Ryan Madson moves to the front of Oakland’s closer committee

April 18, 2016

Oakland A’s – Bob Melvin explained Sean Doolittle’s usage after the game on Saturday, and for the first time acknowledged that “it depends” who gets the 9th inning — on that day, it was because Doolittle had been overworked so he wanted to use him for only one batter. On Sunday, meanwhile, Doolittle needed a day off entirely after pitching in two games in a row, allowing Ryan Madson to capture his 4th save of the year. (Doolittle has only one.) So we’re officially in committee mode in Oakland right now, and given Doolittle’s early struggles, we’ll elevate Madson to the top of the line with the understanding that this is still a fluid situation.

Updated hierarchy: *Madson | Doolittle | Axford.
* = closer-by-committee

Atlanta Braves – The Braves wanted to give Arodys Vizcaino a day off on Sunday, so Jason Grilli was tapped for the save. He gave up the tying run, but fortunately for the Braves, they were able to retake the lead, allowing Matt Wisler to earn his first career save in extra innings. Wisler does not factor into the Braves’ usual late-inning plans.

Hierarchy remains: *Vizcaino | Grilli | Johnson.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays – Alex Colome picked up his first save of the season on Sunday. Though not the official closer yet, he remains firmly in the driver’s seat for any saves until Brad Boxberger’s return.

Hierarchy remains: *Colome | Cedeno | Farquhar.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. David Hernandez, Philadelphia Phillies – Jeanmar Gomez threw 39 pitches in a two-inning effort on Sunday.
2. Trevor May/Casey Fien, Minnesota Twins – Kevin Jepsen has pitched in three straight. Trevor May would normally be the handcuff, but his availability is also in question after a heavy workload over the last four days, meaning Casey Fien is a longshot for a vulture save.

Jason Grilli and Ryan Madson record saves

April 17, 2016

Oakland A’s — Ryan Madson picked up his third save of the season on Saturday, compared to just one for closer Sean Doolittle.  Doolittle came on for the last out of the 8th, getting lefty Alex Gordon to fly out.  Doolittle has struggled with homers so far this season but feels like he is still pitching well.  It’s early in the season, and the bullpen has been a little out of whack, thanks to outings like Rich Hill’s on Friday, but Doolittle owners have to be concerned about how many save opportunities Madson has seen so far this season.  Despite the results so far, we think Doolittle is still the primary closer, but we will continue to monitor this situation to determine if this is going to become more of a committee.

Hierarchy remains: Doolittle | Madson | Axford.

Atlanta Braves — As expected, Arodys Vizcaino got the day off on Saturday, and Jason Grilli recorded his first save since last July.  Manager Fredi Gonzalez will be careful with Vizcaino, and he may be unavailable on Sunday, so Grilli should continue to see some save opportunities throughout the season.

Hierarchy remains: *Vizcaino | Grilli | Johnson.
* = closer-by-committee

Cincinnati Reds — J.J. Hoover got his first save of the season yesterday, but it wasn’t pretty.  He gave up a two-run homer, and then put the tying run on base before finally shutting the door.  Manager Bryan Price is sticking with Hoover, but not necessarily because he wants to.  Every reliever in the bullpen has allowed at least one run this season and his other primary option, Jumbo Diaz, has also struggled.  Hoover is still the closer for now, but if any of the Reds’ relievers can put together a few good outings in a row, they could challenge Hoover for the job.

Hierarchy remains: Hoover | Diaz | Cingrani.

Cleveland Indians – Bryan Shaw had another rough outing yesterday.  He gave up four runs, including two home runs, and now has given up nine earned runs on the season.  Shaw has been a key part of the Indians’ bullpen for the past couple years so we would expect Terry Francona to keep running him out there in the late innings.  However, with Zach McAllister and Jeff Manship both sporting 0.00 ERAs, Shaw will have to pitch better to keep the job as the primary set-up man.

Hierarchy remains: Allen | Shaw | McAllister.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jason Grilli, Atlanta Braves – Arodys Vizcaino could get another day off after his 35 pitch outing on Friday.
2. Tyler Clippard, Arizona Diamondbacks – Brad Ziegler and Daniel Hudson have both pitched in back to back games, with Ziegler throwing 39 pitches yesterday.
3. Junichi Tazawa, Boston Red Sox – Craig Kimbrel and Koji Uehara have appeared in two straight and three of the past four.
4. Jumbo Diaz, Cincinnati Reds – J.J. Hoover threw 22 pitches yesterday and 29 a few days ago so he could get Sunday off.

Arodys Vizcaino and Kevin Jepsen get on the board

April 16, 2016

Atlanta Braves — Arodys Vizcaino certainly made it interesting — loading the bases in the eighth and allowing two more baserunners in the ninth — but at the end of the day, he had his first save and the Braves their first win in ten tries.

Hierarchy remains: *Vizcaino | Grilli | Johnson.
* = closer-by-committee

Minnesota Twins — Kevin Jepsen pitched well to earn a save in the Twins’ first victory of the season. After getting a second opinion on his shoulder injury, Glen Perkins has said he expects to return from the DL when he regains eligibility on April 26. Even Minnesota’s more conservative estimates have him returning in early May.

Hierarchy remains: Jepsen | May | Fien.

