Blown-save-a-palooza hits bullpens across baseball

August 14, 2023

New York Yankees – Clay Holmes has been great lately, but yesterday was bad, as he coughed up a 4-run lead and then took the loss after Tommy Kahnle was unable to stem the damage. Holmes was in and out of a committee earlier this season, and we’ll see if this outing changes the way the Yankees approach the 9th inning. Our guess is it won’t… yet. In other news, Michael King is being stretched out to potentially start games, so we’ll swap Wandy Peralta into the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Holmes | Kahnle | Peralta.

Oakland A’s – Trevor May had also been going well, having allowed just 1 earned run in his last 10.2 innings. But he coughed up an even bigger lead than Holmes, allowing five baserunners to reach while only recording two outs. Kirby Snead (and the A’s defense) did him no favors, as the Nats plated six runs in the inning to walk it off. May is still likely the closer here but we’ll watch to see if he falters again.

Hierarchy remains: May | Felipe | Long.

Texas Rangers – In the least awful — but perhaps most consequential — blown save of the evening, Will Smith had the Giants down to their final out, but then served up a walkoff 2-run home run to Patrick Bailey. Given how good Aroldis Chapman has been, this could push Bruce Bochy back to a committee. We’ll see how it plays out.

Hierarchy remains: Smith | Chapman | Sborz.

Baltimore Orioles – With Felix Bautista getting the day off, the Orioles still used setup man Yennier Cano in the 8th inning, leaving the 9th to Mike Baumann, who promptly blew the save. Shintaro Fujinami ended up shutting the door in extra innings for his first career save. (By the way, Cedric Mullins was the real story of this game, as he robbed a homer then hit a go-ahead homer minutes later, but we don’t really care about hitters that much.)

Hierarchy remains: Bautista | Cano | Fujinami.

New York Mets – Adam Ottavino pitched a perfect 9th inning, inducing three groundouts, to pick up his 7th save. Brooks Raley had a forgettable outing in the 8th, allowing a home run and a walk before Drew Smith bailed him out. We’ll switch up the committee accordingly, though this is still a fluid situation.

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

Pittsburgh Pirates – Carmen Mlodzinski was placed on the IL over the weekend, so we’ll welcome Angel Perdomo to this hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Bednar | Holderman | Perdomo.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Tommy Kahnle – Clay Holmes has gone two of three, including the aforementioned 23-pitch blown save yesterday.
2. Matt Brash – Andres Munoz has gone back to back.
3. Scott McGough – Same for Paul Sewald and Kevin Ginkel.

Tomorrow
1. Yennier Cano – If Felix Bautista goes today, he’s likely off tomorrow given his recent workload and pattern of usage.
2. Reynaldo Lopez – If Carlos Estevez goes today, it’s back to back.
3. Tyler Rogers – Same for Camilo Doval.
4. Aroldis Chapman/Josh Sborz – If Will Smith or Aroldis Chapman go today, it’s back to back and three of four.
5. Colin Holderman/Angel Perdomo – The whole Pirates hierarchy — plus a few others — pitched yesterday so monitor usage today for a potential vulture tomorrow.

Clay Holmes and Adbert Alzolay kick their committee tags

July 23, 2023

New York Yankees — Clay Holmes struck out two in a scoreless inning to pick up his 13th save of the season.  Holmes also picked up the save on Friday night and has now recorded the last three saves for the Yankees and four of the last five.  That is enough to kick the committee tag for now even if there will likely still be nights that the Yankees use another member of their deep bullpen to close out a game.

Hierarchy remains: Holmes | Kahnle | King.

Miami Marlins – A day after the dreaded vote of confidence, the Marlins sent AJ Puk out in the 8th inning of a tie game.  He threw a scoreless inning with a couple strikeouts.  Tanner Scott, who manager Skip Schumaker specifically mentioned would get more high leverage looks, got the top of the 9th with the game still tied.  That is a spot typically reserved for a closer and although Scott faltered by allowing a run and taking the loss, this certainly appears to be heading towards a committee.  We will see if AJ Puk can turn it around and reclaim the job for himself but for now we think Scott and maybe even Dylan Floro could be in the mix for saves for the Marlins.

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

Colorado Rockies — After the Rockies took the lead in the top of the 9th, they sent Justin Lawrence out there for the bottom of the inning to close out the win.   Lawrence responded with a scorleless inning for his 7th save of the season.  Lawrence is riding a seven appearance scoreless streak and has recorded the last two saves for the Rockies.  If Lawrence can keep this going, he will kick the asterisk.

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

Chicago Cubs — Adbert Alzolay picked up his 9th save of the season yesterday.  It was his second straight game with a save and he has recorded all the Cubs’ saves in July.  Goodbye asterisk!

