Ian Kennedy has two straight saves — 29 days apart

May 31, 2019

Kansas City Royals — The Royals have just 19 wins in 56 games, so save chances are few and far between. Yesterday, Ian Kennedy recorded the team’s first save since May 1! He got the last one too, and now has three, but he’s been sketchy in May (0-2, 8.10 ERA) after a strong start. With Wily Peralta (one save this year) in and out of the closer role, Kennedy seems like the man to own. Peralta pitched a scoreless seventh on Thursday. We’ll keep this in committee mode, but with Kennedy at the top. 

Updated hierarchy: *Kennedy | Peralta | Diekman.
* = closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners — Hunter Strickland will throw off a mound on Sunday for the first time in a while, a big step as he aims for a return in mid- to late June. He’ll be in the mix for saves when he gets back.

Hierarchy remains: *Elias | Brennan | Sadzeck.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Yankees — Dellin Betances has thrown two recent bullpen sessions and may face live hitters as soon as next week. The Yankees’ bullpen is loaded, so they’ll take it slow with Betances, but a return to the late innings for the big righty this summer is likely.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Britton | Ottavino.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Carlos Estevez — Scott Oberg and Bryan Shaw have each pitched in four of five. 
2. Brandon Brennan/Connor Sadzeck/Cory Gearrin — Roenis Elias has pitched in two straight and three of five, allowing four runs (two earned) on 67 pitches. And Seattle’s bullpen is a mess.

Saturday:
1. Nick Wittgren — An appearance Friday would be three of four for Brad Hand. 
2. Kelvin Herrera — Same for Alex Colome.
3. Joe Jimenez — Ditto Shane Greene.
4. Diego Castillo/Emilio Pagan — None of the Rays’ top options pitched Thursday, but a Friday outing would be four of six for Jose Alvarado, while an appearance for Castillo would be three of four. 

Chavez, Brach pick up extra-inning vulture saves

September 7, 2018

Chicago Cubs — The Cubs used their late-inning hierarchy earlier in Thursday’s game, so for an extra-inning save, Joe Maddon successfully turned to Jesse Chavez. Meanwhile, injured closer Brandon Morrow is expected to throw from a mound on Sunday for the first time in three weeks — a true test to see if he’ll be able to return to his closing duties before the end of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Strop | Edwards | Cishek.

Washington Nationals — Injured hurler Sean Doolittle played catch on Thursday and could be activated from the DL over the weekend. He’d likely take over as closer in short order.

Hierarchy remains: *Miller | Holland | Glover.
* = closer-by-committee

Atlanta Braves — With AJ Minter unavailable and Dan Winkler and Jonny Venters already having pitched, the Braves trotted out Brad Brach in extra innings, and the former Oriole converted for the vulture save, his first with the Braves.

Hierarchy remains: Minter | Winkler | Venters.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
None.

Saturday:
1. CJ Edwards — Entering Friday, Pedro Strop has pitched in two straight.

Dave Roberts gives Kenley Jansen the vote of confidence

August 31, 2018

Los Angeles Dodgers — Josh Fields was activated from the 60-day disabled list on Thursday. We imagine he’ll eventually factor into a setup role, but that remains to be seen with Kenta Maeda and Scott Alexander currently manning the ship in front of Kenley Jansen. Dave Roberts reiterated before Thursday’s game that Jansen will continue to be the closer despite recent performance issues.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Maeda | Alexander.

Milwaukee Brewers — As the Vulture Save Watch predicted, Jeremy Jeffress got the night off after throwing 39 pitches over two innings on Wednesday, but other members of a tired bullpen weren’t so lucky. Josh Hader recovered from a rough outing on Wednesday (four earned runs; 24 pitches) to toss a scoreless 11th inning Thursday for his 11th save. Joakim Soria pitched ahead of him, appearing for the fourth time in five games. Our pick Corbin Burnes did pitch the ninth, but the game was tied.

Hierarchy remains: *Jeffress | Hader | Soria.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Steve Cishek — Pedro Strop and CJ Edwards have each pitched in three of four.
2. Zach Britton — Dellin Betances has thrown in two of three, including a disastrous Thursday outing where he allowed three runs on 31 pitches to blow the save.

