Tanner Scheppers returns, gets immediate 8th inning assignment

June 6, 2014

Chicago Cubs – Hector Rondon got a night off after pitching the previous two games, so Neil Ramirez picked up the save in his place. For a last place team, the Cubs sure do have a great tandem at the back end of their bullpen, as Ramirez (0.68 ERA, 21 Ks in 13.1 innings) and Rondon (1.46 ERA, 27 Ks in 24.2 innings) have been nearly unhittable.

Hierarchy remains: Rondon | Ramirez | Strop.

Texas Rangers – Tanner Scheppers, one of the best set-up men in baseball last year, has officially returned to the bullpen after a failed experiment in the starting rotation. His first assignment was an 8th inning hold opportunity, and though he gave up a solo home run to Adam Jones, he finished the inning off without any other damage.  We expect that the righty will soon regain the form that nearly made him an All Star last year, and once he proves his effectiveness — as well as his ability to pitch in back-to-back games — he could get a save chance or two when Joakim Soria is unavailable.

Updated hierarchy: Soria | Frasor | Scheppers.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Wade Davis, Kansas City Royals – Greg Holland has pitched in three straight.

Rex Brothers melts down

June 5, 2014

Colorado Rockies – Colorado led 8-5 when Rex Brothers entered in the eighth inning. But Rex yielded four singles and a walk, and all five of those batters came around to score, increasing his ERA to 19.29 over his last six appearances. The Rockies wound up losing 16-8. Although there was immediate speculation that Brothers might get sent down to AAA to clear a roster spot for prospect Eddie Butler, Walt Weiss wouldn’t confirm the rumor. We’d slide Matt Belisle into his hierarchy slot, but he gave up five runs of his own in the ninth, so Rex stays one more day.

Hierarchy remains: Hawkins | Ottavino | Brothers.

Texas Rangers — After giving up three runs in one-third of an inning on Tuesday, Alexi Ogando complained of elbow soreness, and now finds himself on the DL for the third straight June. Although Tanner Scheppers has given up three home runs in 3.2 AAA innings during his minor league rehab assignment, he worked out with the big league club on Wednesday, and could soon be called on for high-leverage work. In the meantime, Neal Cotts moves into Ogando’s spot, especially since Aaron Poreda’s recall gives the Rangers another lefty arm in the bullpen.

Updated hierarchy: Soria | Frasor | Cotts.

St. Louis Cardinals — Carlos Martinez had a truly awful May, which has forced Mike Matheny to pull him from eighth-inning work in favor of Pat Neshek, whose 22-game scoreless streak ended on Tuesday. Although Neshek has the prime setup job — and picked up an 11th-inning save of his own on Wednesday — if Trevor Rosenthal is unable to go on any particular night, it will likely be former closer Jason Motte who fills in for him.

Updated hierarchy: Rosenthal | Motte | Neshek.

Chicago Cubs — Pedro Strop, in his second appearance back from the disabled list, shut down the Mets with a one-run lead in the eighth.

Updated hierarchy: Rondon | Ramirez | Strop.

San Diego Padres — Nick Vincent has been consistently used in the seventh inning to get to Joaquin Benoit and Huston Street, and he may have edged ahead of Dale Thayer in the Padres pen.

Updated hierarchy: Street | Benoit | Vincent.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. A.J. Ramos, Miami Marlins — Steve Cishek needed 31 pitches to get Wednesday’s save, and he’s thrown 68 while pitching on three of the last four days.
2. Jason Motte, St. Louis Cardinals — Trevor Rosenthal blew a save last night and has pitched on two straight days.

Joe Nathan to Hot Seat; Ryan Cook returns

June 4, 2014

Detroit Tigers — Hometown hero RoboCop threw out Tuesday’s first pitch; even his bounced eephus looked good up against the offerings of closer Joe Nathan, who yielded four runs in one-third of an inning to raise his ERA to 6.86. Nathan’s reduced velocity and deteriorating command has put Brad Ausmus in a difficult position: stick with his $10 million man, who reports feeling “damn good,” or give Joba Chamberlain and his 10-game scoreless streak a shot. After last night’s game, Ausmus made no promises, saying only that he wouldn’t discuss the issue publicly without talking to Nathan first. Joba is the heir apparent, but if RoboCop is still available in your league, do yourself a favor and buy that for a dollar.

