Ryan Brasier, Anthony Swarzak struggle again

May 8, 2019

Boston Red Sox – Ryan Brasier’s run of bad form continued on Tuesday when he allowed two runs on three hits in the eighth inning, turning a 6-3 lead into a 6-5 advantage. Matt Barnes got the last out of the eighth inning and stayed on in the ninth for his third save of the year. Brasier’s ERA has jumped from 1.32 to 3.68 over his last two appearances, and while he hasn’t been truly terrible in 2019, this recent rough patch is worth noticing. Barnes has been used as the team’s relief ace this season, but don’t be surprised if he gets a few more save chances with the Sox chasing wins and Brasier struggling. Also of note, Brandon Workman has not given up a run or a hit over his last nine innings of work.

Updated hierarchy: *Barnes | Brasier | Workman.
* = closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners — Anthony Swarzak has been bad of late, having allowed an earned run in five of his last six appearances. That includes blowing his third save chance in four tries last night against the Yankees. Brandon Brennan wasn’t perfect on Tuesday either, but he only allowed one run while facing the top of the Yankees’ order, which appears to be by design. We’ll slot Brennan into the hierarchy based on last night’s usage and keep a close eye on whether Swarzak gets the next save chance for Seattle, as he should be on extremely thin ice.

Updated hierarchy: *Swarzak | Elias | Brennan.
* = closer-by-committee

Minnesota Twins – Taylor Rogers picked up his fourth save of the season on Tuesday, and this time it wasn’t because Blake Parker had already been used. Trevor Hildenberger and Trevor May combined to complete the eighth inning before Rogers finished the game. This continues to be a committee, with Rogers now closer to taking the top spot from Parker.

Hierarchy remains: *Parker | Rogers | Hildenberger.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s – Blake Treinen was available to pitch on Tuesday and did warm up in case the A’s needed him in the ninth, but Mike Fiers finished a 131-pitch no-hitter.

Hierarchy remains: Treinen | Trivino | Soria.

Los Angeles Angels — Hansel Robles collected his third save of the year after Ty Buttrey completed a 1-2-3 eighth inning. In other news, the Angels activated Cody Allen from the IL.

Hierarchy remains: *Robles | Buttrey | Garcia.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Robert Gsellman – Edwin Diaz needed 30 pitches to convert Tuesday’s save, while Seth Lugo tossed 26 pitches over two innings to get to Diaz. The Mets are off on Thursday, but they may not push either Diaz or Lugo on Wednesday.
2. Keone Kela – Both Felipe Vazquez and Kyle Crick have pitched in three of the last four while Kela is fresh.

Tomorrow
1. Kelvin Herrera – Alex Colome through 22 pitches over 1.1 IP last night and may get Thursday off depending on Wednesday’s usage.
2. Drew Steckenrider/Adam Conley – If Sergio Romo pitches on Wednesday that will be three of four. Same goes for Steckenrider.
3. Kyle Crick/Keone Kela – If Felipe Vazquez does make his fourth appearance in five days today, then expect Crick or Kela to get the nod on Thursday.

Jose Leclerc gets low-leverage look in first appearance since rough outing

April 26, 2019

Texas Rangers – Perhaps looking to get him right, Rangers manager Chris Woodward sent Jose Leclerc into Thursday’s game with men at the corners and the Rangers trailing 12-0. He hadn’t pitched since Sunday, when he walked four and gave up two earned runs. On Thursday, Leclerc allowed a walk to load the bases and then a ground-rule double to knock in his two inherited runners. He then struck out two to end the inning. So while his final line is clean, it wasn’t a particularly inspiring performance. This situation warrants further monitoring.

Hierarchy remains: Leclerc | Martin | Kelley.

Los Angeles Angels — Pitching for the first time since he lost the closer’s gig, Cody Allen looked shaky again on Thursday. Allen walked the first two men he faced, mixed in a strikeout, allowed a single to load the bases, added a second K and then walked in a run to make it 11-5 Angels before he was pulled. Yikes.

