Kenley Jansen and Rafael Dolis get saves

April 28, 2012

Los Angeles Dodgers – Kenley Jansen got the save last night.  Manager Don Mattingly said after the game on Wednesday that Guerra was still his guy so he might have just been giving him a day off after taking a line drive off his jaw his last time out.  Guerra is already on the hot seat but hasn’t lost his job yet.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |Guerra |Jansen |Elbert |Guerra |4/28/12

 
Chicago Cubs- Rafael Dolis got the 2 inning save last night.  Dolis entered in the 8th with a 2 run lead and after the Cubs added 2 more runs to make it a 4 run lead, he came back on for the 9th and finished the game. With Kerry Wood on the disabled list, Dolis is the Cubs’ second-best reliever.  Hierarchy change: Kerry Wood to DL, Rafael Dolis to Set-up, James Russell to 2nd in Line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Dolis |Russell |Marmol |4/28/12 |Wood (DL) |

 
Atlanta Braves- Kris Medlen got a three inning save last night in a 5 run win.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedATL |Kimbrel |Venters |O'Flaherty |Kimbrel |4/28/12

 
Washington Nationals – Brad Lidge was placed on the disabled list.  Tyler Clippard will move into the set-up spot with Sean Burnett moving to second in line.  Hierarchy change: Brad Lidge to DL, Tyler Clippard to set-up, Sean Burnett to 2nd in line

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Rodriguez |Clippard |Burnett |Storen |4/28/12 |Storen(DL) |Lidge (DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Andrew Cashner/Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres –  Huston Street has pitched three days in a row so there’s a good chance he gets the day off Saturday.  Cashner has pitched two days in a row including throwing 25 pitches last night so if he is unavailable as well look for Luke Gregerson to get a shot at closing out the game.

 
 
 
 
Jim Johnson still hospitalized; Heath Bell blows yet another save
 
 
April 27, 2012
Miami Marlins — Another day, another debacle for big-ticket closer Heath Bell, who blew his third save in five chances with a 46-pitch, four-walk nightmare on Thursday. After the game, Ozzie Guillen gave Bell a vote of confidence as the  Miami closer; it seems the Marlins have 27 million reasons to stay the course.  No hierarchy change.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIA |Bell |Mujica |Cishek |Bell |3/20/12
 
Baltimore Orioles — With Jim Johnson hospitalized all week with a mystery illness, the Orioles have had to turn elsewhere in the ninth during their last three games. After two straight saves for Pedro Strop, Thursday was Luis Ayala’s turn.  Manager Buck Showalter says Johnson could be released from the hospital Friday “if he can hold the food down.” No hierarchy change.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBAL |Johnson |Strop |Lindstrom |Johnson |4/26/12
 
Boston Red Sox — Junichi Tazawa picked up a three-inning save in last night’s blowout win over the White Sox. No hierarchy change.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Morales |Tazawa |Bailey |4/23/12
 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Edward Mujica, Miami Marlins — Ozzie Guillen promised to give Heath Bell the day off on Friday, so if the Marlins need a save, they’ll likely turn to set-up man Mujica.
2. Aroldis Chapman,  Cincinnati Reds — Sean Marshall blew his first save of the year on Thursday, and also pitched for the second straight day. Watch for Chapman to get the call in the ninth on Friday, if need be.
3. Andrew Cashner, San Diego Padres —  Huston Street has pitched two days in a row, albeit in fairly short outings. There’s a chance he might get Friday off.
 
 
 
 
Javy Guerra and Hector Santiago blow saves, Pedro Strop picks up second save
 
 
April 26, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers – Javy Guerra blew the save last night and took the loss for the second consecutive game. Guerra has gone 0-2 and only 2/4 in save opportunities in his last 5 games. Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless 8th and could take Guerra’s job if he continues to pitch poorly.   Javy Guerra to Hot Seat.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |Guerra |Jansen |Elbert |Guerra |4/26/12
 
Chicago White Sox – Hector Santiago blew the save on Wednesday but after the game manager Robin Ventura said he would stick with Santiago as closer.  Santiago is already on the hot seat so even with Ventura’s backing after the game, do not be surprised if a change is made soon if Santiago doesn’t figure out to stop giving up homeruns (He’s already given up 4 in 6 .1 innings so far this year).   No hierarchy change.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Santiago |Thornton |Reed |Reed |4/26/12
 
Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson remained hospitalized on Wednesday and Pedro Strop again got the save.  Johnson is still the closer when he comes back but Strop is definitely the guy to own as Johnson’s backup.  No Hierarchy change
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBAL |Johnson |Strop |Lindstrom |Johnson |4/26/12
 
Washington Nationals – Tom Gorzelanny got the save last night but it was of the three inning variety as the Nationals won by 5.  No hierarchy change
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Rodriguez |Lidge |Clippard |Storen |4/26/12 |Storen(DL) |
 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Pedro Strop/Matt Lindstrom, Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson might still not be over his sickness and the Orioles could go with Strop again who has gotten saves the past two games.  Lindstrom also has looked good lately and could be called upon if the Orioles want to give Strop a day off.
 

 
 
 
 
 
Pedro Strop gets a save, Matt Guerrier to DL
 
 
April 25, 2012
Baltimore Orioles – Pedro Strop got the save last night as Jim Johnson spent Monday night in a hospital with flulike symptoms and was unavailable.   No hierarchy change.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBAL |Johnson |Strop |Lindstrom |Johnson |4/25/12
  
Seattle Mariners – Steve Delabar pitched the 7th with a 2 run lead last night and has been used more often than Lucas Luetge.  Hierarchy change: Steve Delabar to 2nd in line, replacing Lucas Luetge.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |League |Wilhelmsen |Delabar |League |4/25/12
  
Los Angeles Dodgers – Matt Guerrier was placed on the DL Tuesday with elbow tendinitis.  Scott Elbert pitched the 7th in a tie game and will likely move back into that role.   Hierarchy change: Scott Elbert to 2nd in line, replacing Matt Guerrier. 
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |Guerra |Jansen |Elbert |Guerra |4/25/12
  
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Pedro Strop Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson was unavailable on Monday due to flulike symptoms and if he is still under the weather tonight, Pedro Strop would likely get another save opportunity.
2. Brad Lidge,  Washington Nationals – Henry Rodriguez got the save on Tuesday so Brad Lidge could be in line for the next save opportunity.