Jake McGee continues impressive run; John Axford does exact opposite

June 2, 2017

Colorado Rockies — Former closer Jake McGee has been really impressive lately, having not allowed a run since May 12 or a walk since May 4 (1.66 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 30 Ks). He picked up his fourth hold Thursday, pitching the eighth inning in Adam Ottavino’s absence. He’ll likely get any save opportunity when closer Greg Holland is unavailable.

Updated hierarchy: Holland | McGee | Rusin.

Oakland A’s — Since coming off the disabled list, John Axford has pitched in five games (all Oakland losses) and allowed seven runs (6 ER) on three walks and four strikeouts (11.57 ERA, 2.57 WHIP), including Thursday’s disastrous outing in which he allowed three runs (2 ER) in just one-third of an inning to put a 5-1 deficit out of reach. He’s probably a long way from closing, even in a pinch. This brings us to Sean Doolittle, who will start a rehab assignment Friday. For now, we like Aussie Liam Hendriks (3.38 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, four holds) to take Axford’s spot in the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Casilla | Madson | Hendriks.

Arizona Diamondbacks — It’s time for a status check on the game’s oldest closer, 40-year-old Fernando Rodney. Don’t look now, but Rodney did not allow an earned run in May and continued that streak on the first day of June, picking up his 14th save. It wasn’t all good – the one unearned run he allowed in that stretch came in Wednesday’s ninth inning, giving him his third blown save. Either way, his overall numbers are ugly (6.10 ERA, 1.45 WHIP), but he’s hot and worth a look if he’s still available in your league.

Hierarchy remains: Rodney | Bradley | Hoover.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Trevor Rosenthal — Seung Hwan Oh has pitched in two straight, throwing 40 pitches. He has not pitched in three straight games yet this season. Rosenthal, however, is pretty well-rested.

Saturday:
1. Archie Bradley/JJ Hoover — Fernando Rodney has appeared in two straight days (38 pitches), and might pitch Friday if needed (he has gone in three straight once this season). This is assuming Archie Bradley gets a break Friday, as he has been busy himself (three of four heading into Friday with 50 pitches). A rest Friday would make Bradley available Saturday. However, if both need a rest, JJ Hoover is next up.

Brandon Maurer converts his third straight save for the Padres

June 1, 2017

San Diego Padres — Brandon Maurer’s third straight save — against the heart of the Cubs’ order in a one-run game — is enough to get him back atop the Padres’ committee, for now.

Updated hierarchy: *Maurer | Hand | Buchter.
* = closer-by-committee

Minnesota Twins — After a really rough week (four appearances, 3 IP, 8 ER), Ryan Pressly will get some time to kick back and enjoy the wall-to-wall excitement that is Rochester, NY. While Tyler Duffey or Matt Belisle inherits the seventh inning for the boring ol’ Twins, Pressly can fill his belly at the Greek Festival, savor the beauty of the Fairport Canal Days, and — if he’s really feeling frisky — take in a lecture at the Genesee Valley QuiltFest. Rochester: Limitless — just like an ERA!

Updated hierarchy: Kintzler | Rogers | Duffey.

Texas Rangers — After Alex Claudio gave the Rangers two solid innings in a tight game, Matt Bush reminded us he’s human by blowing a save. Now it’s a tied game in the tenth: you be the skipper! Your options are Tony Barnette, Sam Dyson, bringing Bush out for a second inning, or having Pete Kozma pitch. Got your answer locked in? Did you choose Dyson? Of course not!! But Jeff Banister did, so two home runs later, Tampa Bay had the win. If you started Dyson on your fantasy team tonight, email a screenshot to [email protected] and we’ll apologize for being rude to your son.

Updated hierarchy: Bush | Kela | Claudio.

New York Mets — A lengthy suspension is expected for longtime mascot Mr. Met, who broke his 53-year streak as the only person in baseball who hadn’t flipped off a Mets fan. Although his wife and understudy Mrs. Met is expected to move directly into the main role, it’s possible she could join a committee with ex-mascot Mettle the Mule and Bobby Bonilla, who might as well earn that perpetual paycheck with a few bat races.

Mascot hierarchy: Mrs. Met | Mettle the Mule | Bonilla.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Matt Barnes — Craig Kimbrel threw 27 pitches in a four-out save on Tuesday and got another save on Wednesday. He’s amazing, but might need a night off.

Friday:
1. Joe Smith/Ryan Tepera — Roberto Osuna and Smith have each gone in two straight.

Adam Ottavino heads to the DL

May 31, 2017

Colorado Rockies — Adam Ottavino was placed on the 10-day DL thanks to shoulder inflammation. The Rockies called up Carlos Estevez from Triple-A and he rewarded the club by giving up five hits and three earned runs on Tuesday in a low-leverage spot during an eventual 10-4 loss. Chris Rusin and Jake McGee (1.74 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 12.63 K/9) will serve as the bridge to Greg Holland, with McGee riding a stretch of seven straight scoreless appearances and earning the praise of manager Bud Black.

Updated hierarchy: Holland | Rusin | McGee.

