Miami’s Tanner Scott notches save, further cementing role as Marlins closer

August 28, 2023

Miami Marlins – As we alerted, David Robertson was removed from the closer’s role before Sunday’s game, and the new closer, Tanner Scott, pitched well Sunday to earn his third save of the season.

Updated hierarchy: Scott | Nardi | Puk.

Texas Rangers – Will Smith notched a clutch strikeout against the only batter he faced to finish off the eighth inning in Sunday’s game, leaving Aroldis Chapman to handle the ninth inning in a save situation. Chapman did not deliver, though, allowing the tying run to send the game to extras. The Rangers eventually lost, which is something happening a lot lately. Texas has lost nine of 10, and the struggles in the late innings are a big part of it. It appears manager Bruce Bochy is starting to play the matchups again in the ninth inning, so we’ll slap on the committee tag with Smith still in the lead role, for now. 

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

Toronto Blue Jays – Erik Swanson was placed on the injured list with thoracic spine inflammation. Expect Yimi Garcia and maybe Tim Mayza to vie for saves when the Jordans (Romano and Hicks) aren’t available.

Updated hierarchy: Romano | Hicks | Garcia.

Boston Red Sox – Manager Alex Cora said Kenley Jansen was available to pitch Sunday. The Red Sox lost, so there was no save situation and Jansen did not play, but he should be presumed to be available moving forward.  

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Martin | Winckowski.

St. Louis Cardinals — Ryan Helsley resumed a rehab assignment on Sunday after his first one was paused over concerns about continued forearm discomfort. New imaging came back clean, allowing his return to action, though there is no timetable for his return to the majors. For what it’s worth, he did not pitch well in the rehab outing, allowing a couple of runs. 

Hierarchy remains: *Romero | Gallegos | Pallante.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays – The Vulture Save Watch projected a day off Sunday for Pete Fairbanks, but instead of turning to Colin Poche, manager Kevin Cash went with Jason Adam for the third time in four games. Adam nailed down his 12th save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Fairbanks | Adam | Poche.

Arizona Diamondbacks – Paul Sewald did not pitch Sunday, as forecast by the Vulture Save Watch, but it was Ryan Thompson who earned the save in his first game for Arizona, not Kevin Ginkel, who had already pitched Friday and Saturday. 

Hierarchy remains: Sewald | Ginkel | McGough.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Brooks Raley (NYM) – Adam Ottavino has gone in two straight.
2. Shintaro Fujinami (BAL) – Yennier Cano has also gone in two in a row.
3. Griffin Jax (MIN) – Same as above for Jhoan Duran.
4. Brusdar Graterol (LAD) – Evan Phillips has pitched in three of four.
5. Jordan Hicks (TOR) – Jordan Romano threw 36 pitches to record five outs Sunday and could need a breather.

Tuesday:
1. Andrew Nardi (MIA) – Miami is off Monday but new closer Tanner Scott might need a second day of rest after pitching Saturday and Sunday.
2. Trevor Stephan (CLE) – If he goes Monday, that would be two straight and three of four for Emmanuel Clase.
3. Matt Brash (SEA) – A Monday outing would be three of four for Andres Munoz.

Dominic Leone earns a save

August 9, 2023

Los Angeles Angels – All three members of the Angels’ hierarchy were unavailable on Tuesday, which left the save chance to deadline acquisition Dominic Leone. He converted for his first save as an Angel.

Hierarchy remains: Estevez | Lopez | Moore.

Miami Marlins – Andrew Nardi pitched a perfect seventh inning and Tanner Scott followed with a perfect eighth inning in last night’s win, and we’ll adjust the hierarchy accordingly.

Updated hierarchy: Robertson | Scott | Nardi.

Pittsburgh Pirates – Yerry De Los Santos was sent down to Triple-A on Tuesday, making room for Carmen Mlodzinski on the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Bednar | Holderman | Mlodzinski.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Yennier Cano (BAL) – Felix Bautista threw 30 pitches in last night’s blown save.
2. Colin Holderman/Carmen Mlodzinski (PIT) – David Bednar has gone two straight and four of five. Holderman threw 20 pitches last night and has gone in two of three.
3. AJ Minter (ATL) – Raisel Iglesias has gone back to back.
4. Robert Garcia (WAS) – The entire Washington hierarchy has pitched in four of five, so we’re going off the board with Garcia, who was one of the few relievers who did not pitch during yesterday’s doubleheader.

