It’s time to talk about Rangers’ Will Smith

August 25, 2023

Texas Rangers – Will Smith allowed a solo home run Thursday in his inning of work. That on its own is no big deal, but the appearance was his third straight that he’s been scored upon. He has allowed runs in six of his last eight appearances, raising his season ERA from 2.70 on Aug. 3 to 4.27 after Thursday’s action. He has just three strikeouts in his 6.1 innings over that stretch. Aroldis Chapman, meanwhile, did allow a run in his previous appearance Monday, but he has mostly been lights out with the Rangers. Across his 17 appearances with Texas, he has allowed runs in just two of them and has 33 strikeouts in just 18 innings. This isn’t a committee yet, but it’s veering that way. 

Hierarchy remains: Smith | Chapman | Sborz.

Boston Red Sox – Boston got some good news Thursday regarding the status of closer Kenley Jansen (hamstring). Jansen said he felt good Thursday and he’ll see how his hamstring feels in the coming days. Reporter Christopher Smith said Jansen sounded confident he’d be able to avoid the injured list. Chris Martin could be in line for vulture saves until Jansen is ready to go.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Martin | Winckowski.

Minnesota Twins – The Vulture Save Watch nailed this one! Griffin Jax earned his second save of the year Thursday after Jhoan Duran threw 34 pitches the previous day and was presumed to be unavailable.

Hierarchy remains: Duran | Jax | Pagan.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Chris Martin (BOS) – Kenley Jansen is dealing with a hamstring ailment and could need some time to heal.
2. Jason Adam (TB) – Pete Fairbanks has gone in two straight.
3. Mark Leiter Jr. (CHC) – Adbert Alzolay has also gone in two straight.
4. Lucas Erceg (OAK) – Trevor May has pitched in three of four.
5. Kevin Ginkel (ARI) – Paul Sewald has also gone in three of four.
6. Tyler Rogers (SF) – Does Camilo Doval need more rest after two rough appearances Tuesday and Wednesday?

Saturday:
1. Chris Martin (BOS) – Will Kenley Jansen be ready to go by Saturday?
2. Hunter Harvey (WAS) – A Friday outing would be three of four and four of six for Kyle Finnegan.
3. Yennier Cano (BAL) – Entering Friday, Felix Bautista has pitched in two of three. Another outing Friday would likely mean Cano could get a shot Saturday.
4. Bryan Abreu (HOU) – An appearance Friday would be four of six for Ryan Pressly.
5. Lucas Sims (CIN) – If he goes Friday, it would be three of four for Alexis Diaz

Jordan Luplow is funny

August 12, 2023

Boston Red Sox – We took a shot in the dark yesterday in predicting that Kyle Barraclough would get a vulture save, and while that didn’t happen, Barraclough did get a win, posting 1.1 scoreless innings. The save went to Chris Murphy, who pitched three scoreless to finish off the 5-2 victory.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Martin | Winckowski.

Milwaukee Brewers – Abner Uribe picked up a save in the 10th inning after the rest of the Milwaukee hierarchy had pitched, stranding the automatic runner with a flyout and two groundouts. The 23-year-old righty has only allowed two earned runs in his first 13.1 big league innings, and could push for setup opportunities soon.

Hierarchy remains: Williams | Payamps | Peguero.

Minnesota Twins – Outfielder Jordan Luplow, who pitched the 8th inning for the Twins in a blowout loss, was heartily booed when doing his best Craig Kimbrel impression on the Citizens Bank Ballpark mound. We found it amusing, though, and so did Kimbrel. Keep being you, Jordan.

Hierarchy remains: Duran | Jax | Pagan.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jason Adam – Pete Fairbanks threw 30 pitches in a blown save last night.
2. AJ Minter – The Braves have a doubleheader…
3. Adam Ottavino – …against the Mets.

Tomorrow
1. Joel Payamps – If Devin Williams goes today, it’s back to back and four of five.
2. Aaron Bummer – If Gregory Santos goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.
3. Tommy Kahnle – If Clay Holmes goes today, it’s back to back.
4. Austin Cox – Same for Carlos Hernandez…
5. Aroldis Chapman – …and Will Smith…
6. Mark Leiter Jr. – …and Adbert Alzolay.

Brock Stewart and Steven Wilson hit the IL

June 29, 2023

Minnesota Twins — Tendinitis in the throwing elbow put Brock Stewart on the IL, where he joins Jorge Lopez (mental health). This leaves Emilio Pagan and Jovani Moran inheriting the middle innings, while Jhoan Duran is now the unquestioned closer ahead of Griffin Jax.

Updated hierarchy: Duran | Jax | Pagan.

San Diego Padres — Steven Wilson, who has been extremely effective this season in middle relief, went on the IL, retroactive to June 25, with a right pectoral strain. Luis Garcia is likely to inherit Wilson’s role.

Updated hierarchy: Hader | Martinez | Garcia.

Washington Nationals — Yet another save for Hunter Harvey, who certainly seems to have the inside track on the Nationals’ ninth. We’ll pull the asterisk sooner than later if current trends hold.

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

Texas Rangers — Alex Speas, a former top prospect who left the game for a while, is blowing away hitters in the minors and has been promoted to Triple-A. He could be with the big club before too long.