San Francisco Giants — It’s the DL for Sergio Romo, again, for another elbow injury. Hunter Strickland should move into the eighth, and lefty Josh Osich is probably the best-situated of the remaining Giants hurlers. Replacing Romo on the roster was young Derek Law, who did his dad one better by making it into his first game, then striking out the side.

Updated hierarchy: Casilla | Strickland | Osich.

Chicago White Sox — Chris Sale pitched a complete game shutout on Friday night, but Jake Petricka was ready to come in if Sale had needed help. We expected David Robertson to get the day off, but Petricka — who has always had control issues — was a bit of a surprise. He’s not in the hierarchy now, but we’ll keep an eye on it.

Hierarchy remains: Robertson | Jones | Albers.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jason Grilli, Atlanta Braves — Arodys Vizcaino needed 35 pitches for Friday’s rocky four-out save, and he also threw 16 on Thursday. Grilli hasn’t pitched in days.
2. Jim Henderson, New York Mets — Jeurys Familia has pitched on four of the last five (and five of the last seven) days, and Addison Reed threw 20 pitches last night.

J.J. Hoover continues to struggle in the Reds bullpen

April 15, 2016

Cincinnati Reds — J.J. Hoover was terrible against the red-hot Cubs Thursday, getting tagged for five runs in just a third of an inning. Hoover, who hadn’t pitched since April 9, was getting work in the eighth inning down three runs. Between this appearance and the grand slam he gave up last week, the Cincy closer boasts a 16.88 ERA — but after the game, Bryan Price expressed confidence that Hoover would be sharp in his next outing. If he isn’t, that outing may be his last for a while.

Hierarchy remains: Hoover | Diaz | Cingrani.

Washington Nationals — Felipe Rivero has been pitching well, earning the late-inning trust of manager Dusty Baker. Rivero got the final four outs for the Nats in a four-run game Thursday, just two days after picking up his first save of the season.

Updated hierarchy: Papelbon | Treinen | Rivero.

Texas Rangers — Closer Shawn Tolleson has calmed down after a rough start in which his ERA briefly exceeded his uniform number. On Thursday, he dispatched Baltimore for his third save of the year, lowering that ERA to Glen Perkins.

Hierarchy remains: Tolleson | Dyson | Diekman.

Kansas City Royals — After describing some early-season dead arm this week, Wade Davis offered a bit of relief for fantasy owners by picking up the save Thursday. He hasn’t allowed a run all season and, if he can shake the mechanical issues, should get plenty of save opportunities for the reigning World Series champs.

Hierarchy remains: Davis | Soria | Herrera.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Justin Wilson, Detroit Tigers — K-Rod has gone in three straight, while set-up guy Mark Lowe has thrown 47 pitches in two days.
2. Jumbo Diaz/Tony Cingrani, Cincinnati Reds — As noted above, Hoover was hammered by the Cubs Thursday. He threw 29 pitches (just 11 for strikes) and may need to take Friday off.
3. Nate Jones, Chicago White Sox — David Robertson has pitched in the last two games, and three of the last four.

Perkins to the DL; Giles’s struggles continue

April 14, 2016

Minnesota Twins – The Twins placed Glen Perkins on the 15-day disabled list yesterday. Perkins, whose velocity has been down all year, will be replaced by Kevin Jepsen, who did a serviceable job with the role last season. When Perkins returns — which will be longer than 15 days — he’ll have to rebound from a start that produced a 9.00 ERA and a blown save in two outings.

Updated hierarchy: Jepsen | May | Fien.

Houston Astros — Ken Giles has had a nightmare start to the season, which wasn’t helped on Wednesday when he took the loss after giving up a two-run shot in the 8th inning. Manager A.J. Hinch backed Giles after the game, saying that he was throwing hard and made good pitches, but we have yet to see Giles turn a corner on his rough start to the season. Meanwhile, Luke Gregerson still has a 0.00 ERA to go with his two saves this year, so Giles may need more than just a return to form in order to get back in the closer mix.

Hierarchy remains: Gregerson | Giles | Neshek.

San Francisco Giants – Sergio Romo was unavailable last night and is headed back to San Francisco for tests on his elbow. Manager Bruce Bochy is hopeful that this is just precautionary and that Romo does not have a serious injury, but if the Giants are ahead late on Thursday and perhaps this weekend against the Dodgers, expect Hunter Strickland to get the 8th inning.

Hierarchy remains: Casilla | Romo | Strickland.

Kansas City Royals – As predicted in the Vulture Save Watch, Wade Davis was unavailable after a 33-pitch outing last night. Joakim Soria got the call in the 9th inning, and needed only five pitches to record his first save of the year and his first save for the Royals since his days as the “Mexicutioner.” Davis has been battling a bit of dead arm, but he says that is normal for this part of the year, and he should be ready to go when needed.

Hierarchy remains: Davis | Soria | Herrera.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Bryan Shaw, Cleveland Indians – Cody Allen has pitched in two straight games.
2. Dalier Hinojosa, Philadelphia Phillies – Both Jeanmar Gomez and David Hernandez have pitched in back-to-back games, with Gomez throwing in four of the last five days.
3. Kevin Siegrist, St. Louis Cardinals – Trevor Rosenthal struggled through a 33-pitch outing on Wednesday and may get a day off.