San Francisco Giants — Hunter Strickland was suspended six games for plunking and then brawling with Bryce Harper. He will appeal his suspension, but prepare to be without Strickland for at least a few games, if not all six of his original sentence, in the near future.

Hierarchy remains: Melancon | Law | Strickland.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Paul Sewald – Addison Reed has pitched in two straight, three of four, and five of the last seven games.
2. Joaquin Benoit – Hector Neris threw 31 pitches on Tuesday.
3. Shawn Kelley – Koda Glover has pitched on consecutive days and four of five.

Tomorrow
1. Matt Barnes – Craig Kimbrel got a four-out save on Tuesday and despite not being overworked may get Thursday off if he pitches again tonight.

Felipe Rivero breathing down Tony Watson’s neck

May 30, 2017

New York Mets – Up by 2 runs in the 8th, the Mets summoned Paul Sewald to bridge the gap to Addison Reed, and Sewald responded with a perfect inning that included two strikeouts. Terry Collins had Jerry Blevins and Fernando Salas warming in case Sewald (20.1 IP, 24 Ks/4 BBs, 2.21 ERA) got into trouble, but the young righty may have seized the 8th inning with the strong outing.

Updated hierarchy: Reed | Sewald | Blevins.

Pittsburgh Pirates – Tony Watson blew his third save of the year on Monday, earning the win when Andrew McCutchen hit a walkoff homer in the bottom half of the inning. Watson’s ERA is now 4.03, and he should be looking over his shoulder at Felipe Rivero, Pittsburgh’s prize acquisition in the Mark Melancon deal last year. Rivero, who earned his 12th hold of the season on Monday with a scoreless 8th inning, throws 100 mph and has an ERA of 0.68. That groan you heard just now was from the fans in Washington.

Hierarchy remains: Watson | Rivero | Nicasio.

San Diego Padres – After two straight saves for Brad Hand last week, Brandon Maurer has gotten two straight chances for the Padres this week, converting them both. We’ll leave Hand at the top of the committee for now, as he actually had the tougher assignment on Monday, entering with the bases loaded and one out in the 7th. He induced a double play ball, then stayed on for a clean 8th.

Hierarchy remains: *Hand | Maurer | Buchter.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Danny Farquhar – Alex Colome has gone in back to back and three of four (4.1 total IP).
2. Tommy Kahnle/Anthony Swarzak – David Robertson has pitched in three straight. Tommy Kahnle can probably go, but he’s also had a heavy workload, having pitched yesterday and in five of the last seven.
3. Kyle Barraclough – AJ Ramos has gone back to back and three of four.

Tomorrow
1. Kyle Barraclough – If AJ Ramos is able to go tonight, he’ll surely have tomorrow off.
2. Nick Vincent – If Edwin Diaz goes tonight, it’ll be three straight.
3. Ryan Buchter – If Brad Hand and Brandon Maurer go tonight, it’ll be three straight for both of them.
4. Shawn Kelley – If Koda Glover goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and four of five.
5. Paul Sewald/Jerry Blevins – If Addison Reed goes tonight, it’ll be back to back, three of four, and five of seven.
6. Felipe Rivero – If Tony Watson goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.
7. Alex Wilson – If Justin Wilson goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.

The Padres were serious about this committee thing

May 29, 2017

New York Yankees – Adam Warren entered the game with 2 outs in the 8th inning with the tying run on deck, retired the first man he faced, then stayed on for the 9th for his first save of the season. He remains the Yankees’ 7th-inning man for now.

Hierarchy remains: Betances | Clippard | Warren.

Milwaukee Brewers – Jacob Barnes picked up a save that was pretty much identical in every way to Adam Warren’s — the final scores of their respective games were even the same — and he remains the Brewers’ 8th-inning man.

Hierarchy remains: Knebel | Barnes | Torres.

San Diego Padres – Brad Hand collected consecutive saves against the Mets earlier this week, but Andy Green said that he wasn’t the new closer, and that they’d play matchups in the 9th inning going forward. Green turned out to be a man of his word, and Hand was used in the 8th inning yesterday while Brandon Maurer got the 9th. Look for Maurer and Hand to continue splitting opportunities.

Hierarchy remains: *Hand | Maurer | Buchter.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays – Erasmo Ramirez, who had been shifted to the rotation less than two weeks ago, was summoned in the 15th inning of Sunday’s marathon game against the Twins, where he picked up his first save of the season. Amazingly, Ramirez still plans to start today for the Rays. That’s pretty cool.

Hierarchy remains: Colome | Farquhar | Alvarado.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jose Alvarado – Alex Colome threw two innings (35p) last night, two days after throwing 20 pitches in a 1.1-inning appearance, while Danny Farquhar has gone back to back games, throwing 3.1 innings and 50 total pitches.
2. Taylor Rogers – Brandon Kintzler has thrown back to back games, racking up 50 total pitches including 32 last night.

Tomorrow
1. Tommy Kahnle – If David Robertson goes today, it’ll be three straight.
2. Michael Lorenzen – If Raisel Iglesias goes today, it’ll be back to back games and three of four.
3. Keone Kela – If Matt Bush goes today, it’ll be back to back and three of four.