Joe Nathan to Hot Seat.

Los Angeles Angels — Michael Kohn was sent to the minor leagues on Tuesday after battling some control problems recently. Promoted to replace him was former first-round pick Cam Bedrosian, who boasts 45 strikeouts in 24 low-minor innings, and could ascend quickly. For now, Kohn’s spot in the hierarchy should be filled by Fernando Salas or, better yet, impressive 23-year-old rookie Mike Morin — but this being Mike Scioscia’s team, our money is on the pedestrian Kevin Jepsen, who pitched after both of those guys on Tuesday. In his defense, Jepsen hasn’t allowed a run in his last 10 outings, and has shown an improved strikeout rate.

Updated hierarchy: Frieri | Smith | Jepsen.

Oakland A’s — Ryan Cook was reactivated from the disabled list on Tuesday and, although he didn’t make it into the game, Bob Melvin had him warming along with lefty Fernando Abad in a tied seventh inning. If Cook can return to form, he should move into a seventh-inning role right away.

Updated hierarchy: Doolittle | Gregerson | Cook.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Brad Ziegler, Arizona Diamondbacks — Addison Reed has pitched on three of the last four days.
2. John Axford/Bryan Shaw, Cleveland Indians — Cody Allen has pitched in two straight, four of five, and six of eight. Shaw pitched in three straight before Tuesday’s day off. Meanwhile, Axford hasn’t pitched in a week, but is aching to get back to his old role.

Kevin Gregg back with the Marlins

June 3, 2014

Miami Marlins – An old friend has returned to Miami, as the Marlins signed former closer Kevin Gregg to a minor-league contract. They plan to call him up after a couple weeks in the minors, but despite 33 saves for the Cubs last season, Gregg is not expected to factor into the Marlins’ late-inning plans.

Hierarchy remains: Cishek | Ramos | Dunn.

Cleveland Indians — Bryan Shaw had a tough go of it in the eighth inning of Monday’s 3-2 win against the Red Sox, giving up a two-run homer before ceding way to Marc Rzepczynski, who recorded the final out of the frame. However, Shaw can smile knowing he isn’t this Bryan Shaw, who had a much worse Monday.

Hierarchy remains: Allen | Shaw | Axford.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. A.J. Ramos, Miami Marlins – Steve Cishek has pitched in back-to-back games.

Aaron Loup earning a more defined role in Toronto bullpen

June 2, 2014

Toronto Blue Jays – Up by four runs in the 9th inning, the Blue Jays went to Aaron Loup, who pitched a clean inning to close the game out.  Loup’s role has been difficult to define for much of the past season and a half — at various times, he’s been everything from the long man to the backup closer.  But over the past few weeks, the Jays have been using him more often as a 1-inning guy, and have been going to him in some key late inning spots.  Expect him to split the 8th inning with fellow lefty Brett Cecil going forward.

Updated hierarchy: Janssen | Cecil | Loup.

Atlanta Braves – With both Craig Kimbrel and David Carpenter unavailable, the Braves went to rookie Shae Simmons in the 9th inning. Simmons, who was just called up two days ago (much to his own surprise), allowed three base runners but nailed down his first career save.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Carpenter | Varvaro.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Antonio Bastardo, Philadelphia Phillies – Jonathan Papelbon has pitched in three straight.
2. Adam Warren, New York Yankees – David Robertson has pitched in back to back games, throwing 54 pitches.
3. Mark Melancon, Pittsburgh Pirates – Jason Grilli has pitched in three of four and four of six, throwing 74 pitches in that span. Given his recent return, Mark Melancon might get the save opp tonight.