, recorded the final two outs for his first MLB save. We’ll move Coleman into Clarke’s spot on the hierarchy for now, though if Cuas gets another high-leverage look, he could quickly replace Coleman.

Updated hierarchy: Barlow | Staumont | Coleman.

Arizona Diamondbacks – The Diamondbacks committee kept rolling on Tuesday, as Mark Melancon secured his second save in three days. Ian Kennedy had pitched in three of four while Joe Mantiply had appeared in three straight.

Hierarchy remains: *Kennedy | Melancon | Mantiply.
* = closer-by-committee

Washington Nationals — Davey Martinez needed to use Kyle Finnegan in the seventh inning to try and protect a two-run lead with two on and nobody out. While Finnegan did give up the lead, he earned the win when Washington regained its advantage and Carl Edwards Jr. closed the door in the ninth for his first save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Finnegan | Edwards | Harvey.

Atlanta Braves – After the entire Atlanta hierarchy had already pitched, Tyler Matzek threw a perfect 11th inning to close out a 9-7 victory.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Iglesias | Minter.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Luis Garcia (SD) – Josh Hader blew his first save chance with the Padres, throwing an inexplicable 37(!!) pitches last night after tossing 21 pitches on Monday.
2. Dillon Tate (BAL) – Felix Bautista has gone back-to-back.
3. John Schreiber (BOS) – Garrett Whitlock threw 26 pitches over two innings last night.
4. Wandy Peralta (NYY) – Clay Holmes has gone in two straight, throwing 37 pitches in that span.

Tomorrow
1. Rafael Montero/Hector Neris (HOU) – If Ryan Pressly pitches today, that will be two straight, though the same is also true of Montero and Neris.
2. Kendall Graveman/Jake Diekman (CHW) – An appearance today will also be two straight for Liam Hendriks and the rest of the White Sox hierarchy.
3. Emmanuel Clase (CLE) – Clase came in Tuesday for a three-pitch save, but if he appears today then that will be two straight and four of five.
4. John Schreiber/Hirokazu Sawamura (BOS) – Alex Cora likes to give Garrett Whitlock two days off after he throws multiple innings, while Schreiber will have gone in two straight and three of four if he appears today.
5. Josh Staumont/Dylan Coleman (KC) – If Scott Barlow pitches today that will be two straight and three of four. It’ll also be two in a row for Staumont and Coleman.

Trade Deadline Buy/Sell: American League

July 21, 2022

Special Update (Part 1 of 2 — check back later for the National League)

—–
Glossary:
BUY+: This player has a strong chance (at least 50%) of becoming a closer by the trade deadline.
BUY: This player has a small chance (at least 20%) of becoming a closer by the trade deadline.
SELL: This player has a small chance (at least 20%) of losing his closer job by the trade deadline.
SELL+: This player has a large chance (at least 50%) of losing his closer job by the trade deadline.

TL;DR — AL relievers
BUY+: None.
BUY: Zach Jackson, Dany Jimenez, Joe Barlow, Alex Lange, Josh Staumont.
SELL: Brett Martin, Gregory Soto, Scott Barlow, Jhoan Duran.
SELL+: Lou Trivino.
—–

AL East
Baltimore Orioles — Shockingly, the Orioles enter the All-Star break at .500 and just 3.5 games out of a playoff spot. If the Orioles remain in contention, it’s unlikely they trade closer Jorge Lopez, who has two years of club control left after 2022. If they do have a fall from grace, the Orioles may look to move Lopez while his value is sky-high. Stay tuned. BUY/SELL: None.

Boston Red Sox — The Red Sox will probably still be in the hunt for a Wild Card spot when the trade deadline arrives, but their appetite to be buyers at the deadline may have waned after Chris Sale’s injury. It’s more likely the Sox stand pat or sell right now; if they do sell, it will likely involve pending free agents, none of whom are hierarchy guys. BUY/SELL: None.

New York Yankees — Clay Holmes has been one of the best relievers in baseball all season and won’t lose the ninth inning even if the Yankees get some bullpen help at the deadline. BUY/SELL: None.

Tampa Bay Rays — The Rays will likely be making moves at the deadline, but they aren’t the type to trade for a reliever that would take over the ninth inning. It should be business as usual for this carousel of *closers. BUY/SELL: None.

Toronto Blue Jays — The Jays fired their manager and have since won four of five to enter the All-Star break in the final Wild Card spot. They could use some help in the bullpen, but any acquisition is unlikely to replace Jordan Romano as closer. BUY/SELL: None.