Updated hierarchy: Alzolay | Leiter Jr. | Merryweather.

Seattle Mariners – As predicted yesterday in the Vulture Save Watch, Paul Sewald got the day off but the Mariners used Andres Muñoz in the 8th inning to the face the 2-3-4 hitters for the Blue Jays.  That left Justin Topa for the 9th inning and although he made things interesting by allowing a run, he was able to strand the tying run on 2nd base to pick up his 2nd save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Sewald | Muñoz | Topa.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Bryan Baker (BAL) – Felix Bautista and Yennier Cano have both pitched in three of four.
2. Michael King (NYY) – Clay Holmes has pitched in two straight, including a 29 pitch outing yesterday. Tommy Kahnle has also pitched in two straight.
3. Jason Adam (TB) – Pete Fairbanks has pitched in three straight.
4. Bryan Abreu (HOU) – Ryan Pressly may get a second day off and pitching in the previous three games.
5. Daniel Palencia (CHC) – The entire Cubs hierarchy has pitched in two straight.
6. Lucas Sims (CIN) – Alexis Diaz has pitched in two straight and three of four.

Monday
1. Trevor Stephan (CLE) – If Emmanuel Clase pitches today, it will be three straight.
2. Joel Payamps (MIL) – Devin Williams threw 29 pitches yesterday so if he pitches again today, he will likely get Monday off.

Aroldis Chapman records first save as a Ranger and could the Rays be moving towards the unthinkable?

July 16, 2023

Texas Rangers – Aroldis Chapman struck out a pair in a scoreless 9th inning and recorded his first save as a Ranger.  Manager Bruce Bochy said that Chapman is not the Rangers’ closer but that he and Will Smith will share the duties.  We will see if either one can establish himself as the primary closer or if this will be a true committee.   On other Rangers’ bullpen news, Josh Sborz was placed on the IL so Brock Burke replaces him on the hierarchy.

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

Tampa Bay Rays — Pete Fairbanks pitched a scoreless 9th inning for his 10th save of the season.  Don’t look now, but since returning from the IL in the middle of June, Pete Fairbanks has recorded all five Rays’ saves.  We wouldn’t dare pull the committee tag for the Rays given their history but if this was any other team, the asterisk would be gone.  We will see if the Closer Monkey Rays curse continues at the mere mention of removing the asterisk or if Fairbanks can keep this going. 

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

Chicago White Sox – Kendall Graveman allowed a run but was able to lock down his 8th save of the season yesterday.  Graveman has recorded the last two saves for the White Sox and his 8 saves lead the team.  The next closest is Reynaldo Lopez with 4, but he hasn’t recorded a save since the beginning of May so we will kick the asterisk for Graveman.  As we mentioned in our Trade Deadline Buy/Sell, Graveman is a trade candidate and Gregory Santos, and his 100 MPH sinker, could be a guy to watch.

Updated hierarchy: Graveman | Santos | Lopez.

New York Yankees — Clay Holmes closed out a 6-3 Yankees’ victory and earned his 11th save of the season.  Holmes is the best bet for a save on any given night but that’s not enough to kick the committee tag yet.  We will monitor if that changes and Holmes can settle in the role as the primary closer.

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

Atlanta Braves – AJ Minter was placed on the IL, but the Braves said it was more as a precautionary move so hopefully he will be able to return as soon as he is eligible.  While he is out, Joe Jimenez should see more time in the later innings.

Updated hierarchy: Iglesias | Yates | Jimenez.

Toronto Blue Jays — Jordan Romano was unavailable yesterday and is considered day-to-day.  With the top of the order due up in the 8th inning and the Blue Jays clinging to a 3-2 lead, Erik Swanson got the call and pitched a scoreless inning.  After the Blue Jays added a couple insurance runs, Yimi Garcia got the 9th inning and also pitched a scoreless inning to pick up his second save of the season.  Swanson and Garcia are both options to close if Romano misses more time.

Updated hierarchy: Romano | Swanson | Garcia.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Bryan Baker (BAL) – Felix Bautista and Yennier Cano have both pitched in two straight.
2. Griffin Jax/Emilio Pagan (MIN) – Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax have both pitched in two straight, though Jax only threw 6 pitches yesterday.
3. Bryan Abreu/Ryne Stanek (HOU) – Ryan Pressly has pitched in two straight, including a 32 pitch blown save yesterday. The entire Astros hierarchy has pitched in two straight with Abreu throwing the fewest number of pitches yesterday.
4. Bryse Wilson (MIL) – The entire Brewers’ hierarchy has pitched in two straight.
5. Tyler Rogers (SF) – Camilo Doval has pitched in two straight.
6. Fernando Rodney (TB) – We mentioned a possible end to the Rays’ committee so we fully expect them to go crazy and bring back Fernando Rodney to close out today’s game to really stick it to us.

