April 20, 2016
Cincinnati Reds — It was quite the day for the Reds’ bullpen. The biggest news came after their 4-3 win, when manager Bryan Price said he would “sleep” on the closer situation. J.J. Hoover struggled again on Tuesday, allowing two runs in the ninth to bloat his ERA to 15.19. Assuming Hoover is out as closer after Price wakes up, Tony Cingrani is most likely to take the job. It certainly won’t be Jumbo Diaz, who was optioned to AAA before the game. It appears as if Caleb Cotham will replace Diaz, after a successful eighth inning on Tuesday that earned him his third hold of the season.
Updated hierarchy: Hoover | Cingrani | Cotham.
Kansas City Royals — Joakim Soria has allowed a run in each of his last two outings. On Tuesday, he couldn’t get out of the eighth inning and was booed off the mound, paving the way for Kelvin Herrera to get the final two outs of the frame. Herrera has yet to allow an earned run and may get some more looks in the eighth if Soria continues to struggle.
Hierarchy remains: Davis | Soria | Herrera.
Oakland A’s – Ryan Madson solidified his spot at the top of the Oakland committee on Tuesday, picking up the eleventh-inning save. Sean Doolittle pitched the eighth in a tie game, a role Doolittle should have more often than not, given Madson’s success so far.
Hierarchy remains: *Madson | Doolittle | Axford.
* = closer-by-committee
Tampa Bay Rays – Alex Colome recorded his second save and remains the number one option in Kevin Cash’s committee, though he and the team have only two saves.
Hierarchy remains: *Colome | Cedeno | Farquhar.
* = closer-by-committee
Chicago White Sox — Nate Jones earned the first save of his career thanks to a pair of scoreless innings in a 5-0 victory.
Hierarchy remains: Robertson | Jones | Albers.
Arizona Diamondbacks – Tyler Clippard picked his first save of the season in a 3-0 win on Tuesday. Brad Ziegler had thrown in three of the last four days and Daniel Hudson tossed 38 pitches on Monday.
Hierarchy remains: Ziegler | Hudson | Clippard.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Koji Uehara, Boston Red Sox – Craig Kimbrel has pitched in two straight and four of the last five; Uehara was rested on Tuesday.
2. Tony Cingrani, Cincinnati Reds – As mentioned above, J.J. Hoover’s days as the Reds closer may be over.
3. Trevor May, Minnesota Twins – Kevin Jepsen has pitched four of the last five days.
4. Sean Doolittle, Oakland Athletics – Ryan Madson has appeared three times over the last four days, and this is still a committee.