Hector Rondon’s elbow feels good, Sergio Romo blows another save

June 15, 2014

Chicago Cubs — Hector Rondon threw an 11 pitch bullpen session yesterday and said he felt good after it.  Rondon could be available to pitch as early as today.  Given Rondon’s injury history this is still something to monitor, but for now it looks like Rondon will be fine and resume closing out games for the Cubs.

Hierarchy remains: Rondon | Ramirez | Strop.

San Francisco Giants — Sergio Romo blew his second save in two days on Saturday.  Romo gave up 5 runs on Friday and 2 more yesterday.  Romo has been good all season and Bruce Bochy will remain patient with his closer so he is not in danger of losing his job at this point.

Hierarchy Remains: Romo | Machi | Lopez.

Detroit Tigers — Ian Krol recorded a 4 out save yesterday.  It wasn’t a typical save opportunity since the Tigers were still up 5 when Krol entered the game.  Joe Nathan should be available on Sunday so it will be interesting to see if Brad Ausmus will go to him if there is a save opportunity.

Hierarchy remains: Nathan | Chamberlain | Alburquerque.

Los Angeles Dodgers — Brian Wilson pitched a perfect 8th inning ahead of closer Kenley Jansen last night.  Wilson has only given up one run in his last 12 appearances and looks like he is working his way back into the Dodgers late-inning bullpen plans.

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | League | Wilson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Will Smith/Brandon Kintzler, Milwaukee Brewers – K-rod has pitched in 4 straight
2. Jeurys Familia, New York Mets – Jenrry Mejia could be unavailable again on Sunday with his hurt back.
3. Javier Lopez/Jeremy Affeldt, San Francisco Giants – Sergio Romo and Jean Machi have both pitched 3 games in a row

Neil Ramirez gets save with Rondon hurting, Joe Nathan has another rough outing

June 14, 2014

Chicago Cubs — Neil Ramirez got the call in the 9th inning last night to protect a two run lead.  He allowed one run on two hits and a walk but was able to pick up his 2nd save of the season.  Regular closer Hector Rondon was unavailable due to a sore elbow.  Rondon will throw a bullpen session on Saturday to test out the elbow.  He has a history of elbow issues, and if he will miss an extended period of time, Ramirez looks like the guy.

Hierarchy remains: Rondon | Ramirez | Strop.

Tampa Bay Rays — The Rays used Joel Peralta in the 8th inning last night with a 3 run lead.  They added 2 more runs in the top of the 9th so there was no save opportunity for anyone.  Jake McGee did end up coming on for the last out of the game and likely would have gotten the save if the Rays had not tacked on more runs.  Peralta was warming up for the save in the 9th the other night so it seems like this is a true committee.  We still like Peralta but we would also not be surprised if McGee saw the next save opportunity.

Updated hierarchy: Peralta | McGee | Balfour.

Detroit Tigers — Joe Nathan pitched for the first time since last Saturday, and, unfortunately for the Tigers, the rest didn’t seem to help.  The inning started off with an error by shortstop Eugenio Suarez to let the leadoff hitter reach base.  After that it wasn’t pretty for Nathan.  He threw a wild pitch, hit a batter, and walked two hitters, including one with the bases loaded, before being pulled.  Nathan was not happy about being pulled (as you can see if you can read lips in this GIF).  Manager Brad Ausmus continues to say that they need Nathan to pitch well, but with the Tigers lead shrinking in the AL Central, they might not be able to afford to keep sending Nathan out there in the 9th.

Hierarchy remains: Nathan | Chamberlain | Alburquerque.

New York Mets — The Mets do not expect closer Jenrry Mejia to need a DL stint after he had an MRI on his back on Friday.  However, Mejia is still expected to miss a few more days.  Familia pitched the 9th in a 4 run game last night and should see any save opportunities while Mejia is sidelined.

Hierarchy remains: Mejia | Familia | Black.

Toronto Blue Jays – Dustin McGowan recorded a five out save on Friday night.  Since moving to the bullpen in mid-May, McGowan has only given up 1 run in 11 appearances.  During that time he has picked up a win, a save, and five holds.  He should continue to see time in the later innings for the Blue Jays bullpen.

Updated hierarchy: Janssen | Cecil | McGowan.

Pittsburgh Pirates — The Pirates bullpen had a rough 9th inning last night.  They started the inning with a 4 run lead, but after Justin Wilson walked two batters, the Pirates had to call on closer Jason Grilli.  He gave up a hit and walked three more batters (one intentionally) and was pulled with the bases loaded and the Pirates clinging to a one run lead.  Mark Melancon came on and walked the first batter of the inning, the sixth walk of the inning for Pirates’ pitchers, and allowed the game-tying run to score.  Although Grilli was removed in the 9th last night we don’t think he is danger of losing his job.  He had converted five straight save chances.

Hierarchy remains: Grilli | Melancon | Watson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joba Chamberlain, Detroit Tigers – Joe Nathan threw 29 pitches and could be in danger of losing his job
2. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in 3 straight
3. Will Smith/Brandon Kintzler, Milwaukee Brewers – K-Rod has pitched in the last 3 games.
4. Jeurys Familia, New York Mets – Jenrry Mejia is likely unavailable with a sore back

Ryan Webb picks up another hold; Qualls finally human

June 13, 2014

New York Mets — Jenrry Mejia was pulled from the game in the eleventh inning on Thursday with what the Mets later explained was back stiffness. Mejia has been injury-prone in his career; we should know more about the seriousness of this situation soon.

Hierarchy remains: Mejia | Familia | Black.