Tomorrow
1. Jason Adam/Colin Poche (TB) – If either Poche or Pete Fairbanks pitch today, that’ll be two straight.
2. Trevor Stephan/Enyel De Los Santos (CLE) – If either Stephan or Emmanuel Clase pitch today that will be two straight and three of four.
3. Bryan Abreu (HOU) – An appearance today will be two in a row for Ryan Pressly.
4. Seranthony Dominguez/Gregory Soto (PHI) – Same is true for Craig Kimbrel and the rest of the Philadelphia hierarchy…
5. Brusdar Graterol/Caleb Ferguson (LAD) – …as well as Graterol and Evan Phillips.

Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley worth adding after David Robertson trade

July 28, 2023

Los Angeles Angels – The Angels swept their doubleheader on Thursday and are now just 3 games out of a Wild Card spot. Unfortunately, we won’t see fireballer Ben Joyce rejoin them for at least a few more weeks, as the righty was moved to the 60-day IL to make room for a few of their deadline acquisitions.

Hierarchy remains: Estevez | Moore | Soriano.

New York Mets – The Mets began waving the white flag after Thursday’s win, trading closer David Robertson to the Marlins. Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley, the latter of whom earned the save on Thursday, are now the best bets for saves for the Mets.

Updated hierarchy: *Ottavino | Raley | Smith.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins – David Robertson should slot in as Miami’s closer after the Marlins acquired him from the Mets. A.J. Puk, who had been struggling lately and blew a save in his last appearance on Sunday, will be expected to join Tanner Scott and newly acquired Jorge Lopez as a setup man.

Updated hierarchy: Robertson | Puk | Scott.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Colin Holderman – After a 37-pitch outing on Wednesday — and with the Pirates potentially playing it safe with their valuable trade chip — David Bednar might get a second day off today.

Tomorrow
1. Trevor Stephan – If Emmanuel Clase goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.
2. Mason Thompson – Same for Kyle Finnegan.
3. Mark Leiter Jr. – If Adbert Alzolay or Mark Leiter Jr. pitch today, it’s three of four.
4. Gregory Soto – If Craig Kimbrel goes today, it’s four of the last six.

Mets trade David Robertson to Marlins

July 28, 2023

New York Mets – The Mets began waving the white flag after Thursday’s win, trading closer David Robertson to the Marlins. Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley, who earned the save on Thursday, will now be the best bets for saves for the Mets.

Updated hierarchy: *Ottavino | Raley | Smith.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins – David Robertson should slot in as Miami’s closer after the Marlins acquired him from the Mets. A.J. Puk, who had been struggling lately and blew a save in his last appearance on Sunday, will be expected to join Tanner Scott and newly acquired Jorge Lopez as a setup man.

Updated hierarchy: Robertson | Puk | Scott.

Phillies may be moving toward high-leverage model

July 27, 2023

Seattle Mariners – Andres Munoz got the save, with Paul Sewald getting the night off after going three straight. Vulture Save Watch +1.

Hierarchy remains: Sewald | Munoz | Topa.

Philadelphia Phillies – With the 3-4-5 hitters due up in the 8th inning, the Phillies went to Craig Kimbrel, who retired the side in order. That left the 9th to Gregory Soto, who converted for his second save. The Phillies haven’t done this with Kimbrel very often, as he’s been used as a traditional closer for pretty much the whole season. We’ll see if this marks a shift in how they deploy things in the late innings and will attach a committee tag if necessary.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Soto | Dominguez.

Chicago White Sox – Reynaldo Lopez was traded to the Angels on Wednesday. We’ll see how they deploy him out west, while we welcome Keynan Middleton to the White Sox hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Graveman | Santos | Middleton.

Miami Marlins – The Marlins sent Dylan Floro to the Twins for Jorge Lopez on Wednesday. We don’t anticipate Floro will crack the hierarchy in Minnesota just yet, but we’ll slot Lopez into his old spot in Miami.

Updated hierarchy: *Puk | Scott | Lopez.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Matt Moore – The Angels have a doubleheader today…
2. Jason Foley – …against the Tigers.
3. Julian Merryweather – Adbert Alzolay and Mark Leiter Jr. have both gone back to back.

Tomorrow
1. Gregory Santos – If Kendall Graveman goes today, it’s back to back.