Monday
1. Jason Foley (DET) – If Alex Lange pitches today, it will be two of three, including a 29 pitch outing on Friday.

AJ Puk bounces back while Alex Lange finishes off a combined no-hitter

July 9, 2023

Miami Marlins – The Marlins sent A.J. Puk right back out there after blowing the save the night before and he responded with a scoreless inning for his 15th save of the season.  It was important for Puk to lock down this save after failing in his two previous opportunities but it also shows that the Marlins still have confidence in him. 

Hierarchy remains: Puk | Floro | Brazoban.

Detroit Tigers – Alex Lange threw a perfect 9th inning to pick up his 13th save of the season and finish off a combined no-hitter with Matt Manning and Jason Foley. 

Hierarchy remains: *Lange | Foley | Cisnero.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Yankees — Michael King relieved starter Gerrit Cole and recorded the last five outs of the game to pick up his 6th save of the season.  The Yankees are still in committee mode and this save moves King back onto the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: *Holmes | Kahnle | King.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox – Brandon Walter pitched the final three innings of a 10-3 Red Sox win to earn his first save.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Martin | Winckowski.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Trevor Stephan (CLE) – Emmanuel Clase has pitched in two straight.
2. Dylan Floro (MIA) – AJ Puk has pitched in two straight and three of four.
3. Genesis Cabrera (STL) – Jordan Hicks and Giovanny Gallegos have both pitched in three of four.
4. Andrew Chafin (ARI) – Scott MgGough threw 35 pitches over 2 innings yesterday.

Two Career First Saves and Two Kicked Asterisks.

June 26, 2023
St. Louis Cardinals –  Although last night wasn’t his smoothest outing, Jordan Hicks picked up his 4th straight save for the Cardinals. Although St. Louis has a good amount of depth in their bullpen, this is plenty to kick the asterisk, as Hicks has shaken off a rough start to the year to become the clear option for the redbirds.

Hierarchy remains: Hicks | Gallegos | VerHagen.

New York Yankees — Michael King may have been off the hierarchy, but the Vulture Save Watch picked him as the best chance to pull a save last night. Score one for the VSW, as he got the ball with a 2 run lead, and worked a scoreless inning for his 5th save on the year. King needed a good outing badly, having given up runs in 5 of his last 6 appearances before last night. Maybe this is the start of him righting the ship, but given how heavily worked the Yankees bullpen had been, we will leave the hierarchy in place. 

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

Milwaukee Brewers — The Brewers used Joel Payamps to pitch the 7th and 8th innings of a tie game, while Devin Williams took the 9th. When a save opportunity appeared in the 10th, it was Elvis Peguero who got the call. Peguero stranded the ghost runner to pick up the first save of his career. Peguero has been a solid option for Milwaukee since coming over in the Hunter Renfroe trade, but may not have gotten the chance if both Matt Bush and Peter Strzelecki weren’t coming off back to back appearances. Payamps however has clearly jumped up in the hierarchy as the main set up man ahead of Devin Williams, and we will adjust accordingly. 

Updated hierarchy: Williams | Payamps | Bush.

Chicago White Sox – With the White Sox holding a 3 run lead and the hierarchy needing a rest, they turned to Keynan Middleton for the 9th inning. Middleton pitched a perfect inning for his second save on the year. Middleton has had an up and down June, but is rounding into form right as the trade deadline approaches.

Hierarchy remains: *Graveman | Kelly | Lopez.
* = closer-by-committee

Arizona Diamondbacks — Scott McGough got called on to put out a fire in the 8th inning, and with some help from a baserunning error, he escaped only letting 1 inherited runner score. He stuck around for the 9th to earn a 4 out save, his 4th in a row for the Diamondbacks. While he made this one interesting, he got the job done and has done enough to kick the asterisk.

Hierarchy remains: McGough | Chafin | Castro.

Houston Astros – With Bryan Abreu needing the night off and the rest of the hierarchy already having pitched, the Astros turned to Seth Martinez to close out a game in the 11th inning. A timely strikeout put him in position to strand the ghost runner, and a groundout earned him his first career save. Martinez doesn’t normally factor into the late inning plans.

Updated hierarchy: Pressly | Abreu | Neris.

Vulture Save Watch:

  1. Joe Jiminez (ATL) — The entire Atlanta hierarchy has pitched in back to back and 3 of 4.
  2. Jason Foley (DET) — Alex Lange has thrown 52 pitches over the past 2 days.
  3. Yennier Cano (BAL) — Felix Bautista has pitched in back to back games.

For Tuesday:

  1. Buck Farmer (CIN) — Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for Alexi Diaz.
  2. Brock Stewart/Griffin Jax (MIN) — Same for Jhoan Duran.