AL Central
Chicago White Sox — Although the White Sox have disappointed a little bit in the first half, All-Star closer Liam Hendriks has not. Hendriks, who has not been scored on in his past 15 appearances, is fully locked into the closer’s role. BUY/SELL: None.

Cleveland Guardians — Emmanuel Clase just closed out the All-Star game and struck out the side on just ten pitches. Clase is young and the Guardians hope this is a sign of things to come. Cleveland could add some bullpen help if they stay in playoff contention, but no one they acquire would challenge Clase. BUY/SELL: None.

Detroit Tigers — The Tigers are an interesting team to watch at the deadline from a bullpen perspective. They’ll likely look to move setup man Michael Fulmer, a free agent at the end of the season. Andrew Chafin and Joe Jimenez could also be on the move, but the big question is what they do with Gregory Soto. If Detroit tries to cash in on Soto at the deadline, Alex Lange could reap the benefits.  BUY: Alex Lange; SELL: Gregory Soto.

Kansas City Royals — Scott Barlow has 16 saves this season and could help a contender looking for bullpen help at the deadline. The Royals control Barlow through 2024, so they could decide to keep him — but he’s already 28 years old and his value may never be higher. If the Royals trade Barlow, Josh Staumont is likely to close.  BUY: Josh Staumont; SELL: Scott Barlow.

Minnesota Twins — The Twins are currently leading the AL Central, but their bullpen is unsettled. Rookie Jhoan Duran had a solid first half, but can he be trusted to close games in a late-season playoff run? If Minnesota adds an established closer at the deadline, Duran’s value to fantasy owners will surely drop.  BUY: None; SELL: Jhoan Duran.

AL West
Houston Astros — Solidly in the playoffs with room to spare, Houston might look to upgrade the back end of their bullpen, but there’s no reason to suspect Ryan Pressly’s role will be affected. BUY/SELL: None.

Los Angeles Angels — The Angels locked up closer Raisel Iglesias on a four-year deal this past offseason, and he won’t be going anywhere this summer, even with LA slipping farther away from the playoffs. BUY/SELL: None.

Oakland A’s — Although Lou Trivino has had some struggles this year (6.59 ERA, 1.94 WHIP), a lot of the problem has been bad luck (.331 BAA, .468 BABIP); his strikeout and walk rates are better than his career averages. He looks like a good, cheap target for a contender looking to bolster their setup options, and this could leave Zach Jackson (2.95 ERA, 12.5 K/9, 18 holds) or the recuperating Dany Jimenez (11 saves, but 4.38 ERA and 8.4 K/9) to inherit the closer role. BUY: Zach Jackson, Dany Jimenez; SELL+: Lou Trivino.

Seattle Mariners — After a 14-game winning streak, Seattle finds itself a surprising wild card as things stand today. The team could move for reinforcements at the deadline, but Paul Sewald is pitching well and should keep his job. BUY/SELL: None.

Texas Rangers — The Rangers are unlikely to contend for the playoffs this year and they could be showcasing Brett Martin right now in an attempt to flip the lefty under team control through 2026. In that case, maybe Joe Barlow’s demotion really will have been only “temporary.” BUY: Joe Barlow; SELL: Brett Martin.

A.J. Puk, Zach Jackson the frontrunners for saves in Oakland

June 22, 2022

Oakland A’s – The A’s placed Dany Jimenez on the IL yesterday with a shoulder injury, though an MRI showed no structural damage. Manager Mark Kotsay mentioned A.J. Puk and Zach Jackson as options to fill in for Jimenez.

Updated hierarchy: *Puk | Jackson | Acevedo.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox – Both Tanner Houck and John Schreiber had pitched in two straight games and faithful readers of the Vulture Save Watch were nearly rewarded when Matt Strahm entered the ninth to protect a 5-3 lead. However, Strahm gave up a leadoff homer, and after the lefty retired the next two hitters, manager Alex Cora wisely went to Schreiber for a third straight game to face Javier Baez. Baez singled, but Schreiber got Miguel Cabrera to ground out to end the game. Houck and Schreiber have cemented themselves as the top two relievers for the Red Sox.

Hierarchy remains: Houck | Schreiber | Strahm.

Seattle Mariners — For the first time since Sept. 15, 2020, Ken Giles pitched in an MLB game. Giles, who missed all of last season due to Tommy John surgery and all of this season thanks to a tendon strain in his middle finger, tossed a perfect ninth inning on Tuesday in an 8-2 win. Scott Servais doesn’t plan to immediately use Giles in high-leverage situations, so we’ll keep Giles off this hierarchy for now.

