Jake McGee could be closing soon; Jonathan Papelbon to Washington?

July 25, 2015

Seattle Mariners — Over the last two months, Carson Smith has nine saves and Fernando Rodney has two (and two blown saves). After Smith shut down Toronto in the ninth on Friday night, we think it’s time for him to shed his asterisk and be considered the Seattle closer, full stop. Just promise us you won’t tell Lloyd McClendon.

Hierarchy remains: Smith | Rodney | Lowe.

Tampa Bay Rays — Jake McGee earned his fifth save on Friday, in a game where Brad Boxberger did not appear. A McGee save by itself isn’t that unusual, but given the rumors swirling around all three members of the Tampa hierarchy, Friday could have been either an attempt to showcase the lefthander, who boasts 21 straight scoreless appearances, or an early look at life after a Boxberger trade.

Hierarchy remains: Boxberger | McGee | Jepsen.

Philadelphia Phillies — 17 saves in 17 appearances isn’t the only streak Jonathan Papelbon is working on this season; he’s also managed to whine about wanting a trade every single time he has seen a reporter. The latest rumor has him headed inside the division, to Washington.

Hierarchy remains: Papelbon | Giles | Gomez.

St. Louis Cardinals — Yet another save delivered to those who heed the Vulture Save Watch, courtesy of Kevin Siegrist. In other news, the Cardinals acquired Steve Cishek from the Marlins. Although Cishek has improved since his return to the majors in June (0.71 ERA, 11 K in 13 appearances), we think his ceiling is the Seth Maness level, solidly behind Trevor Rosenthal, Siegrist, and Jordan Walden, once the latter returns (as early as next week) from his biceps injury.

Hierarchy remains: Rosenthal | Siegrist | Maness.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Rafael Soriano/Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs — Jason Motte’s blown save on Friday came on his third day of work in four (and fifth out of seven). Hector Rondon has seen an even heavier recent workload.
2. Pat Neshek, Houston Astros — Luke Gregerson hasn’t thrown many pitches (24), but they have come in three straight games.
3. Alexi Ogando/Tommy Layne, Boston Red Sox — If you believe Boston can win two straight games, it’s worth noting that Koji Uehara threw 29 pitches on Friday, and Junichi Tazawa has thrown 36 over the last two days. Ogando is next in line, while Layne is the only non-Uehara pitcher with a save for Boston this year.
4. Fernando Rodney, Seattle Mariners — Smith is Seattle’s closer, but he’s pitched on three of four days, and Rodney had Friday off.

Bo Schultz, Tom Wilhelmsen pick up first saves; Koji Uehara on trade block

July 24, 2015

Toronto Blue Jays — As predicted in our Vulture Save Watch, Roberto Osuna didn’t get the save opportunity on Thursday. Instead, that honor went to Bo Schultz, who got the final two outs for his first career save after R.A. Dickey tossed the first 8 1/3 innings for the win. Schultz has pitched well of late (1.75 ERA in 25.2 IP), and belongs ahead of Steve Delabar (7 ER in last 4.1 IP) in the hierarchy. After a second rehab outing Thursday at Syracuse, Aaron Sanchez will slide into second in line when he rejoins the team this weekend.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Schultz | Delabar.

Boston Red Sox — Losers of seven straight since the All-Star Break after Thursday’s 5-4 defeat at the hands of the Astros, the last-place Red Sox would appear to be in sell mode. The selling could start this coming week, and could even include closer Koji Uehara. The Boston Globe is reporting teams have inquired about Uehara, and the Red Sox could receive a significant haul if they’re willing to deal him. Signed to a relatively reasonable 2-year, $18 million deal that expires after 2016, Uehara, 40, has been one of the lone bright spots for Boston, with 22 saves, a 2.67 ERA and a nasty 0.89 WHIP. Junichi Tazawa would likely get the first crack at closing if Uehara is dealt.

Hierarchy remains: Uehara | Tazawa | Ogando.