Hierarchy remains: Smith | Sborz | Anderson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Joel Payamps (MIL) — Devin Williams has pitched in three of the last four.
2. Andrew Chafin (ARI) — Scott McGough threw 31 pitches in a blown save Wednesday.

Friday:
1. Chris Devenski (LAA) — An appearance today would be three out of four for Carlos Estevez.
2. Daniel Bard/Jake Bird/Pierce Johnson (COL) — Justin Lawrence threw 24 pitches on Wednesday.`

Griffin Jax gets a save for Minnesota

June 15, 2023

Minnesota Twins — Griffin Jax has put together 10 straight scoreless appearances for the Twins (9.2 IP, 3 H, 12 K), including Wednesday night’s save after Jhoan Duran was used in the eighth. Jax is right there with Duran, Brock Stewart, and Jorge Lopez in the Twins’ committee.

Updated hierarchy: *Duran | Stewart | Jax.
* = closer-by-committee

Philadelphia Phillies — Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth with the score tied, allowing Jose Alvarado to pick up the save in the bottom of the tenth.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Alvarado | Dominguez.

Atlanta Braves — Raisel Iglesias threw 31 pitches in the first game of Atlanta’s doubleheader on Wednesday, so it was Joe Jimenez and lefty AJ Minter who split the ninth in the second game with a one-run lead. Minter got the final out to earn his tenth save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Minter | Anderson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Jesse Chavez (ATL) — Raisel Iglesias threw 31 pitches Wednesday and 27 pitches Monday, while Nick Anderson has similar numbers (26 and 25). Meanwhile, AJ Minter was used in both ends of yesterday’s doubleheader. It’s Chavez time.
2. Adbert Alzolay (CHC) — Mark Leiter Jr. has gone in two straight.

Friday:
1. Chris Devenski (LAA) — An appearance today would be three of four for Carlos Estevez.
2. Jose Leclerc/Brock Burke (TEX) — The Rangers’ hierarchy guys have all thrown a ton of pitches recently and Texas might have to go off-menu for a Friday save, even as far as Joe Barlow.
3. Lucas Sims (CIN) — Alexis Diaz has appeared in two straight (and four of five) and might need two days off.

Kyle Finnegan and Caleb Ferguson record saves

May 28, 2023

Washington Nationals – The National used their hierarchy in order last night with Carl Edwards pitching a scoreless 7th, Hunter Harvey a scoreless 8th, and Kyle Finnegan a scoreless 9th for his 11th save of the season.  Finnegan has been up and down this season but still has produced double digit saves already and should continue to be the best bet for the save on any given night.

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

Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers’ committee kept rolling yesterday as Brusdar Graterol got the 7th inning, Evan Phillips pitched the 8th and started the 9th before Caleb Ferguson came on for the last two outs to pick up the save.  Philllips recorded four saves in a row in early May but has not recorded any of the last three.  We will see if this continues or if the Dodgers start to turn to Phillips again more regularly in save chances.

Hierarchy remains: *Phillips | Graterol | Ferguson.
* = closer-by-committee

Minnesota Twins — The Twins used Jhoan Duran in the 8th inning against the 2-3-4 hitters and then went with Jorge Lopez to start the 9th.  Lopez really struggled as he allowed three hits, including a home run, and hit another batter without recording any outs.  Brock Stewart relieved Lopez and was able to retire three of the four batters he faced to pick up his first save of the season.  Stewart has pitched 14 scoreless innings so far this year and although he walks too many batters (11 walks in 14 innings), the sparkling ERA is enough to get Stewart on the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: *Duran | Lopez | Stewart.
* = closer-by-committee

St. Louis Cardinals — Ryan Helsley pitched a scoreless 9th inning with the game tied and ended up with the win after the Cardinals took the lead in the top of the 10th.  Giovanny Gallegos pitched a scoreless bottom of the 10th inning for his 6th save of the season. 

Hierarchy remains: Helsley | Gallegos | VerHagen.

Pittsburgh Pirates — Duane Underwood Jr. was designated for assignment after struggling in May.  Robert Stephenson will likely be the top option to take over the 7th inning.  

Updated hierarchy: Bednar | Holderman | Stephenson. 

Los Angeles Angels – Matt Moore will be placed on the IL due to an oblique injury.  Chase Silseth should see more time in the later innings with Moore out.

Updated hierarchy: Estevez | Devenski | Silseth.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Bryan Abreu (HOU) – Ryan Pressly has pitched in two straight.
2. Tanner Scott (MIA) – Dylan Floro has pitched in three straight.
3. Gregory Soto (PHI) – Craig Kimbrel has pitched in two straight and three of four.
4. Mason Thompson (WAS) – Kyle Finnegan, Hunter Harvey, and Carl Edwards have all pitched in three of the past four.

Monday
1. Justin Lawrence/Daniel Bard (COL) – If Pierce Johnson pitches on Sunday, it will be two straight and three of four. Same for Justin Lawrence.
2. Tyler Rogers (SF) – Camilo Doval threw 30 pitches yesterday so if he pitches again Sunday, he will get Monday off.