Fernando Rodney’s quiver is almost empty

April 28, 2017

Arizona Diamondbacks –The monkey is keeping a close eye on this situation, folks. With a four-run lead in the ninth Thursday, the D-Backs opted to use J.J. Hoover, who pitched a clean inning. Jorge De La Rosa was available, but Torey Luvullo’s use of Hoover may indicate he’s the man to own behind the tired (he had pitched in three of five days) and bad (11.00 ERA) Fernando Rodney, who has to be on a short leash. Many locals are pulling for long reliever Archie Bradley to close, but he may be better suited for the rotation as Shelby Miller is considering Tommy John surgery.

Updated hierarchy: Rodney | Hoover | de la Rosa.

Los Angeles Angels – The Angels have used a hodgepodge of relievers to bridge the gap in save situations over the last week, including David Hernandez, Yusmeiro Petit, Deolis Guerra, Blake Parker and Jose Alvarez. But one thing has been most consistent: Bud Norris (four saves)  has picked up each save chance and converted each time the Angels had a slim lead in the ninth lately, including on Thursday. With Cam Bedrosian nursing a sore groin and Huston Street out until at least June 1, Norris is the clear man to own for the Angels.

Hierarchy remains: Norris | Parker | Hernandez.

Toronto Blue Jays — The Blue Jays stink. Nothing has gone right, and that’s especially true for closer Roberto Osuna, who had another rough outing and blown save Thursday. Osuna gave up a game-tying, two-out, two-run HR in the 9th to Randal Grichuk as the Jays lost again. After the game, manager John Gibbons said Osuna “just has to figure it out.” No kidding.

Hierarchy remains: Osuna | Grilli | Biagini.

St. Louis Cardinals – Seung Hwan Oh pitched a scoreless ninth inning with the score tied in the first game of a doubleheader, so in the nightcap with Oh unavailable, Trevor Rosenthal got his second vulture save. Rosenthal has really pitched well this year (2.84 ERA, 13 K’s, 2 SV in 7 G) and may have the inside track to the closer gig if Oh falters.

Hierarchy remains: Oh | Rosenthal | Bowman.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Blake Parker/David Hernandez — We may find out who the No. 2 man for the Angels is on Friday, as Bud Norris has pitched in two straight and three of the last for days. Looking further back, Norris has pitched in six of the last eight days.
2. Derek Law — Both Mark Melancon (three of the last four days) and Hunter Strickland (three straight, four of five) have been busy and pitched Thursday. Law, who got the night off Thursday, would presumably be available for the save situation Friday if needed.

Saturday:
1. Blake Parker/David Hernandez — If Norris gets the ball AGAIN on Friday, that’ll be three straight and four of five for him. That wouldn’t be shocking, as he pitched in four of five last week, but a Friday appearance would bring his workload to an unsustainable level (pitching in seven of the last nine days).
2. Andrew Miller — If Cody Allen pitches Friday, that’ll be three appearances in three days for him. He would almost certainly get rest Saturday, giving Miller a chance.
3. Sergio Romo — Sergio Romo may get a save chance Saturday because if Kenley Jansen pitches Friday, that’ll be his third appearance in four days.
4. Nick Vincent/Mark Rzepczynski — Edwin Diaz has pitched in two straight games, so a Friday appearance would mean he’d need a rest Saturday.
5. Joaquin Benoit — Hector Neris has pitched in two straight. If he goes again Friday, look for Benoit to get a shot Saturday. Also, these two pitch in a Pete Mackanin committee, so we suppose Benoit could get the call on any given night (but let’s face it – Neris is the guy to own).

Shawn Kelley finally gets the Nationals’ closer role all to himself

April 27, 2017

Washington Nationals — Shawn Kelley will have the chance to run with the Nationals’ closer job now that Koda Glover is headed to the DL with pain in his left hip, the same one that troubled him at the end of last season. Matt Albers and Joe Blanton will rise in Glover’s absence, and Blanton’s early struggles (10.13 ERA) give Albers the edge.

Updated hierarchy: Kelley | Treinen | Albers.

Arizona Diamondbacks — One bright spot for Arizona is that only a record-low 12,215 fans saw Fernando Rodney blow Wednesday’s night save (5 runs, 6 hits). Another has been the work of young Archie Bradley, whose three-inning, five-strikeout outing appeared to be an effort to stretch him out for the rotation with Shelby Miller hurt. If Bradley does stay in the bullpen, he could be ideal in the Andrew Miller stopper role.

Hierarchy remains: Rodney | de la Rosa | Hoover.

Colorado Rockies — Back spasms sent Mike Dunn to the 10-day DL, backdated to Sunday. Chad Qualls was activated to replace him, but it looks like Jake McGee will slide into his role, with Qualls and Carlos Estevez also late-inning hold options.

Updated hierarchy: Holland | Ottavino | McGee.

Texas Rangers — When Sam Dyson returns from the disabled list (as early as Friday), he won’t be anywhere near the ninth inning. It’s Matt Bush’s job now.

Hierarchy remains: Bush | Jeffress | LeClerc.

Boston Red Sox — Matt Barnes will be out of vulture save contention through Saturday; he dropped his appeal of a four-game suspension for throwing a 90 MPH fastball behind Manny Machado’s head.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Barnes | Hembree.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Dellin Betances — Aroldis Chapman struggled through a 33-pitch save on Wednesday and could get Thursday off.
2. Jorge de la Rosa — Rodney’s rough Wednesday could earn him a day off.

