Jordan Walden hits the DL; Miguel Castro sent down

May 4, 2015

St. Louis Cardinals – Jordan Walden has been placed on the disabled list with a biceps injury. Look for Seth Maness and Kevin Siegrist to carry more of the 8th inning load going forward.

Updated hierarchy: Rosenthal | Maness | Siegrist.

San Diego Padres – Recently-recalled Kevin Quackenbush got his first hold of the year on Sunday, pitching the 7th inning ahead of Joaquin Benoit and Craig Kimbrel. Quackenbush might see more hold opportunities going forward, especially if Joaquin Benoit’s “dead arm” turns into something more significant.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Benoit | Quackenbush.

Toronto Blue Jays – Miguel Castro, Toronto’s de facto closer just a week ago, has been sent to AAA. It’s probably safe to cut bait on him at this point.

Hierarchy remains: Cecil | Osuna | Loup.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Seth Maness, St. Louis Cardinals – Trevor Rosenthal has pitched in three straight.
2. Dellin Betances, New York Yankees – Andrew Miller needed 32 pitches to get the save last night.

Betances records save for Yankees

May 3, 2015

New York Yankees –Dellin Betances picked up his first save of the season yesterday.  The Yankees wanted to give Andrew Miller the day off on Saturday and that allowed Betances to look dominant in the closers’ role for one night, as he struck out all four batters that he faced on only 14 pitches.  Miller should still see the majority of save chances, but Betances proved that he can get the job done if the Yankees want to give Miller extra rest at any point during the season.

Hierarchy remains: Miller | Betances | Martin.

Los Angeles Dodgers — Chris Hatcher got the call in the 9th last night and converted for his second save of the season.  Although Hatcher got the save, it was Yimi Garcia who faced the middle of the order in the 8th inning.  Garcia appears to the most important pitcher coming out of the Dodgers’ bullpen, and that should mean some save chances, but could also mean he is needed before the 9th on occasion.

Updated hierarchy: *Garcia | Hatcher | Baez.
*closer-by-committee

Baltimore Orioles — Brad Brach came on with 2 men on base and 2 outs in the 8th inning to protect a four run lead.  He got Steven Souza to foul out and then came back to pitch a perfect 9th for his first career save.  Brach has gotten off to solid start to the season and it appears the Orioles are starting to trust him in higher leverage situations.

Updated hierarchy: Britton | O’Day | Brach.

Minnesota Twins – The Twins activated Brian Duensing from the DL on Saturday and immediately inserted him into a tight situation in the 8th inning.  He ended up walking the only batter he faced, but he had a hold and a save before going on the DL and should continue to see time in the later innings.

Updated hierarchy: Perkins | Thompson | Duensing.

San Diego Padres — Brandon Maurer pitched a perfect 7th and 8th ahead of closer Craig Kimbrel last night.  The Padres’ usual setup man, Joaquin Benoit, has been battling dead arm and was unavailable.  Benoit is hoping to avoid a stint on the DL but if he continues to miss time, Brandon Maurer and Dale Thayer should fill in for him.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Benoit | Thayer.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jordan Walden, St. Louis Cardinals – Trevor Rosenthal has pitched in two straight and three of four.
2. Chris Hatcher, Los Angeles Dodgers – Chris Hatcher could get the call on any given night.
3. Aaron Thompson/Brian Duensing, Minnesota Twins – Glen Perkins has appeared in back-to-back games.

Keone Kela becoming a reliever to watch

May 2, 2015

Washington Nationals – Blake Treinen’s wildness cost him again last night, as he entered the game with two men on base, walked the first hitter he faced, and then gave up a 3-run double. Treinen has now issued 7 free passes in 11.1 innings, and has a WHIP approaching 2. Aaron Barrett is now the reliever more likely to get a save chance on nights when Drew Storen is unavailable.

Updated hierarchy: Storen | Barrett | Treinen.

Tampa Bay Rays – Steve Geltz struck out two hitters in a perfect 7th inning ahead of Kevin Jepsen and Brad Boxberger. His impressive outing comes on the back of an even better one on Wednesday, when he struck out five consecutive Yankees. The righty now has 16 Ks in 12.2 IPs, to go along with a tidy ERA (2.84) and WHIP (0.87).

Updated hierarchy: *Boxberger | Jepsen | Geltz.

Texas Rangers – Summoned in the 8th inning to bail out the rest of the Rangers terrible bullpen, Neftali Feliz couldn’t hold the lead, allowing two inherited runners to score along with one of his own. The only prominent Rangers reliever who came away from this game looking good was Keone Kela, who pitched a clean 9th inning after the Feliz got knocked out. Feliz’s seat gets warmer, and Kela might be the guy who replaces him.

