Strop records save, Bruce Rondon keeps giving up runs

September 20, 2015

Chicago Cubs — Pedro Strop recorded the save yesterday after regular closer Hector Rondon got tossed for hitting the first batter in the ninth inning.  Travis Wood ended up getting the start with Joe Maddon only using members of his bullpen for the game.  We expect Wood to see more time in the later innings during normal games, but another guy to keep an eye on is Neil Ramirez, who returned from the DL on Thursday and pitched a scoreless inning.

Hierarchy remains: Rondon | Strop | Wood.

Detroit Tigers — The Tigers went to Bruce Rondon in the eighth inning last night to try and protect a one run lead, and he couldn’t do it.  Rondon gave up a run for the fourth time in his last five appearances, and his ERA is up to 6.00 on the season.  Manager Brad Ausmus said not to “read anything into” Rondon being used in the eighth.  The Tigers aren’t going anywhere this season so they want to try and give Rondon every opportunity to show what he can do over the last part of the season.  However, he is making it tough to keep sending him out there, even in a lost season, and Alex Wilson could see some saves in the future.

Hierarchy remains: Rondon | Wilson | Hardy.

Boston Red Sox – Robbie Ross picked up his third save of the season yesterday.  Ross has now recorded all three of Boston’s save in the month of September and, despite allowing two runs in his most recent outing, he is close to shedding the committee label.

Hierarchy remains: *Ross | Machi | Ogando.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Edwin Jackson, Atlanta Braves – Arodys Vizcaino has pitched in two straight, throwing a total of 46 pitches.
2.  Nate Jones, Chicago White Sox – David Robertson has pitched in two of the last three games, and has thrown 48 pitches and given up five runs during those outings.

Wade Davis could be closing for the Royals very soon

September 19, 2015

Kansas City Royals — It wasn’t long ago that Greg Holland and Jamaal Charles would have welcomed being compared to each other, but sic transit gloria Missouri. Serious concerns over Holland’s velocity and reliability deepened Friday night after an extra-inning blown save that included a bases-loaded walk; although Ned Yost was silent after the game (“I’m done talking about Greg right now. I’m not saying anything more about Greg tonight”), the conventional wisdom is that Wade Davis will be the team’s new closer before they return to Kansas City next week. We’ll let you know if and when Yost decides to announce a move.

Hierarchy remains: Holland | Davis | Herrera.

New York Mets — Tyler Clippard tweaked his back during batting practice, so Addison Reed got the eighth inning against the Yankees on Friday night. After the game, Clippard told the press that he expects to be available Saturday.

Hierarchy remains: Familia | Clippard | Reed.

Oakland A’s — The committee lives in Oakland. After Sean Doolittle threw 26 pitches in a two-inning outing on Thursday, it was impressive rookie Ryan Dull’s chance to lock down the eighth and ninth and earn his first career save.

Updated hierarchy: *Doolittle | Pomeranz | Dull.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers — Bruce Rondon got a second straight night off after appearing in three straight games (62 pitches), but Alex Wilson couldn’t lock down the save, giving up a game-tying home run immediately after relieving Justin Verlander.

Hierarchy remains: Rondon | Wilson | Hardy.

New daddy Luke Gregerson likely back with Astros on Friday

September 18, 2015

Houston Astros — Closer Luke Gregerson will be back with the Astros on Friday after missing Wednesday and Thursday’s games due to the birth of his first child. No word as yet on whether taking only two days off makes Gregerson less of a “wuss” than Trevor Rosenthal.

Hierarchy remains: Gregerson | Neshek | Harris.

Chicago Cubs — The Closer Monkey went bananas Thursday when he correctly predicted a vulture save for the Cubs, but saw Travis Wood performing the honors over Fernando Rodney. Hector Rondon and Pedro Strop had been busy recently, so Joe Maddon elected to go with Wood, who picked up his second save with a clean eighth and ninth (5 Ks). He’s probably the second in line for Maddon for similar situations in the future.

Updated hierarchy: Rondon | Strop | Wood.

Baltimore Orioles — Manager Buck Showalter gave closer Zach Britton another day off after a recent heavy workload, so Darren O’Day was able to corral his third save of the season Thursday. O’Day, whom Showalter called the “leader of that bullpen” and “good people,” has been outstanding this year (1.54 ERA, 0.98 WHIP) and may get some serious looks in free agency in the offseason.

Hierarchy remains: Britton | O’Day | Brach.

Washington Nationals — Jonathan Papelbon was unavailable for Thursday’s game due to a high fever. If Papelbon is unavailable again Friday, look for Matt Thornton, Felipe Rivero or Casey Janssen to get the save chance.

Hierarchy remains: Papelbon | Thornton | Rivero.

Chicago White Sox — Staked to a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning on Thursday, closer David Robertson gave up a three-run home run of sorts to Billy Butler (I bet Avisail Garcia wishes he had that one back) for his seventh blown save. Robertson has allowed seven runs (five earned) in the last four days, and could need a night off to clear his head.

