Wilton Lopez’s struggles continue; Joaquin Benoit’s usage worth watching

April 13, 2013

Toronto Blue Jays – Aaron Loup picked up a three-inning save on Friday.  Loup has pitched well to start the season, but doesn’t factor in to the Blue Jays late inning hierarchy just yet.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Janssen |Santos |Oliver |Santos |4/13/13

 
Colorado Rockies – Former Astros closer Wilton Lopez continued his awful start to the season, allowing two more runs in the 7th inning to push his ERA to 12.46.  Rex Brothers got the win after throwing a clean 8th and has been pitching alongside Matt Belisle in high-leverage spots for the Rockies thus far.  Hierarchy change: Rex Brothers to 2nd in line, replacing Wilton Lopez.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCOL |Betancourt |Belisle |Brothers |Betancourt |4/13/13

 
Detroit Tigers – Jim Leyland said earlier this week that Joaquin Benoit would be his 9th inning man in most situations, though added a few caveats, namely that Benoit needed to stay fresh to be effective, so would only sometimes pitch on back-to-back days and definitely could never go three in a row.  Like with all things related to Leyland and the Detroit closer situation, we figured we’d believe it when we saw it.  However, last night in an extra inning game on the road, Benoit was warming for a potential save opportunity late in the game, and is now worth stashing, especially if you have Phil Coke and want to monopolize Tigers saves.  If Benoit gets the next save opp, he’ll likely pass Coke as the Detroit reliever you most want to own, if you only have room for one.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedDET |Coke |Benoit |Alburquerque|Rondon |4/13/13

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Santiago Casilla, San Francisco Giants – Sergio Romo has pitched in two straight and four of the last five.
2. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres – Huston Street has pitched in back to back games and thrown 40 pitches, including a blown save last night.

Rhiner Cruz pitching well in Houston; Kenley Jansen picks up save

April 12, 2013

Cincinnati Reds – After not pitching for the first week of the season, the Reds finally put Sean Marshall on the DL earlier this week.  Sam LeCure has been pitching in some important spots thus far, and has started the season having allowed only 1 run in 5 innings.  Hierarchy change: Sam LeCure to 2nd in line, Sean Marshall to DL. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Broxton |LeCure |Broxton |4/12/13 |Marshall(DL) |

 
Los Angeles Dodgers – Brandon League had the night off after a 30-pitch outing on Wednesday, so Kenley Jansen got the save last night.  League’s job is not in jeopardy at the moment.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedLAD |League |Jansen |Belisario |Jansen |4/12/13

 
Houston Astros – Josh Fields was placed on the DL earlier this week, adding more uncertainty to the least-defined bullpen in baseball.  The Astros are yet to have a save opportunity, so little is known outside of closer Jose Veras.  Rhiner Cruz pitched the 8th inning ahead of Veras in a blowout a few days ago, and he’s had the best start of any Astros reliever, with a 1.69 ERA in five appearances.  Hierarchy change: Rhiner Cruz to Set-up, Hector Ambriz to 2nd in line, Josh Fields to DL.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Veras |Cruz |Ambriz |Veras |4/12/13

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Drew Storen, Washington Nationals – Rafael Soriano has pitched in three straight.

Another save for Kelvin Herrera; Jake McGee ascending

April 11, 2013

Kansas City Royals – Kelvin Herrera picked up his second save of the season on Wednesday, striking out three Twins in the process.  Greg Holland had the night off after a heavy workload on Tuesday, and remains on the Hot Seat, especially given how impressive Herrera has been in the early going.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedKC |Holland |Herrera |Crow |Holland |4/11/13

 
Tampa Bay Rays – Jake McGee pitched the 7th inning last night, a role he has settled into nicely.  Kyle Farnsworth, meanwhile, hasn’t pitched in many high-leverage situations in the early going.  Hierarchy change: Jake McGee to 2nd in line, replacing Kyle Farnsworth.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedTB |Rodney |Peralta |McGee |Rodney |4/11/13

