Ty Buttrey records first save for new Angels committee

August 5, 2020

Los Angeles Angels — In a not-so-surprising move, Joe Maddon announced that Hansel Robles is out as closer and that the Angels will employ a closer-by-committee. We got a first look at that committee on Tuesday, as Hoby Milner, Felix Pena and Ty Buttrey combined to close out a 5-3 victory. Pena, who started the eighth inning against the 2-3-4 hitters, had looked the best of a mediocre bunch so far this season, though he did allow his first run of 2020 on Tuesday and only recorded two outs before Buttrey finished the frame and stayed on for a 1-2-3 ninth to pick up the save. We’ll keep Buttrey at the top of what could be quite a volatile committee.

Updated hierarchy: *Buttrey | Pena | Milner.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago Cubs – Just when you thought Craig Kimbrel was out, David Ross pulled him back in to try and protect a three-run lead in the ninth inning. That experiment lasted three batters, with Kimbrel recording one out before departing with runners on second and third. Kyle Ryan came in and allowed both runners to score before securing the save. After the game, manager David Ross explained that he wanted to get Kimbrel some work, ideally with his team ahead, and that the Cubs need to get him innings. Ross and president of baseball operations Theo Epstein are publicly supporting Kimbrel, but don’t be shocked if Rowan Wick gets the next save chance.

Hierarchy remains: *Kimbrel | Wick | Jeffress.
* = closer-by-committee

Minnesota Twins – The Twins led the Pirates, 7-1, entering the ninth inning, but Pittsburgh mounted a rally and had the tying run on deck when Trevor May came on to record the final two outs. May had previously recorded back-to-back holds, including an impressive eighth inning on Sunday in which he struck out the side. Cody Stashak has been solid for the Twins so far this season and should continue to be a factor for them in the late innings, but we’ll swap him out for May in our hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Rogers | Romo | May.

Miami Marlins – For the first time since July 26, the Marlins actually played a baseball game. After a COVID-19 outbreak put a pause to their season, the Marlins returned to the field with several new faces on the roster. One of those new faces was Richard Bleier, who Miami acquired in a trade with Baltimore. Bleier’s first assignment with the Marlins came Tuesday night against his former club, and he dispatched all three Orioles he faced in a perfect seventh inning. He’ll take over the seventh-inning role vacated by Yimi Garcia, who landed on the IL prior to Tuesday’s game.

Updated hierarchy: Kintzler | Boxberger | Bleier.

Colorado Rockies – Yency Almonte needed just one pitch to induce an inning-ending double play and preserve a 5-2 lead in Tuesday’s eighth inning. He came back out for the ninth and got another double play en route to collecting his first big-league save. Both Jairo Diaz and Carlos Estevez were unavailable, and manager Bud Black wanted to avoid using Daniel Bard unless it was absolutely necessary, which paved the way for Almonte’s opportunity.

Hierarchy remains: *Diaz | Estevez | Bard.
* = closer-by-committee

Pittsburgh Pirates – We’ll hopefully learn more today about when Keone Kela will return to the Pirates’ bullpen. Manager Derek Shelton did confirm yesterday that Kela will close when he comes back. Meanwhile, the Pirates placed Michael Feliz on the 45-day IL.

Updated hierarchy: *Burdi | Rodriguez | Stratton.
* = closer-by-committee

Washington Nationals – Daniel Hudson earned another save on Tuesday, with Javy Guerra picking up an eighth-inning hold after a 67-minute rain delay. Sean Doolittle, who spent the weekend working on his mechanics, had been warming up prior to the delay and would have pitched the eighth if the weather had cooperated.

Hierarchy remains: *Hudson | Doolittle | Rainey.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays — The Rays held a comfortable 5-1 lead in the ninth inning until Ryan Thompson allowed three straight hits to load the bases. Thompson buckled down to record an out before Nick Anderson came on to retire the next two batters and preserve the four-run victory.

