Jake Petricka blows save while Matt Lindstrom works his way back from injury

August 3, 2014

Chicago White Sox — The White Sox had to call on Jake Petricka in the 8th inning last night trying to hold on to a one run lead.  He came on with two runners on and got the first man to ground out before giving up a go-ahead two run double.  Petricka was charged with a blown save but before the game Robin Ventura said that he has been impressed with Petricka in the closer’s role.  Matt Lindstrom, or Linstrom as the Charlotte Knights like to call him, threw an inning on Friday night and is expected to pitch every other day and could return to the White Sox as early as Thursday.

Hierarchy remains: Petricka | Belisario | Guerra.

Kansas City Royals — Since picking up a save a little over a week ago, Aaron Crow has given up 5 runs (4 earned) in 2.2 innings and the Royals used him in the 5th yesterday in a game they were losing.  Meanwhile, Kelvin Herrera pitched the 7th inning ahead of Wade Davis and Greg Holland on Wednesday and Friday nights and seems to has re-established himself as the best option behind those two guys.

Updated hierarchy: Holland | Davis | Herrera.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Ronald Belisario/Javy Guerra, Chicago White Sox – Jake Petricka has pitched in three straight.

Miller debuts for the O’s in big spot while Peralta has impressive outing

August 2, 2014

Baltimore Orioles — One day after trading for Andrew Miller, the Orioles threw their new big lefty reliever out there in the 8th inning to protect a one run lead.  He was brought on after a walk to Austin Jackson put the tying run on base and two lefties were due up next.  Miller has the ability to get out both righties and lefties but with right-handers O’Day and Hunter already in the back end of the O’s bullpen, Miller should get the call mostly against lefties in the later innings.  That being said, if anything were to happen to closer Zach Britton, Miller would likely be in the mix for saves.

Hierarchy remains: Britton | O’Day | Hunter.

Tampa Bay Rays – In his second appearance since coming off the DL, Joel Peralta  struck out the side on only 10 pitches.  McGee seems to have established himself as the Rays’ closer, but Joel Peralta could work his way back towards the set-up role with more outings like that.

Hierarchy remains: McGee | Boxberger | Balfour.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Aaron Crow, Kansas City Royals – Greg Holland and Wade Davis have both pitched in three straight.
2. Ronald Belisario, Chicago White Sox – Jake Petricka has pitched in two straight and three of the last four
3. Sam LeCure, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman and Jonathan Broxton have both pitched in two straight and four of the last five.

Two middle relievers get shipped to contenders; Qualls’ quandries continue

August 1, 2014

Chicago Cubs — Lefty reliever James Russell will have a chance to pitch for a contender after he was shipped to Atlanta as the trade deadline expired. Brian Schlitter, who picked up an eighth-inning hold on Thursday, his team-leading 12th of the season, is the likely candidate to pitch in front of Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon until Kyuji Fujikawa completes his rehab stint next week.

Updated hierarchy: Rondon | Strop | Schlitter.

Baltimore Orioles — The Orioles acquired lefty Andrew Miller from the Red Sox on Thursday as GM Dan Duquette added depth to an already strong Baltimore bullpen. Miller, who is effective against batters on both sides of the plate, is expected to help Tommy Hunter and Darren O’Day set up closer Zach Britton. After Hunter threw 25 pitches in Thursday’s 13-inning loss, Miller may get called upon on Friday in a high-leverage spot.

Hierarchy remains: Britton | O’Day | Hunter.

Atlanta Braves — The Braves added a lefty to their bullpen on Thursday when they brought over James Russell from the Cubs. Russell will add a veteran presence to the bullpen and will be more than a lefty specialist, according to manager Fredi Gonzalez.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Walden | Varvaro.

Houston Astros — After Josh Fields allowed the tying run in the eighth inning, Chad Qualls suffered his second loss in as many days by allowing the game-winning home run in the ninth. Qualls isn’t in any danger of losing his job, but fantasy owners will be hoping he gets back to his consistent form as quickly as Nolan Reimold’s homer left Minute Maid Park on Thursday night.

Hierarchy remains: Qualls | Fields | Sipp.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs — Hector Rondon has pitched in each of the last two games while Strop has had the last two days off.
2. Wade Davis/Aaron Crow, Kansas City Royals — Greg Holland has tossed 42 pitches over his last two appearances, while Davis has thrown 30 over that same two-day stretch.