Updated hierarchy: Feliz | Kela | Tolleson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Chad Qualls, Houston Astros – Luke Gregerson has pitched in three straight.
2. Carlos Torres, New York Mets – Jeurys Familia had a relatively efficient outing yesterday, but it stretched 1.2 innings. It was his first multi-inning appearance of the year, and he might need a day off.

Weekly Hot Seat update: May 1, 2015

Hot Seat spotlight:

This week, the spotlight shines on Steve Cishek, who has struggled with both command and velocity in the early going. To the naked eye, Cishek hasn’t been quite as bad as his 9.82 ERA suggests. Take away his two worst outings, and he’s only allowed one run and three baserunners in six appearances. The problem is that those two bad outings were really, really bad. His first outing of the year was a meaningless appearance in a blowout, but he allowed four earned runs and only recorded one out. He then allowed a three-run home run to Daniel Murphy on Monday, on a pitch when he badly missed his target on the outside corner. Cishek probably has another blown save or two before the Marlins give someone else a chance, but given the year that A.J. Ramos is having (12.2 IP, 18 Ks, 4 BBs, 1.42 ERA), the Marlins clearly has an alternative. Cishek’s next outings bear watching.

Quick takes on the committees:

Tampa Bay Rays – Nothing much has changed since last week in terms of how Kevin Cash is deploying his relievers and Brad Boxberger should still see the majority — but not all — of the save chances. What may complicate things going forward is the return of Jake McGee, who could be back as early as May 5.

Los Angeles Dodgers – It took a month, but the best reliever in the Los Angeles bullpen finally got a save last week. Yimi Garcia, who has racked up 19 Ks in 11.2 innings thus far, has become the best Dodgers reliever to own until Kenley Jansen’s return.

Other Hot Seat notes: Craig Kimbrel gave up three runs on Wednesday, the third outing in his last four where he’s been scored upon. His ERA sits at 5.19. He’s got such a remarkable track record that he’d have to go another few outings before his job was in jeopardy, though… Mark Melancon, who headlined last week’s Hot Seat column, has since put up 4 straight scoreless outings, nabbing three saves in the process. He’s earned himself a longer leash… Addison Reed has given up a run in 3 of his 7 outings this year, and he just took his first loss of the year on Saturday. His seat is warming… Tyler Clippard continues to make us a little nervous. His ratios improved last week — 6 Ks and 1 BB over three outings — but he also blew his first save.

Adam Ottavino ‘definitely worried’ about injury; Casey Fien hits DL

May 1, 2015

Minnesota Twins – Twins setup man Casey Fien was placed on the disabled list due to soreness in his shoulder. For now, we’ll slide Aaron Thompson to the first-in-line slot and Blaine Boyer behind him, but keep an eye on Brian Duensing, who could be activated from the DL this weekend and may sneak back into the Closer Monkey hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Perkins | Thompson | Boyer.

Chicago White Sox – In a meaningless, no-pressure spot in the ninth inning Thursday night, Jake Petricka allowed three runs on four hits to balloon his ERA to 7.20. Robin Ventura could continue to give Petricka a breather from the high-pressure situations. Look for Dan Jennings to fill in more in the late innings, as he has become a reliable arm in the pen (BAA of .147 in 9 appearances).

Updated hierarchy: Robertson | Duke | Jennings.

Colorado Rockies – As a fantasy owner, these are words you do not want to hear from an injured closer due back soon: “I’m definitely worried,” Adam Ottavino told reporters. “It’s kind of weird. I haven’t had any elbow/triceps issues in my whole career.” Ottavino also revealed he will be shut down for a while and is “in a holding pattern.” It could be at least a few weeks before we see him again, and by then, John Axford could have the job secured.

Hierarchy remains: Axford | Betancourt | Logan.

Oakland A’s – Injured A’s closer Sean Doolittle (shoulder strain) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session on Thursday, and could begin a rehab assignment next week. If that goes well, he could be in line to return to Oakland by Memorial Day and would certainly figure into manager Bob Melvin’s late-inning plans.

Hierarchy remains: Clippard | Scribner | Cook.

Tampa Bay Rays – Rays reliever Jake McGee said he “felt good” in a rehab outing Wednesday allowing no runs, hits or walks in an inning of work at Single-A. McGee believes he’ll pitch again for Single-A on Friday or Saturday before beginning a rehab stint with Triple-A Durham. If all goes well, he will certainly toss his name into Tampa Bay’s late-innings hat.

Hierarchy remains: *Boxberger | Jepsen | Frieri.
* closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joe Smith/Mike Morin, Los Angeles Angels: Huston Street, Joe Smith and Mike Morin have all pitched in two straight games. Should a save situation arise, Street may get called upon again, but LA could go with backup options should Street need a break.