Hierarchy remains: *Drake | Anderson | Alvarado.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Nick Goody – Neither Edinson Volquez or Jonathan Hernandez will be available today.
2. Rowan Wick – Craig Kimbrel only threw 11 pitches yesterday but he was once again ineffective.
3. Evan Marshall – Alex Colome has pitched in two straight and Aaron Bummer has appeared in three of the last four.
4. Seth Lugo – Edwin Diaz has looked a lot better in his last two outings, albeit while the Mets were trailing, but may get today off after pitching twice over the last three days.
5. Jake Diekman – Liam Hendriks has pitched in three of the last four.

Tomorrow
1. Jake Diekman – If Liam Hendriks pitches today, that would be two straight and four of the last five.
2. Aaron Bummer/Evan Marshall – Should Alex Colome pitch today, that would be his third consecutive day of work.

Wade Davis, Roberto Osuna placed on the IL

August 3, 2020

Baltimore Orioles – Cole Sulser picked up his third save of the season on Sunday with a clean 2-inning effort against the Rays. All indications are that he’s the full time stopper at this point, so we’re removing his asterisk.

Updated hierarchy: Sulser | Givens | Castro.

Minnesota Twins – Taylor Rogers got the day off after pitching two straight, allowing Sergio Romo to pick up his second save of the year. Always read your Vulture Save Watch, folks.

Hierarchy remains: Rogers | Romo | Stashak.

Texas Rangers – After the Rangers took a 4-run lead in the top of the 7th inning, they turned to Jonathan Hernandez, who turned in two very strong innings (0 hits, 1 walk, 4 Ks) before giving way to Edinson Volquez, who pitched a perfect 9th. While both outings were impressive, the order in which these two were used suggests that Volquez has the edge for saves at the moment. We’ll shuffle the committee hierarchy accordingly.

Updated hierarchy: *Volquez | Hernandez | Goody.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies – Wade Davis was placed on the 10-day IL Sunday with a right shoulder strain. Jairo Diaz picked up the 1-out save in his absence, following a somewhat shaky inning of work from Carlos Estevez, who allowed three inherited runners to score in the 8th and an additional run in the 9th. Still, he’s probably second to Diaz in this hierarchy. With this shakeup, we’d also like to tip our cap to Daniel Bard, who claims the record for “longest stretches between appearances on a Closer Monkey hierarchy,” as we’re adding him at 2nd in line. Bard last appeared on a hierarchy in November 2011 — the fifth month of this site’s existence — when he was briefly elevated to the closer role for the Red Sox (behind him: Alfredo Aceves and Franklin Morales) in the short period between the departure of Jonathan Papelbon and the signing of Mark Melancon. Bard would shift to the rotation soon after, and though the Sox did put him back in the bullpen before releasing him — and while he had short minor league stints with four other teams (as well as a career eulogy on one of our All Star Break shitposts) — he never made it back to a hierarchy. Until now. A heartfelt congratulations, Daniel.

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

Houston Astros – As expected, Roberto Osuna’s arm injury has resulted in an IL stint. Ryan Pressly is the best bet to close in his absence.

Updated hierarchy: Pressly | Taylor | Scrubb.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Joakim Soria – Liam Hendriks and Jake Diekman have pitched in back to back games.

Tomorrow
1. Adam Ottavino – If Zack Britton goes tonight, it’ll be two straight.
2. Blake Treinen – If Kenley Jansen goes tonight, it’ll be two straight.
3. Shane Greene/Chris Martin – If Mark Melancon goes tonight, it’ll be two straight. Same for Shane Greene, so check usage to see who’s available tomorrow.

Oliver Drake, Greg Holland, and Trevor Gott record saves while Edwin Diaz blows one

July 26, 2020

Tampa Bay Rays — Oliver Drake pitched a perfect 9th inning to pick up the first save of the season for the Rays.  Nick Anderson threw 1.1 scoreless innings ahead of Drake and got the win.  Jose Alvarado struck out a pair in a scoreless ninth inning of the Rays loss on Friday.  The Rays have a number of great options at the back end of the bullpen and aren’t afraid to ride the hot hand, as was evident with Emilio Pagan last year.  We will slide Drake to the head of the committee for now.

