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.

Axford out as Brewers closer, Jim Henderson to take over

April 8, 2013

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 this 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

Greg Holland, Steve Cishek struggling

April 8, 2013

Miami Marlins – After getting knocked around in a non-save situation on Friday, Steve Cishek blew a save on Sunday, allowing 2 runs and taking the loss against the Mets.  Cishek doesn’t have a ton of competition in the Miami bullpen.  Mike Dunn got a couple saves last year, but is mostly a match-up guy, while Jon Rauch and Chad Qualls have been around the block a few times and aren’t particularly imposing at this point.  If Cishek continues to struggle, though, the Marlins may have to give someone else a try.  Steve Cishek to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedMIA |Cishek |Dunn |Rauch |Cishek |4/8/13

 
Kansas City Royals – Greg Holland had another rough outing on Sunday, one day after blowing the save and taking the loss against the Phillies.  After putting several runners on, Holland had to be pulled for Kelvin Herrera, who cleaned up the mess and earned his first save of the year.  The job still belongs to Holland for now, but Herrera, a fireballer who already has 7 Ks in 3.1 innings this season, could challenge for it if Holland continues to struggle.  Greg Holland to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedKC |Holland |Herrera |Crow |Holland |4/8/13

 
Arizona Diamondbacks – Heath Bell picked up his first save of the season on Sunday.  The save came two innings after JJ Putz had blown it in the 9th, and David Hernandez and Brad Ziegler had already pitched.  The blown save was the first of the season for Putz, who is not in danger of losing his job.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedARI |Putz |Hernandez |Ziegler |Putz |4/8/13

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in two straight and four of the last five.