Rosenthal holds his 8th inning post; wholesale changes in Milwaukee

April 10, 2013

St. Louis Cardinals – A day after his bullpen completely melted down, Mike Matheny used his relievers the same way he had all season: Edward Mujica for the 7th, Trevor Rosenthal for the 8th, and Mitchell Boggs for the 9th.  Matheny had said he would leave Boggs in the closer role for now, so his usage was no surprise, but Rosenthal’s status as the set-up man was up in the air.  However despite his inexperience, the hard-throwing righty will continue on in his 8th inning role.  Hierarchy change: Trevor Rosenthal to Set-up, Edward Mujica to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Boggs |Rosenthal |Mujica |Motte |4/10/13 |Motte(DL) |

 
Milwaukee Brewers – John Axford took another loss yesterday and saw his ERA balloon to 24.30.  It’s unlikely he’ll be used in a high-leverage situation any time soon, leaving the set-up spot behind Jim Henderson wide open.  Mike Gonzalez, the only other player with closer experience in the bullpen, has also struggled so far this year, and was unable to get any outs after entering in the 7th.  Last night, with both Henderson and reliable lefty Tom Gorzelanny unavailable, Ron Roenicke was actually going to use Burke Badenhop in the 9th inning if there was a save chance.  As Roenicke shakes up his hierarchy, so do we.  Hierarchy change: Tom Gorzelanny to Set-up, replacing John Axford; Burke Badenhop to 2nd in line, replacing Mike Gonzalez.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedMIL |Henderson |Gorzelanny |Badenhop |Henderson |4/10/13

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Mark Melancon, Pittsburgh Pirates – Jason Grilli has pitched in three straight.
2. Trevor Rosenthal, St. Louis Cardinals – Mitchell Boggs has pitched in two straight and three of the last four.

Mitchell Boggs’s job in trouble; Jim Henderson closing in Milwaukee

April 9, 2013

St. Louis Cardinals – Mitchell Boggs had what he described as “the worst outing of my career” on Monday, as he turned a tie game into an eventual 9-run loss for the Cardinals.  Skipper Mike Matheny suggested after the game that Boggs, despite also blowing a save last week, would still be his closer, but it might not be for long. Edward Mujica may get a shot to close games, as could youngster Trevor Rosenthal, who has been pitching the 8th inning (albeit poorly) for the past week.  Hierarchy change: Trevor Rosenthal to 2nd in line, replacing Mark Rzepczynski.  Mitchell Boggs to Hot Seat.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Boggs |Mujica |Rzepczynski |Motte |4/9/13 |Motte(DL) |

 
Texas Rangers – Before the season, Ron Washington tabbed Robbie Ross and Michael Kirkman as his set-up men.  Ross has been solid, but thus far, Kirkman is sporting a 13.50 ERA and has mostly been used as a match-up guy.  Hard-throwing righty Tanner Scheppers has been the one throwing meaningful innings for the Rangers, and he hasn’t allowed a run through 4.2 innings thus far.  Hierarchy change: Tanner Scheppers to 2nd in line, replacing Michael Kirkman.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedTEX |Nathan |Ross |Scheppers |Nathan |4/9/13

 
Kansas City Royals – Aaron Crow picked up a save on Monday, pitching a clean 9th inning.  Greg Holland and Kelvin Herrera had both pitched on back to back days and three of the past four, and were both getting a night off.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedKC |Holland |Herrera |Crow |Holland |4/9/13

 
Milwaukee Brewers – John Axford got a vote of confidence from manager Ron Roenicke after a rough outing on Wednesday, but after taking the loss in an extra-inning game over the weekend, it appears that Roenicke is ready to make a move.  In a save situation this afternoon against the Cubs, it was Jim Henderson who emerged from the Milwaukee bullpen, not Axford.  The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had speculated on such a move Monday morning, and Henderson got the job done, striking out two while only allowing one hit.  Hierarchy change: Jim Henderson to Closer, John Axford to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedMIL |Henderson |Axford |Gonzalez |Axford |4/8/13

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Robbie Ross/Tanner Scheppers, Texas Rangers – Joe Nathan has pitched in two straight and three of the last four.
2. John Axford, Milwaukee Brewers – Jim Henderson has pitched in two in a row, throwing 30 pitches last night.