Updated hierarchy: *Drake | Anderson | Alvarado.
* = closer-by-committee

Kansas City Royals – Kansas City Royals’ fans may have felt a little nostalgic seeing Greg Holland strike out the side on Saturday night to pick up the save.  Manager Mike Matheny said that he wouldn’t have traditional bullpen roles this season and has kept his word so far.  On Friday, in a losing effort, Scott Barlow and Holland pitched the 5th and 6th innings.  Yesterday, Barlow got the 9th in a tie game and Holland converted the save opportunity in the 10th.  Ian Kennedy pitched two scoreless innings in the 6th and 7th with the game tied.  Holland certainly has closing experience but Kennedy was solid as closer last year so we will leave him at the top of the hierarchy and throw the committee label on there for now.

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

Colorado Rockies – Wade Davis gave up a run but was still able to record his first save of the season.  However, the biggest story of the night was Daniel Bard.  Pitching in the majors for the first time in a long time, Bard threw 1.1 scoreless innings to pick up the win.  We aren’t quite ready to put Bard on the hierarchy yet, but he did hit 99 on the radar gun.

Hierarchy remains: Davis | Diaz | Estevez.

New York Mets – It took a little bit longer than most Mets’ fans probably expected (two games instead of one), but Edwin Diaz has his first blown save of the season.  Diaz gave up a solo homer in the top of the 9th to tie the game.  While manager Luis Rojas may not be concerned with Diaz, fantasy owners might be.  Dellin Betances made his Mets debut, striking out one in two-thirds of an inning, while Justin Wilson finished the 8th inning for the second night in a row.  The Mets have a number of options behind Diaz and with a short season, Diaz likely won’t have the luxury of a long leash.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz| Betances | Lugo.

San Francisco Giants — Trevor Gott gave up a homer to the first batter he faced in the 9th inning but was able to retire the next three batters to nail down the save.  Tony Watson and Tyler Rogers combined for the 8th inning ahead of Gott.  We will leave Watson at the top of the committee for now, and slide Gott in right behind him.  With Gabe Kapler as the manager, we probably won’t ever get a ton of clarity on this situation all season and it might best to avoid all members of this bullpen.

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

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Keynan Middleton – Hansel Robles and Ty Buttrey have both pitched in two straight with each throwing over 40 pitches.
2. Dellin Betances/Seth Lugo – Edwin Diaz has pitched in back-to-back games, including a blown save yesterday. Betances pitched yesterday while Seth Lugo had the day off after throwing two innings on Friday.

Monday
1. Pedro Strop – Raisel Iglesias had a rough outing yesterday, throwing 25 pitches while taking the loss after entering a tie game. If he goes again today, he could get Monday off.

A new closer every day in Boston

May 7, 2013

Boston Red Sox — Joel Hanrahan’s ignoble return to the Boston bullpen lasted for precisely four batters, one of whom tapped him for a game-tying home run. To add injury to insult (and injury), Hanrahan left shortly thereafter with “right forearm tightness.” We believe Junichi Tazawa has a slight edge over Koji Uehara, but either or both could be used in the closer role. Although Craig Breslow (fresh from his own DL stint) is now the third-best healthy reliever in the Red Sox pen, Daniel Bard or Alfredo Aceves could also conceivably join what has become a disturbingly threadbare crew. Hierarchy change: Junichi Tazawa to Closer, Koji Uehara to Set-up, Craig Breslow to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Tazawa |Uehara |Breslow |Bailey |5/7/13 |Bailey(DL) |Hanrahan(DL)|

 
Cleveland Indians — Vinnie Pestano was placed on the 15-day DL with a sore right elbow. Hierarchy change: Joe Smith to Set-up, Bryan Shaw to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCLE |C.Perez |Smith |Shaw |C.Perez |5/7/13 |Pestano (DL)|

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jamey Wright, Tampa Bay Rays — Fernando Rodney threw 37 pitches in last night’s game and Joel Peralta threw for two innings.
2. Aaron Crow, Kansas City Royals — Greg Holland blew a save yesterday and has pitched in two straight games; Kelvin Herrera pitched two innings after Holland left the game.