Rafael Dolis continues to pitch well

September 9, 2020

Toronto Blue Jays – Rafael Dolis notched his second straight save on Tuesday, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning. Dolis hasn’t allowed an earned run since Aug. 12. Meanwhile, Anthony Bass struggled a little on Monday protecting a six-run lead, which was some odd usage for someone who had been pitching a lot. Bass entered Tuesday’s game having gone in three of four and four of six. We’ll keep Bass at the top of the hierarchy for now, but Dolis may not be too far away from taking over that spot.

Hierarchy remains: *Bass | Dolis | Cole.

Kansas City Royals — Three different Royals have recorded the team’s three saves since trading Trevor Rosenthal, with Scott Barlow doing the honors last night after Greg Holland tossed two perfect innings in the seventh and eighth. Barlow, Holland and Jesse Hahn have notched those three aforementioned saves, so we’ll put all three of them in our hierarchy and see how the next save chance plays out. One other name to keep an eye on is Kyle Zimmer, who struck out three in 1.2 IP on Tuesday to lower his ERA to 1.53.

Updated hierarchy: *Holland | Barlow | Hahn.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox — After Matt Barnes blew a save in game one of Tuesday’s doubleheader in Philadelphia, Austin Brice looked like he was on his way to doing the same for the Sox in game two. Just three of Brice’s 14 pitches were strikes, as he walked two straight hitters after somehow managing to record an out. Marcus Walden replaced Brice and retired both batters he faced to earn the save. 

Hierarchy remains: Barnes | Brasier | Brice.

Chicago Cubs – Jeremy Jeffress has collected the Cubs’ last four saves, including the final three outs of Tuesday’s win. David Ross said that while nobody has the label of closer, Jeffress is “probably the guy that’s going to be on the back end for a little bit.” The manger may not want to officially name a closer, but we’re kicking the asterisk until further notice.

Hierarchy remains: Jeffress | Wick | Kimbrel.

San Francisco Giants – Tony Watson earned the save last night, with Tyler Rogers picking up the win in the seventh inning after facing the 2-3-4 hitters. Jarlin Garcia got the eighth and maintained his 0.00 ERA with a 1-2-3 frame. 

Hierarchy remains: *Watson | Rogers | Coonrod.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Junior Guerra – Both Kevin Ginkel (31 pitches) and Stefan Crichton (28 pitches) had lengthy outings on Tuesday.
2. Blake Treinen – Kenley Jansen needed 31 pitches to get through Tuesday’s ninth inning.

Tomorrow
1. Stefan Crichton/Junior Guerra – As noted above, both Crichton and Kevin Ginkel threw a lot of pitches on Tuesday so today’s usage will dictate how Arizona’s committee will be deployed on Thursday.
2. James Karinchak – If Brad Hand pitches today, that will be his fourth outing in five days.
3. Brad Boxberger – Same goes for Brandon Kintzler.
4. Buck Farmer – If both Gregory Soto and Jose Cisnero have long outings today, Farmer may get a save chance on Thursday.

A bunch of teams find themselves with a new closer leading their committees

August 30, 2020

Kansas City Royals — As we alerted yesterday, the Royals have traded their closer, Trevor Rosenthal, to the Padres.  Although Josh Staumont throws a baseball really fast (and has been pretty good at pitching too), manager Mike Matheny hinted that he might go with the veteran Greg Holland. Jesse Hahn, who Matheny also mentioned, got the first save in the post-Rosenthal era but it wasn’t very conventional. The Royals started the ninth with a six-run lead, but after Ian Kennedy made a mess of things, Hahn came on to record the last two outs and pick up the save. We will move Holland to the top of the committee based on Matheny’s comments

Updated hierarchy: *Holland | Staumont | Hahn.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago Cubs – Jeremy Jeffress threw a scoreless seventh inning in the first game of the doubleheader to pick up his fourth save of the season.  In the second game, Rowan Wick worked a scoreless sixth and Craig Kimbrel got the call in the seventh to try and close it out.  Unfortunately for Cubs fans (and fantasy owners), Kimbrel struggled and took the loss.  Jeffress has now recorded the Cubs’ last two saves and seems to have moved to the head of the committee.

Updated hierarchy: *Jeffress | Wick | Kimbrel.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers – In game two of their doubleheader yesterday, the Tigers called on Gregory Soto to close out the game and he successfully navigated a couple of base runners to record his first career save. Jose Cisnero recorded the hold ahead of Soto. A converted save is good enough to move Soto to the top of the committee for now.

Updated hierarchy: * Soto | Farmer | Cisnero.
* = closer-by-committee

San Francisco Giants – Tyler Rogers pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save of the season. Tony Watson worked the eighth inning ahead of Rogers. Jarlin Garcia picked up the win, but came on in the fourth inning to do so. As has been the theme today, if you convert a save in an unsettled bullpen situation, you get to move to the front of the line.