Saturday:
1. Justin Anderson — Blake Parker has pitched in two of three and four of the last six.
2. Craig Stammen/Matt Strahm — Kirby Yates has pitched in two of three. Stammen has gone in two straight himself, so if both men are used Friday, Strahm may get a chance Saturday.
3. Hector Rondon — Even with Thursday off, Roberto Osuna has still pitched in four of six entering Friday.
4. Archie Bradley — Brad Boxberger has gone in two straight.
5. Jared Hughes — If Raisel Iglesias pitches today, he’ll have gone in three of four.
6. Cody Allen — Same with Brad Hand.

Dan Jennings grabs vulture save for Brewers

July 6, 2018

Chicago White Sox — Closer Joakim Soria finally had a rough outing Thursday night, blowing his third save and taking his third loss. It was the first time he has allowed an earned run since May 18, when his ERA was a bloated 5.65. Since then, he’s solidified himself (18 straight appearances without an earned run until Thursday) as the White Sox closer and would make an interesting trade chip later this month.

Hierarchy remains: Soria | Fry | Rondon.

Milwaukee Brewers — Dan Jennings tossed a scoreless eighth inning with the Brewers clinging to a 4-2 lead. After Milwaukee tacked on three more runs, Jennings stayed on in the ninth to earn his first save of the season. Corey Knebel had pitched in three straight entering Thursday, so he needed a breather.

Hierarchy remains: Knebel | Hader | Jeffress.

Texas Rangers — Chris Martin has been placed on the disabled list for a third time this season. This time it’s for a strained groin.  “We want to make sure we get him right,” manager Jeff Bannister said.

Hierarchy remains: Kela | Diekman | Leclerc.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Josh Hader/Jeremy Jeffress — Even with Thursday’s off-day, Corey Knebel has pitched in three of four and may get additional rest.

Saturday:
1. Jake Diekman — Keone Kela has pitched in two consecutive days.
2. Jace Fry — Joakim Soria has pitched in two of three and three of five.
3, Alex Colome — Edwin Diaz earned save No. 34 Thursday night and has now pitched in two of three and four of six.

Victor Arano, Cody Allen, and a bunch of vulture saves

July 5, 2018

Philadelphia Phillies — 23-year-old rookie Victor Arano didn’t quite convert his first save opportunity (June 18), but he made it through two scoreless innings on Wednesday to become the eighth Phillies reliever with a save in 2018. Only five of Arano’s 28 appearances this season have come in late/close situations, but he has good numbers (2.32 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 9.6 K/9) and could see an increased role going forward.

Hierarchy remains: *Dominguez | Hunter | Neshek.
* = closer-by-committee

St. Louis Cardinals — Although Bud Norris felt a slight “stinger” in his finger during his ninth-inning appearance, causing a slight delay, he stayed on to finish a scoreless inning.

Hierarchy remains: Norris | Hicks | Tuivailala.

Cincinnati Reds — With Raisel Iglesias coming off three straight days of work, Jared Hughes picked up the vulture save that we expected.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Hughes | Garrett.

Miami Marlins — You weren’t surprised to see Brad Ziegler get the Independence Day save for Miami. Nothing surprises you. You read the Vulture Save Watch.

Hierarchy remains: Barraclough | Steckenrider | Ziegler.

Houston Astros — Okay, we were a day late with our call on this one — Hector Rondon got a day off immediately after a 35-pitch outing, leaving Ken Giles to lock down the Independence Day save.

Hierarchy remains: Rondon | Giles | Devenski.

Cleveland Indians — With Wednesday night’s save, Cody Allen became Cleveland’s all-time leader in the category, passing Bob Wickman.

Hierarchy remains: Allen | Ramirez | Perez.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Jeremy Jeffress — Corey Knebel has gone in three straight, and we think Josh Hader will get two days off after his three-inning performance on Tuesday. Jeffress threw 23 pitches yesterday but is coming off four days’ rest.