Cody Allen picks up save, Chapman close to returning

May 10, 2014

Cleveland Indians — Cody Allen recorded his first save of the season last night.  The Indians brought on John Axford for the 9th with a 4-run lead.  Axford gave up 2 hits and 2 walks and Cody Allen came on with the bases loaded.  Allen got James Loney to fly out for his first save of the season.  Axford has given up 5 runs in his last 4 outings, including 2 losses, and Allen could take over as closer if Axford’s struggles continue.

Hierarchy remains: Axford | Allen | Shaw. John Axford to Hot Seat.

Los Angeles Angels — The Angels sent Ernesto Frieri to the mound to protect a 1-run lead last night, and he responded by striking out the side to convert his second straight save opportunity.  Joe Smith was used in the 8th inning, and although the Angels are saying he could still see some saves based on match-ups, Frieri seems to have re-established himself as the the primary closer.

Hierarchy remains: Frieri | Smith | Kohn.

Cincinnati Reds — Jonathan Broxton recorded his first blown save of the season last night.  Closer Aroldis Chapman could be activated as soon as today so Broxton’s days as closer are close to coming to an end anyway.

Hierarchy remains: Broxton | LeCure | Marshall.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Aaron Loup, Toronto Blue Jays – Brett Cecil and Steve Delabar pitched last night so Loup could get the call today.
2. Anthony Bass, Houston Astros – Chad Qualls and Anthony Bass are sharing the late innings in Houston.

Andrew Miller, Jason Frasor move up to 8th inning roles

May 9, 2014

Boston Red Sox – The Red Sox were idle on Thursday, but with set-up man Junichi Tazawa struggling, they’re talking about an increased role for hard-throwing lefty Andrew Miller. Miller, once a megaprospect with the Tigers, had a great 2013 in relief for Boston and has been even better this year, posting a 1.84 ERA thus far with 20 strikeouts in just 14.2 innings. Until Tazawa figures stuff out, it sounds as if John Farrell will start using Miller as his 8th inning guy, and possibly as a fill-in closer when Koji Uehara needs a night off.

Hierarchy change: Uehara | Miller | Tazawa.

Baltimore Orioles – Tommy Hunter got the night off on Thursday after two rather challenging saves on each of the previous two days, and Zach Britton was also unavailable, having thrown 3.1 innings over the previous four games. That left Darren O’Day to pick up a vulture save; the submariner will continue sharing set-up duties with Britton going forward.

Hierarchy remains: Hunter | Britton | O’Day.

Texas Rangers – Alexi Ogando’s ugly 2014 continued earlier this week, as he was given a low-leverage 6th inning to sort himself out and responded by giving up 4 ERs. Last night, it was Jason Frasor who got the 8th inning ahead of Joakim Soria, and Frasor pitched a perfect inning to lower his ERA to 1.50. On nights when Soria is unavailable, it seems much more likely that Frasor would get a save opp than Ogando at this point. Ogando, who currently has an ERA over 8, needs to improve quickly or he could fall off the Texas hierarchy entirely.

Hierarchy change: Soria | Frasor | Ogando.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Danny Farquhar, Seattle Mariners – Fernando Rodney has pitched in back to back games and three of four.
2. AJ Ramos/Mike Dunn, Miami Marlins – Steve Cishek has pitched on back to back days and three of four (and five of seven).
3. Steve Delabar/Aaron Loup, Toronto Blue Jays – We expect Brett Cecil to get the majority of save opps until Casey Janssen’s return, but Steve Delabar and Aaron Loup could get chances, too.
4. Anthony Bass, Houston Astros – Chad Qualls and Anthony Bass are sharing the late innings in Houston.

Jim Johnson is a closer again; “lunging” hobbles Pedro Strop

May 8, 2014

Oakland A’s — Jim Johnson got the ball in the ninth inning with a 2-0 lead, and retired the side to record just his second save of the season. An easy final three outs hasn’t been Johnson’s strong suit, but it appears as if he’ll get Oakland’s save opportunities moving forward. Should he slip again, expect Luke Gregerson to return to the ninth.