Kyuji Fujikawa ready to return to Chicago

July 31, 2014

Chicago Cubs — After an inquiry from the Players Association about their unusual demotion of Neil Ramirez, the Cubs elected to place him on the disabled list with a sore right arm. Meanwhile, Kyuji Fujikawa made a scoreless appearance for Iowa, perhaps his final rehab outing before returning to the big club.

Updated hierarchy: Rondon | Strop | Russell.

Arizona Diamondbacks — On the eve of the trade deadline, Addison Reed picked up another ugly save, inheriting two runners and allowing them to score via home run. Rumors this week continue to suggest that Reed is available, while Brad Ziegler is untouchable.

Hierarchy remains: Reed | Ziegler | Marshall.

Washington Nationals — With Rafael Soriano unavailable for the second straight day after heavy recent use, Matt Williams kept Tyler Clippard in the eighth inning and used Drew Storen for the save opportunity. Storen gave up a solo home run and put the winning run on base, but managed to escape. Clippard got the last vulture save opp a month back, and he might get the next too, given Storen’s struggles.

Hierarchy remains: Soriano | Clippard | Storen.

Colorado Rockies — A 27-pitch outing by LaTroy Hawkins on Tuesday was tiring enough to require the services of Adam Ottavino as closer on Wednesday.

Hierarchy remains: Hawkins | Ottavino | Brothers.

Chicago White Sox — Nate Jones suffered a UCL tear during rehab from his back surgery; after undergoing Tommy John surgery on Tuesday, he is expected to be out for the next 12 to 18 months. Matt Lindstrom starts a rehab assignment on Friday.

Hierarchy remains: Petricka | Belisario | Guerra.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Darren O’Day/Tommy Hunter, Baltimore Orioles — Zach Britton has pitched in three of four, and has thrown 39 pitches in the last two days. O’Day has seen similar usage.

Another Hitch for Will Smith

July 30, 2014

Milwaukee Brewers — With only one earned run allowed in his first 26 innings, we started the season with Men in Black Will Smith: a man astride his craft, untouchable by mere mortals. A few hiccups in June downgraded him to Hancock — a flawed, complicated hero — and when he started July with nine runs in two innings, he had become a full-fledged Wild Wild West, worth watching only when Salma Hayek was with him. Smith climbed back up to Shark Tale (good intentions; poor aim) with some mid-July success, but after allowing three runs in a third of an inning on Tuesday night, he hit rock bottom. After Earth. Jim Henderson’s last scheduled rehab session was rained out on Tuesday, but once the Brewers activate him, Smith should transition into more of a DJ Jazzy Jeff.

Hierarchy remains: Rodriguez | Kintzler | Smith.

Atlanta Braves — Shae Simmons’s recent struggles have been explained by a shoulder strain that has landed him on the disabled list. Anthony Varvaro should take Simmons’s place even after a rough outing on Tuesday, completing his heartwarming comeback from a broken leg in the 2006 Preakness. Recently recalled Juan Jaime has great stuff, but also walked almost a man an inning at AAA.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Walden | Varvaro.

Houston Astros — After a clean eighth from Josh Fields put Houston in the rare position to close out Oakland, Chad Qualls gave up five runs to pick up the loss. After the game, Bo Porter defended Qualls, saying that he has been the team’s best reliever all year. And Tony Sipp and his overlooked 12.2 K/9 ratio shed a single tear.

Hierarchy remains: Qualls | Fields | Sipp.

San Diego Padres — Still a “good chance” that Joaquin Benoit gets traded in the next few days, opening the door for Kevin Quackenbush.

Hierarchy remains: Benoit | Quackenbush | Thayer.

Philadelphia Phillies — Jonathan Papelbon certainly isn’t making it any easier on the Phillies, refusing to waive his no-trade clause for any team that won’t promise to let him close. A real stand-up guy, that Paps.

Hierarchy remains: Papelbon | Giles | Bastardo.

Colorado Rockies — LaTroy Hawkins is coveted by five or six teams as a set-up guy, but his strong influence in the clubhouse makes him very unlikely to move this week.

Hierarchy remains: Hawkins | Ottavino | Brothers.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Danny Farquhar, Seattle Mariners — Fernando Rodney’s 20-pitch outing on Tuesday was his fourth in the last five days.
2. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds — Aroldis Chapman has pitched on three out of four days.
3. Dustin McGowan, Toronto Blue Jays — Casey Janssen has been used in three of four.
4. Dellin Betances/Adam Warren, New York Yankees — It was a tough night for all the Yankees relievers, but David Robertson labored through 31 pitches.