Updated hierarchy: *Rogers | Watson | Garcia.
* = closer-by-committee

San Diego Padres – In addition to acquiring Trevor Rosenthal yesterday, the Padres also activated Drew Pomeranz from the IL. Pomeranz immediately resumed some late-inning work, throwing a scoreless eighth inning in a tie game.  We think Rosenthal was acquired to be their closer, but Pomeranz has been pretty darn good so far this season and could challenge for the job if Rosenthal falters at all.

Updated hierarchy: Rosenthal | Pomeranz | Pagan.

Pittsburgh Pirates — The Pirates have activated Kyle Crick from the 10-day IL. Crick did not pitch yesterday, but the Pirates may wish they had used him. Chris Stratton, Nik Turley, and Richard Rodriguez all gave up at least one run, with Rodriguez ultimately blowing the save in the ninth and taking the loss. Crick has been a big part of the Pirates’ bullpen for the past couple years and could challenge for save opportunities while Kela is out if he can round into form quickly.

Updated hierarchy: *Rodriguez | Crick | Turley.
* = closer-by-committee

Toronto Blue Jays – Jordan Romano has been a great story for the Blue Jays’ bullpen so far this year, but unfortunately he was placed on the IL yesterday with a finger injury. Romano is expected to miss 2-4 weeks and Anthony Bass should head the committee while he is out.  

Updated hierarchy: * Bass | Dolis | Cole.
* = closer-by-committee

Baltimore Orioles – Hunter Harvey is close to returning from the IL, but the Orioles don’t plan to immediately throw him into the closer’s role. Once he does return, this will turn into a committee, as even when Harvey does get the ninth inning, he won’t be pitching on consecutive days.

Hierarchy remains: Sulser | Givens | Castro.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Blake Treinen – Kenley Jansen has pitched in two of three, throwing over 20 pitches in both outings.
2. David Phelps – Josh Hader walked five people yesterday on 32 pitches.
3. Adam Ottavino/Chad Green – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in back-to-back games, as has Ottavino, and the Yankees have a doubleheader today.
4. Hector Neris/Tommy Hunter – Brandon Workman has gone in two straight and three of four, while Neris has also pitched in two straight.

Monday
1. Ryan Brasier – Matt Barnes threw 21 pitches yesterday and could get Monday off if he has another lengthy outing today.

Jordan Romano, Daniel Bard jump to the top of their committees

August 25, 2020

Buffalo Blue Jays – That’s two saves in three days for Jordan Romano, who now has a 0.64 ERA. Anthony Bass pitched on Friday and Saturday but likely could have gone Monday, so we suspect this usage means that Romano has taken the lead for saves here. (Bass was supportive nonetheless.) The asterisk stays on for now, but Romano could take this job and run with it.

Updated hierarchy: *Romano | Bass | Dolis.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies – Protecting a one-run lead from the 5th inning onward, the Rockies first tapped Carlos Estevez to get out of a sticky situation in the 7th, leaving him in for the 8th after he escaped the jam. That left the 9th to Daniel Bard, who converted the save, his second of the season. Jairo Diaz did not appear, so it seems Bard and Estevez have jumped him in this committee.

Updated hierarchy: *Bard | Estevez | Diaz.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Joely Rodriguez – Rafael Montero threw 31 pitches across 1.1 innings last night and Jonathan Hernandez has gone two straight (2.2 innings).
2. Tyler Clippard – Taylor Rogers, Sergio Romo, and Trevor May have all gone back to back.

Today/tomorrow
1. David Phelps/Devin Williams – Josh Hader threw 22 pitches last night and David Phelps has gone back to back. If Hader can’t go tonight, Devin Williams is the best bet for a save; if he can, then grab Phelps (who should be off today) for Wednesday.
2. Brad Boxberger/Nick Vincent – Brandon Kintzler and Brad Boxberger have pitched in three of four, and Nick Vincent has gone in two of three. Kintzler could get the night off, and if he doesn’t, watch usage to see who’s available tomorrow.

Drew Pomeranz considered day-to-day with shoulder tightness

August 21, 2020

Slam Diego Padres – Manager Jayce Tingler said Drew Pomeranz is suffering from shoulder tightness and is considered day-to-day. Expect Emilio Pagan to step in for save chances in the interim. This is a situation worth monitoring closely.

Hierarchy remains: *Pomeranz | Pagan | Stammen.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers – Joe Jimenez was roughed up Thursday, giving up four runs over one-third of an inning in a 9-0 loss. He was pitching for the first time since Sunday, so he was likely just getting some work to keep fresh. Meanwhile, Buck Farmer was activated from the IL and will return to his role of setting up Jimenez.

Updated hierarchy: Jimenez | Farmer | Soto.

New York Yankees – Zack Britton was placed on the 10-day IL with a strained left hamstring. He underwent an MRI Thursday, but the severity of the injury – and a timetable for a return – weren’t immediately known.

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Ottavino | Green.

Los Angeles Dodgers — Pedro Baez suffered a groin strain and was moved to the 10-day IL Thursday. Expect some late-inning hold chances for Brusdar Graterol, Caleb Ferguson and Jake McGee. 

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Treinen | Graterol.