Hierarchy change: Johnson | Gregerson | Doolittle.

Chicago Cubs — Lunging didn’t agree with Pedro Strop’s groin, and now the righthander will hit the disabled list for as long as a month. Lefthander James Russell and former handlebar mustache aficionado Carlos Villanueva could stand to benefit; note also that Jose Veras, rehabbing from an oblique injury and a morbidly obese ERA, pitched a perfect inning on Tuesday in double-A.

Hierarchy change: Rondon | Grimm | Russell.

Baltimore Orioles — Converted starter Zach Britton continues to ascend in the Baltimore bullpen; he’s picked up two straight eighth-inning holds for the O’s.

Hierarchy change: Hunter | Britton | O’Day.

Washington Nationals — With another scoreless inning tonight, Rafael Soriano extended his streak to 25 straight games and innings. The last time he gave up an earned run — August 23, 2013 — was also the last time we had a legitimate Nats bullpen update. See you next year, Raf.

Hierarchy remains: Soriano | Clippard | Storen.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Cody Allen, Cleveland Indians — John Axford threw 26 pitches on Wednesday and has gone on four of the last five days.

J.J. Putz hits the DL; Aroldis Chapman not cut out for Triple-A

May 7, 2014

Arizona Diamondbacks – J.J. Putz has been moved to the disabled list due to the dreaded forearm tightness. Oliver Perez and Joe Thatcher should see their roles expand in his absence.

Hierarchy change: Reed | Ziegler | Perez.

Los Angeles Angels — Ernesto Frieri enraged the insane Twitter user contingent of the Angel fan base by giving up his sixth home run in 14 1/3 innings to lose to the Yankees. Meanwhile, Joe Smith has been battling tightness in his right side. It’s hard out here for Mike Scioscia.

Hierarchy remains: Frieri | Smith | Kohn.

Oakland A’s — Down a run late, the Athletics went to Sean Doolittle, Luke Gregerson, and then Jim Johnson, in what appeared to be another attempt to ease Johnson back into the closer’s role. That process may have been derailed after Johnson surrendered four runs (three earned) in 2/3 of an inning. No hierarchy change.

Hierarchy remains: Gregerson | Johnson | Doolittle.

Cincinnati Reds — The Norfolk Tides had Aroldis Chapman’s number on Tuesday afternoon, picking up five runs in just 2/3 of an inning. Chapman was a botched double play away from escaping the inning at 1-0, however, and he could rejoin the Reds this weekend.

Hierarchy remains: Broxton | LeCure | Marshall.

Toronto Blue Jays — With Brett Cecil resting, John Gibbons used lefty Aaron Loup for a two-out save against lefties Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. Matchups are likely to continue to dictate Toronto save situations until the return of Casey Janssen, possibly early next week.

Hierarchy remains: Cecil | Delabar | Loup.

Boston Red Sox — Edward Mujica’s right oblique felt fine after a Tuesday bullpen session, and he’s likely to avoid the disabled list.

Hierarchy remains: Uehara | Tazawa | Mujica.

Cleveland Indians — After eight weeks, we finally have a reason to talk about the Indians’ bullpen: Bryan Shaw’s vulture save last night, in lieu of the tired John Axford.

Hierarchy remains: Axford | Allen | Shaw.

Chicago White Sox — Frank Francisco’s stats so far at AAA Charlotte: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 11 K. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Hierarchy remains: Lindstrom | Belisario | Webb.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joaquin Benoit, San Diego Padres — Huston Street has pitched in three straight games.
2. Michael Kohn, Los Angeles Angels — Ernesto Frieri has pitched on four of the last five days, and Joe Smith is day-to-day.
3. Wade Davis, Kansas City Royals — Greg Holland’s pitch count has been low, but he has worked in three straight games.
4. Fernando Abad/Sean Doolittle, Oakland Athletics — The A’s have a doubleheader on Wednesday, and both Luke Gregerson and Jim Johnson have been worked heavily.