Hierarchy remains: *Buttrey | Robles | Garcia.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Dodgers — Not that his job is in jeopardy at all, but it’s worth mentioning that Kenley Jansen has allowed a run in five of his last seven appearances. Despite that, he’s 2-0 with four saves over that span. Each time, damage was limited to just one run, but he did yield three home runs in that stretch, including on Thursday when he gave up a solo shot with a 2-0 lead. He still managed to earn the save, but he has been playing with fire a bit these days. 

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Kelly | Alexander.

Chicago Cubs – Brandon Morrow could reportedly resume throwing in a few weeks. It would appear he’s a long way from a return to the big leagues. Meanwhile, the Cubs’ current closer, Pedro Strop, is dealing with a crazy off-the-field situation after his car — a Genesis G90 that’s currently retailing as new for $69,000 — was stolen and was involved in a police chase. He was still talking with police during the fourth inning of Wednesday’s game before leaving to head to the stadium, where he pitched in the ninth to earn his third save. The car is being held by authorities for at least 10 days while they deal with the investigation. 

Hierarchy remains: Strop | Cishek | Kintzler. 

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Jared Hughes — Raisel Iglesias has thrown in two of three, but he may have Friday off after a 31-pitch outing on Thursday. 
2. Seunghwan Oh — Even though the Rockies were off on Thursday, Wade Davis and Scott Oberg have each pitched in three of five and five of eight. 

Saturday:
1. Nick Wittgren — If Brad Hand pitches Friday, that’ll be three straight for him.
2. Drew Steckenrider/Adam Conley — A Friday outing would be three of four for Sergio Romo.
3. Zack Britton — A Friday appearance would be four of six for Aroldis Chapman.

Ty Buttrey in good shape to benefit from Cody Allen’s demotion

April 25, 2019

Los Angeles Angels — Each of the Angels’ three fill-in closer options saw work in last night’s game against the Yankees. Luis Garcia fared the worst, giving up three walks and a single while retiring no one. Ty Buttrey allowed two of those runners (sac fly; fielder’s choice), then made it through a clean eighth before yielding the go-ahead run in a two-out rally in the ninth. Hansel Robles retired the last Yankee hitter. Buttrey’s swing-and-miss stuff and his shot at a three-inning fireman save seem to confirm that he’ll be the first choice going forward. Another possibility is that Buttrey gets the highest-leverage work each game, leaving Hansel Robles to handle the ninth more often than not.

Hierarchy remains: *Buttrey | Robles | Garcia.
* = closer-by-committee

Washington Nationals — Trevor Rosenthal gave up three runs in an inning of work on Wednesday and still lowered his ERA. Rosenthal is hitting 99 on the radar gun, but his control is nonexistent. It’s not fun to watch.

Hierarchy remains: Doolittle | Barraclough | Grace.

Oakland A’s — Lou Trivino is day-to-day with a bruised thumb on his pitching hand, but Bob Melvin expects him to avoid the injured list.

Hierarchy remains: Treinen | Soria | Trivino.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Zack Britton/Adam Ottavino — Aroldis Chapman has gone in three of four.
2. Hansel Robles — Buttrey will get Thursday off.

Friday:
1. Seunghwan Oh — Even accounting for Thursday’s off day, Wade Davis and Scott Oberg will have pitched in three of five and five of eight.

Cody Allen, Jose Leclerc struggling

April 22, 2019

Minnesota Twins – With Blake Parker under the weather, Taylor Rogers pitched a clean 9th inning for his 3rd save of the season. Parker remains the preferred choice for saves here, but Rogers may continue to get an opportunity now and again. 

Hierarchy remains: *Parker | Rogers | Hildenberger.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers – Joe Jimenez has struggled out of the gate this season, so bridging the gap to Shane Greene yesterday was a combination of Buck Farmer, Blaine Hardy, and Victor Alcantara. Jimenez’s last outing was his best of the season, but we’ll still drop him behind Alcantara for now, until he gets higher-leverage spots again.

Updated hierarchy: Greene | Alcantara | Jimenez.

Texas Rangers – Jose Leclerc allowed a leadoff home run, and then walked four of the next six hitters before being pulled for Shawn Kelley, who got the game’s last out for his first save of the year. Leclerc has an inflated ERA (7.88) after a few bad outings, but Chris Woodward is still giving him a little bit of leash. We’ll keep an eye on this one. 