Baltimore Orioles – Ryan Webb picked up his ninth hold of the season on Thursday and did so against the meat of Toronto’s lineup in the eighth inning, his one blemish a double by Jose Bautista. Darren O’Day got the night off after a 21-pitch outing on Wednesday and Tommy Hunter is still the next-likely arm to get a save opp if O’Day and Zach Britton struggle, but Webb is proving himself to be a fourth option for manager Buck Showalter.

Hierarchy remains: Britton | O’Day | Hunter.

Houston Astros – Chad Qualls blew just his second save of the season and allowed his first run since April 19 before the Astros walked off winners in the 10th. Prior to that, Darin Downs earned a hold with an inning of work spanning the seventh and eighth frames. However, the southpaw faced three lefties and won’t be a major factor in the Astros’ late-inning plans.

Hierarchy remains: Qualls | Sipp | Fields.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Darren O’Day, Baltimore Orioles — Zach Britton has pitched in back-to-back days.
2. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds — Aroldis Chapman has thrown 36 pitches over the last two days, including 21 on Thursday.
3. Tony Sipp/Josh Fields, Houston Astros — Chad Qualls has appeared on consecutive days and in three of the last four games.
4. Jeurys Familia, New York Mets — As noted above, Jenrry Mejia may be unavailable with an injury today.

Grant Balfour, of course, with a seven-out save

June 12, 2014

Tampa Bay Rays — Huh. In a one-run game, Joe Maddon summoned Juan Carlos Oviedo in the sixth, watched him get one out and hit a batter in the seventh, brought in Cesar Ramos as a LOOGY, and then let deposed closer Grant Balfour finish the inning. When the Rays scored two in the bottom of the seventh, Maddon sensed an opportunity to help the embattled Australian regain some confidence — so out he came to pitch a perfect eighth. And though Joel Peralta was up and warming prior to the ninth inning, it was Balfour who finished the game, earning a surprising 2.1-inning save. After the game, Maddon explained that the closer committee is still in effect, but it seems he’d like the Goose Gossage of New South Wales back in the role as soon as possible.

Updated hierarchy: Peralta | Balfour | McGee.

Texas Rangers — Tanner Scheppers came off the disabled list, made four appearances in six days, and promptly returned to the DL Wednesday — this time for a “prolonged shutdown period.” This is Texas’s 20th disabled list move of the season, which means that their next procedure with Dr. James Andrews is free.

Updated hierarchy: Soria | Frasor | Cotts.

Minnesota Twins — Casey Fien picked up an unusual save by coming in for the last out of the eighth with two on in a four-run game, then finishing the ninth up five. He relieved Jared Burton, who has been surprisingly bad this season, with as many earned runs as strikeouts. Lefty Brian Duensing’s peripherals are only slightly better, but his ERA is half that of Burton, and he’s been getting some seventh-inning love lately.

Updated hierarchy: Perkins | Fien | Duensing.

New York Mets — Vic Black appears to have nosed ahead of Carlos Torres in the New York bullpen.

Updated hierarchy: Mejia | Familia | Black.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Antonio Bastardo, Philadelphia Phillies — Jonathan Papelbon threw 28 pitches Tuesday and 17 pitches Wednesday.

Juan Carlos Oviedo might be next in line for Tampa

June 11, 2014

Tampa Bay Rays — It’s fun to talk about, but until the team finally wins a game, the Tampa closer committee will remain a matter for philosophers, theologians, and Seminole medicine men. Juan Carlos Oviedo might get the first shot at breaking the curse tomorrow, since Joel Peralta was used Tuesday in a high-leverage spot in the eighth, and Jake McGee followed him with a 20-pitch ninth. If that happens, we can’t rule out the possibility that Oviedo takes the job and runs with it, perhaps earning up to one save per month for the flailing Rays. Watch out for Kirby Yates as a dark horse candidate too; he’s been a lights-out closer for the AAA Durham Bulls.

Hierarchy remains: Peralta | McGee | Oviedo.

Miami Marlins — Since arriving in a trade from Pittsburgh on June 1, Bryan Morris has been immediately thrust into higher-leverage spots for the Marlins, including four eighth-inning appearances in the last five days. His ascent will allow Mike Redmond to use Mike Dunn in more of a matchup role.

Updated hierarchy: Cishek | Ramos | Morris.

New York Yankees — Shawn Kelley will be activated from the disabled list on Wednesday, but Joe Girardi will be careful with him for a while, avoiding use in back-to-back games. Dellin Betances and Adam Warren have been exemplary in Kelley’s absence.

Hierarchy remains: Robertson | Betances | Warren.

Atlanta Braves — Jordan Walden returned from the DL today after a month away, and we were all set to move him right into the Braves’ hierarchy — that is, until he entered Tuesday’s game with a four-run lead in the eighth and immediately issued three straight walks. Thanks to Shae Simmons, the Braves yielded only one run. Walden hasn’t historically struggled with control, but we’ll still wait to see what his next game holds before making the move.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Simmons | Carpenter.

Chicago Cubs — $4 million mistake Jose Veras was released today. Cubs fans, he can’t hurt you now. The bad man is gone.

Hierarchy remains: Rondon | Ramirez | Strop.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Juan Carlos Oviedo, Tampa Bay Rays — As noted above, if the Rays don’t give Joel Peralta the save opportunity Wednesday, it will likely go to Oviedo.
2. David Carpenter, Atlanta Braves — Craig Kimbrel struck out the side Tuesday with 11 pitches and 11 strikes, but it was his fourth night of work in the last five days. Shae Simmons has a similar usage pattern, leaving Carpenter as the best-rested option.
3. Luke Gregerson, Oakland A’s — Sean Doolittle threw 28 pitches in a two-inning outing.