Jake McGee back in the mix for Tampa; Carson Smith worth watching

May 15, 2015

Tampa Bay Rays — Matt Andriese had a rare four-inning save Thursday night against the Yankees, before getting sent down to make room for the returning Jake McGee. Brad Boxberger (2-1, 1.29 ERA, 10 saves in 10 chances, 12.86 K/9) has been excellent in McGee’s absence, so for now, Kevin Cash will play the matchups. McGee could grab the job for good later this summer, however.

Updated hierarchy: *Boxberger | McGee | Jepsen.
* closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Dodgers — The most volatile bullpen in baseball lived up to its reputation Thursday night, with Yimi Garcia coughing up a three-run homer in a rough 9th inning, blowing the save and taking the loss against the Rockies. Garcia has now allowed five runs in his last two outings, inflating his ERA from 0.63 to 3.38. Pedro Baez was likely next in line before he was placed on the disabled list with a strained pectoral muscle. Manager Don Mattingly said Baez could be out the next few weeks. Kenley Jansen, meanwhile, is healthy at the right time; he’s likely to be activated on Saturday, with a Friday return still possible. Stay tuned.

Updated hierarchy: *Garcia | Hatcher | Howell.
* closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners — Earlier this week, we learned that setup man Danny Farquhar (5.29 ERA) is trying to figure out what’s gone wrong this season. While he does, rookie Carson Smith continues to impress at the back end of the bullpen, tossing a clean eighth inning ahead of Fernando Rodney on Thursday night. Rodney himself was not so clean, allowing the go-ahead run to take the loss in a 2-1 game. Rodney (5.65 ERA, 1.60 WHIP) has now allowed runs in three of his last four appearances. He’s still the Mariners’ closer, but Smith has earned the right to be next in line if Rodney continues to struggle.

Updated hierarchy: Rodney | Smith | Farquhar.

Boston Red Sox — Rookie Matt Barnes was thrown into a high-leverage situation Thursday night against the Mariners, pitching the eighth inning in a 1-1 game. He picked up the win after Fernando Rodney gave up the go-ahead run, and should continue to see late-inning opportunities moving forward.

Updated hierarchy: Uehara | Tazawa | Barnes.

Houston Astros — Chad Qualls picked up the save for the Astros Thursday night, as regular closer Luke Gregerson had to miss another game due to a family emergency. Manager A.J. Hinch said Gregerson would be back Friday and shouldn’t need to leave the team again.

Hierarchy remains: Gregerson | Qualls | Neshek.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Junichi Tazawa, Boston Red Sox — Koji Uehara has pitched in four of the last five games and is 40 years old, so Junichi Tazawa could get a look in a save situation.
2. Ken Giles/Luis Garcia, Philadelphia Phillies — Congrats to Jonathan Papelbon, who became the all-time saves leader (113) for the Phillies, passing Jose Mesa. Papelbon is also the all-time leader for the Red Sox (219). Papelbon (34 years old) has pitched in three straight games, though, and may get a night off to celebrate. Ken Giles has also pitched in three straight but he’s only 24 and could still be available. If not, Luis Garcia could possibly get the nod.
3. Jumbo Diaz/J.J. Hoover, Cincinnati Reds — All of the Reds’ top three pitchers have pitched on four out of the last five days. Jumbo Diaz threw only four pitches on Thursday, but if the team digs a little deeper, the chance could go to J.J. Hoover.
4. Chris Hatcher, Los Angeles Dodgers — If Kenley Jansen is not activated, look for Hatcher to get a Friday save opportunity.
5. Jake McGee/Kevin Jepsen, Tampa Bay Rays — It’s a cliche, but manager Kevin Cash will play the matchups, so it’s possible McGee or Jepsen get some action in the ninth.

Ramos and Dunn head Marlins committee; Jansen due back soon

May 12, 2015

Miami Marlins – The Marlins will look elsewhere after Steve Cishek blew his fourth save of the season (and second in two days) in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. As we speculated yesterday, Mike Redmond is likely to employ a committee for the time being. A.J. Ramos is the most talented of his available options, though we expect Mike Dunn to get a share of chances as well.

Updated hierarchy: *Ramos | Dunn | Morris.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago Cubs – Edwin Jackson has been relegated to mop-up duty recently and in his place Zac Rosscup has been very effective, sporting a 0.75 WHIP on the season. While Pedro Strop continues to regularly set-up Hector Rondon, expect Rosscup to grab plenty of holds in the late innings.

Updated hierarchy: Rondon | Strop | Rosscup.

Los Angeles Dodgers – Kenley Jansen is on track to be activated from the disabled list on Saturday, but Dodgers’ manager Don Mattingly will not immediately reinstate Jansen as closer. Expect Dodger save opportunities to remain unpredictable in the short term.

Hierarchy remains: *Garcia | Hatcher | Baez.
* = closer-by-committee.

Houston Astros – Luke Gregerson will likely return from bereavement leave today, according to A.J. Hinch.

Updated hierarchy: Gregerson | Qualls | Neshek.

Atlanta Braves – With Jason Grilli still sidelined, Jim Johnson picked up a save on Monday night. Grill is expected back in short order.

Hierarchy remains: Grilli | Johnson | Avilan.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Tony Watson, Pittsburgh Pirates – Mark Melancon has gone in three straight.
2. Junichi Tazawa, Boston Red Sox – Koji Uehara has gone in back to back games and hasn’t pitched in three straight all year.
3. Tony Cingrani/Jumbo Diaz, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has picked up consecutive losses on back to back days. His seat is nowhere near hot, but he might get Tuesday off to clear his head.
4. Chris Hatcher, Los Angeles Dodgers – Yimi Garcia blew the save last night, so Hatcher might get the chance today.