Seattle Mariners — Extra-inning games tend to stretch out a bullpen, and that was the case Thursday, when all of the Mariners relievers in the late-innings hierarchy got a crack. All pitched well, with Mark Lowe tossing a scoreless eighth and ninth, Carson Smith getting all three outs in the tenth, and Fernando Rodney managing to throw a scoreless eleventh. Rodney earned the win when Tigers reliever Ian Krol gave up the go-ahead run in the top half of the twelfth, and old friend Tom Wilhelmsen pitched a clean bottom half for his first save of the year. The team’s former closer, Wilhelmsen will not factor into the team’s ninth-inning plans moving forward.

Hierarchy remains: *Smith | Rodney | Lowe.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s — Sean Doolittle, who was pitched in just one game this year, said this week he is working extremely hard to pitch again this season. “It looks like there’s a really good chance I’ll be pitching this year,” Doolittle said. We don’t envision Doolittle getting a save opportunity this year, but him getting in a few games this August or September could go a long way in helping you keeper-leaguers decide if he’s worth holding onto.

Hierarchy remains: Clippard | Mujica | Pomeranz.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Bruce Rondon, Detroit Tigers — Joakim Soria threw 30 pitches in Wednesday’s game and another 16 pitches Thursday, so he could get a breather Friday night.
2. Kevin Siegrist, St. Louis Cardinals — Closer Trevor Rosenthal has pitched in three straight games, so look for Kevin Siegrist to get the call if needed on Friday.

Jonathan Papelbon may remain in Philly after all

July 23, 2015

Philadelphia Phillies – ESPN’s Jayson Stark is reporting that trade talks about closer Jonathan Papelbon have stalled with the three most likely landing spots (Cubs, Dodgers, Blue Jays). This is bad news for anyone that was speculating on this trade. Ken Giles won’t get a shot while Papelbon is still around, and Papelbon would see more save opportunities with a contender. Philadelphia will still be shopping Papelbon around, and Papelbon himself is still clamoring to get out, but if these reports are true he may be stuck with the Phillies for the rest of the year. At least he got the win yesterday.

Hierarchy remains: Papelbon | Giles | Gomez.

Texas Rangers – Tanner Scheppers really worked for the win yesterday, giving up four runs in the 8th and ballooning his ERA to 5.63. He was bailed out when John Axford gave up a pair of runs to take the loss, but Scheppers has had a miserable run lately. Manager Jeff Banister gave him a vote of confidence, saying he has electric stuff and that he will still get the 8th, and sometimes the 7th, inning. Meanwhile, Keone Kela has gone three straight appearances without giving up a hit, and has only given up a single run in his last 10 outings. If Scheppers’ bad run continues, look for Spencer Patton to find his way into the late-inning mix as well.

Updated hierarchy: Tolleson | Kela | Scheppers.

Chicago Cubs – Jason Motte got the call in the second game of a doubleheader and locked down his sixth save of the year. He’s been outstanding since taking the lead of the committee, so much so that it’s time to kick the asterisk and call him the outright closer in Chicago (at least the North Side). Rafael Soriano is still lurking as a potential challenger, but it appears that the job is Motte’s to lose at this point.

Hierarchy remains: Motte | Rondon | Soriano.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Bruce Rondon, Detroit Tigers – Joakim Soria needed 30 pitches to pick up the save yesterday and may need the afternoon off.
2. Steve Delabar/Bo Schultz, Toronto Blue Jays – Roberto Osuna threw 32 pitches and took the loss in extra innings on Wednesday.
3. Edward Mujica, Oakland Athletics – Tyler Clippard hurled 40 pitches and blew the save yesterday.
4. Kevin Siegrist, St. Louis Cardinals – Trevor Rosenthal has required 28 pitches in back-to-back appearances and may get a rest.
5. Carter Capps, Miami Marlins – AJ Ramos has thrown 37 pitches over the past two days.