Hierarchy remains: Leclerc | Martin | Kelley.

Los Angeles Angels – The Angels joined the “opener” trend, starting Hansel Robles on Sunday against Seattle, but the main news was another bad outing by Cody Allen, who allowed a home run and a walk to the two hitters he faced before being yanked for Luis Garcia, who picked up the save. After five scoreless outings to open the season, Allen has now given up runs in four consecutive outings. Brad Ausmus might not be worried, but we are.

Hierarchy remains: Allen | Buttrey | Robles.

Chicago Cubs – Brandon Morrow experienced some elbow soreness, so his rehab has been temporarily shut down. There is no timetable for his return as of yet. 

Hierarchy remains: Strop | Cishek | Kintzler. 

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Brandon Workman/Heath Hembree – Ryan Brasier and Matt Barnes have gone three straight.

Tomorrow
1. Scott Oberg – If Wade Davis goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and four of five.
2. Ty Buttrey – If Cody Allen goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and four of five.
3. Alex Wilson/Junior Guerra – If Josh Hader goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.

Aroldis Chapman could be activated Wednesday

September 19, 2018

New York Yankees – Zach Britton picked up his sixth save of the season on Tuesday night after David Robertson pitched the eighth inning. The biggest bullpen news out of the Bronx came before the game, however, as Aaron Boone said that Aroldis Chapman will be activated either today or Thursday. The Yankees are likely to be careful with Chapman prior to the postseason, so Britton, Robertson and Dellin Betances may still see save chances depending on Chapman’s usage.

Hierarchy remains: *Betances | Robertson | Britton.
* = closer-by-committee

Cleveland Indians – Andrew Miller recorded three strikeouts as part of a four-out ninth inning to pick up his second save of the season. Terry Francona thought Miller had his best stuff on Tuesday, which is encouraging news for a team planning for October. With Cleveland having already clinched the AL Central, Francona can rest both Brad Hand and Cody Allen whenever he pleases. Francona can also give Miller the necessary work he needs to get ready for the playoffs, which means Miller may vulture a couple more saves over the final dozen games.

Hierarchy remains: *Hand | Allen | Miller.
* = closer-by-committee

Philadelphia Phillies — On this episode of “It’s Always a Committee in Philadelphia,” four different relievers kept the Mets scoreless over the final 3.1 innings, with Hector Neris ultimately recording his 11th save of the season. Pat Neshek recorded the final out of the sixth inning to keep the Phillies trailing by just two. After the Phillies took the lead in the bottom half of the frame, Seranthony Dominguez and Tommy Hunter pitched the seventh and eighth innings, respectively. Neshek has been the best of the bunch lately, as he hasn’t allowed an earned run over his last seven appearances, but the next save chance could go to any of the aforementioned arms.

Hierarchy remains: *Hunter | Neshek | Dominguez.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago Cubs — Brandon Morrow will miss the rest of the season because of a nagging bone bruise. With Pedro Strop still nursing a strained hamstring, the Cubs will continue to rely on a committee to help clinch another division title.

Hierarchy remains: *Cishek | Wilson | Edwards.
* = closer-by-committee

Arizona Diamondbacks – Jake Diekman has allowed three earned runs in each of his last two outings. Given his recent struggles (and the fact he pitched the fourth and innings with his team trailing by four), It’s unlikely that he’ll see a save chance unless there’s a matchup Torey Lovullo really likes. Archie Bradley hasn’t been exceptional over his last three outings, but all three were scoreless, so we’ll move him into the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: *Hirano | Ziegler | Bradley.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Blake Parker – Ty Buttrey has pitched in three of four, including a five-out save last night.
2. Pat Neshek – The other three guys in Philadelphia’s bullpen have all pitched two straight days, with Tommy Hunter and Hector Neris having gone in three of four.
3. Hunter Strickland – Will Smith and Mark Melancon have both pitched two straight and three of four.
4. Ryan Tepera – Ken Giles has pitched in three of four, though he only threw nine pitches yesterday.

Tomorrow
1. Jared Hughes – If Raisel Iglesias goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.
2. Ryan Tepera – A Ken Giles appearance tonight will be his fourth in five days.