Chad Qualls records save for the Astros

May 10, 2015

Houston Astros — With Luke Gregerson out, Chad Qualls picked up his 3rd save of the season.  Qualls will continue to close while Gregerson is out.

Hierarchy Remains: Qualls | Neshek | Sipp.

Atlanta Braves – Closer Jason Grilli was unavailable yesterday.  Grilli last pitched on Wednesday when he picked up his 9th save of the season.  If Grilli misses any additional time, Jim Johnson should fill in as closer.

Hierarchy remains: Grilli | Johnson | Avilan.

New York Yankees — Chris Martin has been placed on the DL with tendinitis in his right elbow.  Martin has been solid for the Yankees this season and was 2nd on the team in appearances.  David Carpenter had a rough outing on Tuesday but should see time in the 7th inning while Martin is out.

Updated hierarchy: Miller | Betances | Carpenter.

Baltimore Orioles — Tommy Hunter pitched the 8th inning yesterday before O’Day and Britton combined to pitch the 9th.  Hunter has not allowed an earned run in his last 8 appearances, and the former closer should continue to see time at the back-end of the Orioles’ bullpen.

Updated hierarchy: Britton | O’Day | Hunter.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jim Johnson, Atlanta Braves – If Jason Grilli is unavailable again on Sunday, Johnson should close.
2. Dale Thayer, San Diego Padres – Craig Kimbrel has pitched 2 days in a row, including a 23 pitch blown save yesterday.  Benoit has also pitched two in a row and Quackenbush went two innings in an extra inning game last night.  Thayer seems to be the freshest arm out of the bullpen so he could get a shot if the Padres want to save some of their relief arms on Sunday
3. Chris Hatcher, Los Angeles Dodgers – With the Dodgers still going with a committee, Hatcher could get the call at anytime.

Chad Qualls will fill in for Luke Gregerson for a few days

May 9, 2015

Houston Astros — As we retweeted on Friday evening, Luke Gregerson has been placed on the family emergency list to deal with a private matter. Gregerson cannot return until Monday and could be out until next Friday. Chad Qualls will see the save opportunities until Gregerson comes back.

Updated hierarchy: Qualls | Neshek | Sipp.

New York Yankees — After Andrew Miller shut the Orioles down in order on his way to his 13th save, Joe Girardi reluctantly (and sarcastically) admitted that Miller is New York’s closer. The Yankee bullpen continues to be the best in baseball, with the one-two punch of Miller and Dellin Betances combining for 32 innings pitched with no earned runs, 52 strikeouts, and only 11 hits.

Hierarchy remains: Miller | Betances | Martin.

Los Angeles Angels — As we suspected, Huston Street and Joe Smith got the night off on Friday. Although the Angels let Jared Weaver finish a 120-pitch shutout, it was Fernando Salas (not Mike Morin) warming in the bullpen for the possible vulture save.

Updated hierarchy: Street | Smith | Salas.

Colorado Rockies — Two-year-old Jameson Axford, still recovering from what his doctors called the worst rattlesnake bite they had ever seen, threw out the first pitch at Friday night’s game. Jameson has the stuff to challenge for a late-inning role in 2036, when the rest of us will all be so, so impossibly old.

Hierarchy remains: Axford | Betancourt | Logan.

San Francisco Giants — Yusmeiro Petit earned a three-inning save in a 6-0 Giants win.

Hierarchy remains: Casilla | Romo | Affeldt.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Seth Maness/Kevin Siegrist, St. Louis Cardinals — Trevor Rosenthal has now appeared on two straight days, three of four, and six of eight.
2. Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs — Hector Rondon has thrown 52 pitches since Wednesday, including Friday’s three-run, 32-pitch debacle.
3. Tony Cingrani, Cincinnati Reds — Chicago and Cincinnati were rained out on Friday and will play a doubleheader on Saturday.
4. Zach Duke, Chicago White Sox — See above.

Keone Kela becoming a reliever to watch

May 2, 2015

Washington Nationals – Blake Treinen’s wildness cost him again last night, as he entered the game with two men on base, walked the first hitter he faced, and then gave up a 3-run double. Treinen has now issued 7 free passes in 11.1 innings, and has a WHIP approaching 2. Aaron Barrett is now the reliever more likely to get a save chance on nights when Drew Storen is unavailable.

Updated hierarchy: Storen | Barrett | Treinen.

Tampa Bay Rays – Steve Geltz struck out two hitters in a perfect 7th inning ahead of Kevin Jepsen and Brad Boxberger. His impressive outing comes on the back of an even better one on Wednesday, when he struck out five consecutive Yankees. The righty now has 16 Ks in 12.2 IPs, to go along with a tidy ERA (2.84) and WHIP (0.87).

Updated hierarchy: *Boxberger | Jepsen | Geltz.

Texas Rangers – Summoned in the 8th inning to bail out the rest of the Rangers terrible bullpen, Neftali Feliz couldn’t hold the lead, allowing two inherited runners to score along with one of his own. The only prominent Rangers reliever who came away from this game looking good was Keone Kela, who pitched a clean 9th inning after the Feliz got knocked out. Feliz’s seat gets warmer, and Kela might be the guy who replaces him.

Updated hierarchy: Feliz | Kela | Tolleson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Chad Qualls, Houston Astros – Luke Gregerson has pitched in three straight.
2. Carlos Torres, New York Mets – Jeurys Familia had a relatively efficient outing yesterday, but it stretched 1.2 innings. It was his first multi-inning appearance of the year, and he might need a day off.