New team, same Neftali Feliz

July 22, 2015

Detroit Tigers – Neftali Feliz was tasked to protect a two-run lead in the 8th inning on Tuesday, and it didn’t go so well. Feliz ambled his way to a pair of outs before he threw a wild pitch and allowed a grand slam to blow the save. Joakim Soria didn’t warm up at any point in the 8th. Ausmus defended his decision to stick with Feliz, curious as it was, and we’re curious how soon he’ll go back to the former closer in a high-leverage spot.

Hierarchy remains: Soria | Rondon | Alburquerque.

Atlanta Braves – Former Royals reliever Jason Frasor has been terrific in 2015, and he has posted two holds in three appearances with the Braves since being released by Kansas City. Meanwhile David Aardsma doesn’t have a hold since July 7.

Updated hierarchy: Johnson | Vizcaino | Frasor.

Toronto Blue Jays — Toronto signed Joba Chamberlain to a minor league deal, but Chamberlain is not the pitcher the Jays are excited to eventually have in their beleaguered bullpen. Aaron Sanchez made his final rehab appearance in Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, and the former starter will join a bullpen that is desperate for help. Manager John Gibbons said Sanchez could return as early as Thursday.

Hierarchy remains: Osuna | Delabar | Schultz.

Chicago Cubs – The Cubs and Reds needed 13 innings to settle Tuesday’s tilt, and Justin Grimm was the beneficiary, picking up his second save of the season. Both of his saves this season have come in the 12th inning or later.

Hierarchy remains: *Motte | Rondon | Soriano.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs – Both Jason Motte and Hector Rondon pitched two innings on Tuesday and the Cubs and Reds are playing two on Wednesday.
2. Burke Badenhop, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched a ton lately, and even though he had Tuesday night off, a Wednesday doubleheader may mean Badenhop gets a look. J.J. Hoover blew his vulture chance on Tuesday.
3. Arodys Vizcaino, Atlanta Braves – Jim Johnson has pitched in back-to-back games.
4. Fernando Rodney, Seattle Mariners – Carson Smith was needed for a four-out save on Tuesday, and while Rodney also pitched, Lloyd McClendon may be more apt to run Rodney into the ground than overwork Smith.
5. Wade Davis, Kansas City Royals – Greg Holland needed 21 pitches to earn a not-so-sharp save on Tuesday, and the best team in the AL may rest Holland.

Jeanmar Gomez could soon be the 8th inning guy in Philly

July 21, 2015

Philadelphia Phillies – With set-up man Ken Giles given the night off after pitching in three straight games, right-hander Jeanmar Gomez was called on to pitch the eighth inning in front of Jonathan Papelbon. With a scoreless inning last night, Gomez’s ERA drops to 2.38 ERA on the season. We expect him to play a larger role in the late innings for the rest of the season, especially if Pap is shipped out.

Updated hierarchy: Papelbon | Giles | Gomez.

Arizona Diamondbacks – The Diamondbacks optioned Enrique Burgos and his 5.14 ERA to Triple-A Reno on Sunday. Veteran left-hander Oliver Perez will likely slide into Burgos’s role pitching in the late innings.

Updated hierarchy: Ziegler | Hudson | Perez.

Cincinnati Reds – After throwing 1 2/3 innings on Sunday, Manny Parra has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained elbow. We like Burke Badenhop to fill Parra’s role, but we also wouldn’t be surprised if the Reds return to Jumbo Diaz and his Jumbo ERA in the late innings. (But it shouldn’t matter who is out there as long as Brandon Phillips can make a play like this in the 7th inning of every game. Goodness gracious.)

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Hoover | Badenhop.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. J.J. Hoover, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has thrown 56 pitches in three innings in the last 2 days.
2. Daniel Hudson, Arizona Diamondbacks – Brad Ziegler was summoned for a 1.2 inning save last night, and needed 40 pitches to get the job done.