Friday:
1. Dellin Betances/Tyler Clippard — If Chapman does go Thursday, he’ll be off Friday. If Betances pitches Thursday, the Friday save should go to Clippard.
2. Danny Farquhar — Although the Rays have Thursday off, Alex Colome still will have pitched on two of the last three days, and four of the last six (87 pitches).
3. Blake Parker — Bud Norris is close to losing the committee asterisk, but if he pitches again on Thursday, he’ll probably get Friday off.
4. Hunter Strickland/Derek Law — Another outing for Mark Melancon would be his third in four days. Both Strickland and Law have been busy too, so this is contingent on a day off for them.

Hector Rondon continues to pitch well

April 26, 2017

Chicago Cubs — Hector Rondon has continued his rise in the Cubs’ bullpen, extending his streak of scoreless appearances to five games with an eighth-inning hold on Tuesday. Rondon has walked a man in three of those appearances, but with only one hit scattered amongst those four innings in addition to five strikeouts, he has continuously been solid without getting into much trouble. If he keeps pitching like this, it will be hard to keep him out of the eighth inning in close games going forward.

Updated hierarchy: Davis | Rondon | Uehara.

Milwaukee Brewers – Tommy Milone picked up just the second save of his career Tuesday, pitching the final three innings of a 9-1 win over the Reds. Expect a close check on Milone’s blood and urine after Tuesday’s performance, his first save since Aug. 23, 2015, when he was with the Twins.

Hierarchy remains: Feliz | Knebel | Barnes.

Toronto Blue Jays — Roberto Osuna’s struggles continued on Tuesday as he blew a save chance against the Cardinals. He has now allowed an earned run in three of his first five appearances since returning from the DL. When the Jays regained the lead in the 11th, they called upon Ryan Tepera to earn his second career save and first since 2015. Also, this happened.

Hierarchy remains: Osuna | Grilli | Biagini.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH:
Today
1. Danny Farquhar – Alex Colome has pitched three of the last four days.

Thursday
1. Koda Glover – If Shawn Kelley goes on Wednesday it will be two straight for him.
2. Jason Grilli – Roberto Osuna threw 19 pitches in a blown save on Tuesday. If he struggles through a hefy outing again on Wednesday, we may see Grilli on Thursday.
3. Sean Doolittle – Santiago Casilla took forever to get through 16 pitches and a blown save on Tuesday. If he has a lengthy outing on Wednesday, a night off Thursday may in his future.
4. Sergio Romo – Kenley Jansen threw 22 pitches in a four-out save Tuesday. Don’t expect him to go for a third straight day on Thursday should the situation arise.

Bud Norris picks up another save

April 25, 2017

Los Angeles Angels – The Angels traded for veteran reliever David Hernandez and immediately used him in a big spot.  With the Angels clinging to a one run lead in the eight inning, Hernandez came on with a runner on first and one out.  He retired the only two batters he faced to preserve the lead.  Bud Norris pitched the ninth to record his second save.

Updated hierarchy: *Norris | Parker | Hernandez.
* = closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners — Edwin Diaz is still the closer in Seattle, but you may see him used more in non-traditional closer spots.  Manager Scott Servais said that Diaz needs to pitch and he can’t always just save him for the ninth inning.  We don’t think this will impact Diaz’s fantasy value in a huge way so don’t overreact if you see Diaz enter the game in a non-save situation.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Vincent | Rzepczynski.

Minnesota Twins — Matt Belisle pitched a perfect eight inning ahead of closer Brandon Kintzler last night.  It was Belisle’s third hold of the season, and with Ryan Pressly struggling, Belisle has likely moved into first in line for saves behind Kintzler.

Updated hierarchy: Kintzler | Belisle | Pressly.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH:
Today
1. Blake Parker – Bud Norris has pitched in four of the last five days.
2. Matt Belisle/Ryan Pressly – Brandon Kintzler has appeared in two straight games and three of the last four.

Wednesday
1. Jorge de la Rosa – Fernando Rodney has pitched in two of the last three and would likely get Wednesday off if he pitches on Tuesday.
2, Trevor Rosenthal – If Seung-Hwan Oh pitches on Tuesday, that will make it four of the past five days.

Two saves in two days for Koda Glover

April 24, 2017

Los Angeles Angels – The Angels took a 1-0 lead to the 8th inning, but Deolis Guerra gave up a go-ahead home run and Brooks Pounders allowed considerably more damage, as the Blue Jays rallied to win 6-2. Blake Parker remains our favorite arm in this bullpen, but he was used rather curiously in this game, striking out the side in the 6th inning. That gives him 15 Ks against only 2 BBs (and 0 HRs allowed) in 9.1 innings this year, but given his early usage, we’ll push Bud Norris to the top of the committee. Lefty Jose Alvarez, who got his second hold of the season on Sunday with a clean 7th, slots in behind them for now.

Updated hierarchy: *Norris | Parker | Alvarez.
* = closer-by-committee

Texas Rangers – Though he only picked up his first save of the season on Sunday, it’s probably safe to remove the asterisk on Matt Bush. Since the Rangers put Sam Dyson on the DL, Bush has pitched the 9th inning three times — twice in tie games, and then last night’s appearance, in which he pitched a clean 9th.

Updated hierarchy: Bush | Jeffress | LeClerc.

Washington Nationals – Sunday marked two saves in two days for Koda Glover, though it’s worth mentioning that he was not tasked with starting the 9th inning on either occasion. Yesterday this actually made his job harder, as Oliver Perez allowed a hit to the only batter he faced, meaning Glover started his outing with nobody out and a man on. But with a three-run lead, Glover closed the door, striking out one batter in the process. Shawn Kelley remains at the top of this committee, having picked up three saves in three outings earlier this week, but the Nationals appear to have two players capable of doing this job.

Hierarchy remains: *Kelley | Glover | Treinen.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jeremy Jeffress – Matt Bush has gone back to back and three of four.

Tuesday
1. Daniel Hudson/Felipe Rivero – Tony Watson pitched Sunday (27 pitches) and Friday (16 pitches).