Tampa Bay Rays – Diego Castillo entered Thursday’s game in the fifth inning and allowed a run in one-third of an inning, but he earned the win when the Rays retook the lead in the next half inning. The recent usage for Castillo followed a pattern that seems to indicate he’s not likely to get the team’s next save chance should Nick Anderson be unavailable. That opportunity might go to Chaz Roe instead, so we’ll make that swap in the hierarchy. 

Updated hierarchy: *Anderson | Roe | Castillo.
* = closer-by-committee

Buffalo Blue Jays – A.J. Cole allowed an RBI single but recorded a strikeout in the seventh inning of the second game of a Thursday’s doubleheader to earn his first save. The Blue Jays were trailing by five entering the sixth before tacking on seven runs to take the lead. Anthony Kay, who had already entered the game, stayed in to finish it but ran into some trouble after allowing a pair of two-out hits before Cole saved things. Anthony Bass did not pitch. He was suffering from some back tightness earlier this week and tossed 2.0 innings Tuesday (29 pitches), so perhaps he was getting an extra day of rest. Meanwhile, Blue Jays GM Ross Adkins said he was “extremely encouraged” with the progress injured closer Ken Giles has been making.

Hierarchy remains: *Bass | Dolis | Romano.
* = closer-by-committee

Milwaukee Brewers – Corey Knebel (9.45 ERA, 2.25 WHIP), who we removed from the Brewers’ hierarchy earlier this week, has been placed on the 10-day IL with a strained left hamstring. 

Hierarchy remains: Hader | Phelps | Williams.

Cincinnati Reds – Pedro Strop threw to live hitters on Wednesday and is scheduled to do so again Friday as he continues to recover from an injured groin. If all goes well, he should be activated soon.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Jones | Garrett.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Emilio Pagan – Drew Pomeranz is day-to-day with shoulder tightness.
2. Nate Jones – Raisel Iglesias has gone in two of three, including a rough outing Thursday (3 ER, 0.1 IP) in which he threw 22 pitches. 

Tomorrow
1. Craig Stammen – If Emilio Pagan goes Friday, that will be three out of four for him. Drew Pomeranz, meanwhile, could still be held out with the aforementioned shoulder tightness. 
2. Joakim Soria – If Liam Hendriks pitches Friday, that will be his third straight day off work.
3. Blake Taylor – A Friday appearance would be three of four for Ryan Pressly.
4. James Karinchak – Same as above for Brad Hand.
5. Chaz Roe – Ditto for Nick Anderson.

Anthony Bass gets first Blue Jays save; Craig Kimbrel struggles

July 28, 2020

Buffalo Blue Jays – Yesterday, we lined up the Blue Jays committee with Anthony Bass at the top, followed by Rafael Dolis and then Jordan Romano, and last night, that’s exactly how Toronto played it. Romano got the last two outs of the 7th, then gave way to Dolis, who pitched a scoreless 8th. On came Bass for the save chance, and he converted the chance; we figure the Jays will keep doing it this way until Bass gives them a reason not to. 

Hierarchy remains: *Bass | Dolis | Romano.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s – Liam Hendriks did get the day off on Monday, but the A’s kept Jake Diekman in his usual 8th inning role, instead giving the 9th to Joakim Soria. The righty converted for his first save of the year, so we’ll monitor this situation to see if this is how Oakland intends to play things when Hendriks is off. 

Hierarchy remains: Hendriks | Diekman | Soria.

New York Mets – The Mets took a five-run lead into the 8th inning, but after Jeurys Familia got in a jam, Seth Lugo came on to clean up the mess. Lugo, who thus far has looked every bit as sharp as last year (3.1 scoreless innings, 1 hit, 4 Ks, 0 BBs), escaped the inning and then retired the side in order in the 9th for his first save of the season. Edwin Diaz, already sitting on a blown save, will have competition if Lugo keeps this up. 

Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Lugo | Betances. 

Chicago Cubs – Craig Kimbrel picked up where he left off in 2019, entering the game with a 3-run lead and exiting it with 2 runs in, the bases loaded, and only 1 out recorded. Fortunately, Jeremy Jeffress was up to the task, striking out the first hitter he faced and then inducing a game-ending flyout. Sick hold, Craig.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Jeffress | Wick.

Milwaukee Brewers – The single most impressive relief outing of the season thus far was turned in by David Phelps on Monday night. The veteran pitched the top of the 10th and 11th innings for the Brewers — meaning that he had to deal with a runner on 2nd at the start of each inning — and allowed no damage whatsoever, striking out 3 hitters and not allowing anyone to reach base other than the aforementioned starting runners. With the ostensible set-up men for the Brewers having both appeared in the 4th inning of games earlier this year, this outing is enough to move Phelps to the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Hader | Knebel | Phelps.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Rowan Wick – Craig Kimbrel threw 34 pitches in a horrendous effort last night and might get the day off.
2. Shun Yamaguchi – The three top relievers in the Blue Jays committee might all get the day off today, having gone back to back and three of four. So we’ll take a stab that Yamaguchi gets the save opp today, if there is one.

Tomorrow
1. Ryan Pressly/Chris Devenski – If Roberto Osuna goes today, it’ll be back to back and three of four; Ryan Pressly is also day to day with a nagging injury.