Hierarchy remains: Robertson | Jones | Duke.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Pat Neshek, Houston Astros — There’s a chance new father Luke Gregerson won’t be available Friday, in which case any save opportunity would go to Neshek.
2. Matt Thornton, Washington Nationals — Jonathan Papelbon was unavailable Thursday due to a high fever. If he’s out again, Thornton could get the call for the Nationals. Felipe Rivero or Casey Janssen are candidates, too.
3. Nate Jones, Chicago White Sox — As mentioned above, David Robertson may need a night off after a rough couple of outings. If that’s the case, look for Nate Jones to get the save chance Friday night.
4. Jean Machi, Boston Red Sox — His stint with the Red Sox has been less than impressive, but he has run together a string of scoreless appearances (6 IP over 5 games) and could see another look at closer before the season comes to an end.

Luke Gregerson leaves Astros to become a dad

September 17, 2015

Houston Astros — Luke Gregerson left the team to attend the birth of his first child. With the Astros in a race for the playoffs, we expect that this will be a short term leave; in fact, Gregerson wasn’t placed on the paternity list. Pat Neshek is the most likely candidate for saves, but manager A.J. Hinch said he won’t hesitate to use Neshek in the most important spots, whether or not it’s the ninth inning.

Hierarchy remains: Gregerson | Neshek | Harris.

San Diego Padres — Kevin Quackenbush has had a rough couple outings, failing to record an out in two straight appearances. Meanwhile, Nick Vincent has been stellar since his Sept. 1 recall, not allowing an earned run in 10 September appearances. While the Padres don’t figure to win too many games down the stretch, Vincent could be a sneaky source of holds if they start playing better. 

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Benoit | Vincent.

Los Angeles Dodgers — Kenley Jansen continued his impressive season, nailing down his 32nd save with a clean inning last night. However, with the Dodgers holding a 7.5 game lead in the NL West, they may look to limit his workload going forward in order to save him for the playoffs. Jansen wasn’t used in a non-save situation on Tuesday during a lengthy extra-innings affair, and if the Dodgers keep Jansen from throwing back-to-back days no matter what, Chris Hatcher would benefit.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Hatcher | Johnson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Fernando Rodney/Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs – Hector Rondon threw 33 pitches over two innings last night, while Strop has pitched in back-to-back games.
2. Arquimedes Caminero, Pittsburgh Pirates – Not only might Mark Melancon need a day off, but Joakim Soria, Tony Watson and Antonio Bastardo have also pitched in each of the last three games. Could be a deep look into the bullpen if the Pirates need a save on Thursday.
3. Pat Neshek, Houston Astros – Luke Gregerson is with his wife and new child.
4. Kevin Siegrist, St. Louis Cardinals – Trevor Rosenthal has appeared in back-to-back games and may get a rest.

Red Sox shut down Junichi Tazawa; Brad Boxberger is tired

September 16, 2015

Boston Red Sox – Manager Torey Lovullo announced after Tuesday’s game that Junichi Tazawa will be shut down for the remainder of the season, not based on a injury but rather his workload. For now, Alexi Ogando will slide into the hierarchy, though for Boston’s sake anybody else will pitch with a lead.

Updated hierarchy: *Ross | Machi | Ogando.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays – As predicted in the Vulture Save Watch, a pooped Brad Boxberger got the night off, but it was Brandon Gomes who earned his first career save. Alex Colome pitched the 8th, but he faced the 3-4-5 hitters in the Yankees’ order. Colome is the man if Boxberger is unavailable, but by virtue of Tuesday’s save and Xavier Cedeno’s battle with left side tightness, Gomes slides into the Rays’ hierarchy..

Updated hierarchy: Boxberger | Colome | Gomes.

Los Angeles Angels — Huston Street was still fighting flu-like symptoms on Tuesday, so Joe Smith picked up the vulture save. Manager Mike Scioscia expects Street, who was ralphing in the bullpen on Sunday, to be back on Wednesday.

Hierarchy remains: Street | Smith | Gott.

Colorado Rockies — In a 16-inning affair that saw the Rockies use a major league record 13 pitchers, it was Gonzalez Germen who eventually got the save. He may not factor into Colorado’s late-inning plans, but he certainly factors into their late-late-inning plans.

Hierarchy remains: Axford | Diaz | Miller.

Cincinnati Reds — After Aroldis Chapman was unable to secure a five-out save and the Reds reclaimed their lead in the 10th, Jumbo Diaz shut the door for his first career save. It was Chapman’s third blown save of the season, and his first after walking a pinch-hitting World Series MVP pitcher.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Hoover | Diaz.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Brad Brach/Brian Matusz, Baltimore Orioles – Zach Britton and Darren O’Day have each pitched three straight days, and while Brach has pitched in back-to-back games, he may be more well-rested. If Buck Showalter, who is willing to do whatever it takes keep his team in the Wild Card race, wants to save Brach as well, someone like Brian Matusz may get a look.
2. J.J. Hoover, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman threw 42 pitches on Tuesday.
3. Alex Wilson, Detroit Tigers – Bruce Rondon has hurled 35 pitches over the last two games.