Hierarchy remains: *Sewald | Castillo | Muñoz.
* = closer-by-committee

San Francisco Giants — Dominic Leone earned his fifth hold of June (and ninth overall) with a scoreless eighth inning on Tuesday night, while Tyler Rogers earned the win last night after entering in the fifth inning.

Updated hierarchy: Doval | McGee | Leone.

Tampa Bay Rays – Colin Poche gave up a two-run homer but still managed to pick up his fifth save of the season on Tuesday, with Jason Adam getting the final two outs of the eighth in relief of Brooks Raley, which is exactly how we have them ordered on our hierarchy. The Rays have only recorded four saves this month, with Poche earning three of them, including each of the last two.

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

Washington Nationals – Since he vultured a save on June 6, Steve Cishek has just one hold, and that came on June 10. Carl Edwards Jr., meanwhile, hasn’t allowed a hit over his last four appearances, picking up a pair of holds in the process. That includes a scoreless eighth inning in Tuesday’s 3-0 win.

Updated hierarchy: Rainey | Finnegan | Edwards Jr.

Kansas City Royals – Scott Barlow allowed a game-tying three-run homer to Shohei Ohtani in the ninth, which paved the way for Daniel Mengden to earn the save in the 12th, his first save since 2019.

Updated hierarchy: Barlow | Staumont | Clarke.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jake McGee (SF) – Camilo Doval has pitched in two straight and four of five.
2. Josh Staumont/Taylor Clarke (KC) – Scott Barlow has gone back-to-back and three of four, while Staumont has also pitched in two straight.
3. Genesis Cabrera (STL) – Ryan Helsely (31 pitches) and Giovanny Gallegos (22 pitches) both threw two innings on Tuesday.
4. Nabil Crismatt (SD) – Both Taylor Rogers and Luis Garcia have pitched in two straight.
5. Joe Kelly (CHW) – The same is true of Kendall Graveman.

Tomorrow
1. Eli Morgan/Trevor Stephan (CLE) – If Emmanuel Clase and Morgan pitch today that will be two straight and three of four. A Wednesday appearance for Stephan would be two in a row for him as well.
2. Anthony Bass/Steven Okert (MIA) – If Tanner Scott pitches today, that will be two straight and three of four, while Anthony Bass will have gone in three straight if he appears today.

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.

Sean Doolittle could be out for several weeks; Giovanny Gallegos tightens his hold on the ninth

April 21, 2022

Seattle Mariners — Paul Sewald, who has retired all 11 batters he’s faced thus far in 2022, has been placed on the COVID IL. Fireballer Andres Muñoz will join a committee situation that didn’t get any clearer last night with Diego Castillo’s ninth-inning struggles.

Updated hierarchy: *Castillo | Steckenrider | Muñoz.
* = closer-by-committee

Washington Nationals — Sean Doolittle’s strong season — powered by a new breaking ball — has been interrupted by an elbow sprain that might keep him out for an extended period of time. Taking his place in the seventh inning will be Victor Arano, who has outpitched veteran Steve Cishek thus far.

Updated hierarchy: Rainey | Finnegan | Arano.

St. Louis Cardinals — As we suspected going into the year, Giovanny Gallegos has secured St. Louis’s closing job ahead of Genesis Cabrera and Ryan Helsley. Gallegos picked up his third save of the young season in a 2-0 win over the Marlins.

Updated hierarchy: Gallegos | Cabrera | Helsley.

San Francisco Giants — It’s two straight saves now for Jake McGee in the Giants’ closer committee, a situation that may end up becoming a true lefty/righty platoon.

Hierarchy remains: *Doval | McGee | Rogers.
* = closer-by-committee

Kansas City Royals — It was Scott Barlow’s turn to grab a save in the Royals’ two-headed closer committee. Kansas City has two excellent ninth-inning options in Barlow and Josh Staumont.

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

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Thursday:
1. Jonathan Loaisiga (NYY) — Aroldis Chapman has gone in two straight and Loaisiga is the best-rested option behind him.

Friday:
1. Ryan Helsley (STL) — Gallegos has pitched in two straight games and Cabrera threw 21 pitches Wednesday.
2. Amir Garrett (KCR) — Both Staumont and Barlow have pitched in two straight and Garrett will likely get Thursday off after a long Tuesday outing.