Bruce Rondon throws first major-league pitch in two years; two closers make returns

June 26, 2015

Detroit Tigers – Bruce Rondon is back, and the timing couldn’t be any better for the Tigers. Rondon struck out the only two batters he faced to close the sixth inning. Bullpen mate Joba Chamberlain was not nearly as impressive, coughing up three runs to put the game out of reach. Chamberlain is still in the late-innings conversation, but it’s probably time for Rondon to enter it, too, as manager Brad Ausmus said he will not hesitate to use Rondon in high-leverage situations. Apologies to Al Alburquerque, of course.

Updated hierarchy: Soria | Chamberlain | Rondon.

Oakland Athletics — Tyler Clippard did his job, recording the save, but it’s who pitched ahead of him that caught our eye. In the seventh inning, we saw Drew Pomeranz, and in the eighth, we saw Edward Mujica, who returned from the DL last week and may start getting more looks in the late innings. Mujica closed for the Cardinals a couple years ago, and started this year as the Red Sox closer while Koji Uehara was hurt. Don’t forget that Clippard has been prominently mentioned in some trade rumors recently, and that Evan Scribner has recorded as many home runs allowed as he has strikeouts (three) over his last eight appearances (5.2 IP). Add it all up, and Mujica belongs in the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Clippard | Mujica | Pomeranz.

New York Mets — Pitching for the first time in almost a full week, closer Jeurys Familia nailed down the save with a clean ninth inning. Familia had been battling groin tightness, but it appears his groin has loosened up a bit.

Hierarchy remains: Familia | Parnell | Robles.

Cincinnati Reds — Closer Aroldis Chapman returned from paternity leave on Thursday, and threw a scoreless 11th inning in a 5-4 extra-innings win.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Hoover | Parra.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Zach Duke/Jake Petricka, Chicago White Sox — David Robertson allowed two runs and threw 31 pitches Thursday night, so he could need a breather on Friday night.
2. Steve Delabar, Toronto Blue Jays — In a very unsettled bullpen situation, manager John Gibbons could turn to Delabar or Robert Osuna on any given night.
3. Pedro Strop/Jason Motte, Chicago Cubs — As long as Joe Maddon is in charge and Rafael Soriano is in the minor leagues, expect the committee to reign supreme in Chicago.
4. Jake McGee/Kevin Jepsen, Tampa Bay Rays — Death, taxes and the Tampa Bay Rays employing a closer committee.

Kelvin Herrera begins his suspension; Edward Mujica demoted

May 8, 2015

Kansas City Royals — Reliever Kelvin Herrera’s combined suspensions were reduced to six games, a penalty he began serving on Thursday. He’s eligible to return next Wednesday. In the meantime, Luke Hochevar returned from the disabled list after a rough rehab assignment and pitched a scoreless sixth inning against Cleveland. Comeback kid Ryan Madson pitched the seventh inning, though, so he gets the edge in our hierarchy for now, with Herrera out and Hochevar (who hasn’t pitched on two straight days all season) still working his way back. Oh, and did we mention that Greg Holland got his first save since returning from the DL? It truly was a busy night for the Royals ‘pen.

Updated hierarchy: Holland | Davis | Madson.

Boston Red Sox — The Red Sox were off Thursday, but made two significant moves in designating former setup man Edward Mujica for assignment and firing pitching coach Juan Nieves. Mujica’s departure likely means the call-up of prospect Matt Barnes, who may begin in the Boston bullpen. Barnes throws hard, which is more than you can say about most of the Red Sox pitching staff. He could enter the late-innings mix in the coming weeks.

Hierarchy remains: Uehara | Tazawa | Ogando.

St. Louis Cardinals — Jordan Walden will be out for 6 to 10 weeks with an injury to his pitching shoulder. Kevin Siegrist slides into the Cardinal hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Rosenthal | Maness | Siegrist.

Los Angeles Angels — Given a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning Thursday night, Angels closer Huston Street coughed it all up, surrendering three runs to take the loss against his namesake. Street allowed four singles and a walk, but the winning run came only when the speedy Jose Altuve beat out a double play that would have ended the inning.

Hierarchy remains: Street | Smith | Morin.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Mike Morin/Fernando Salas, Los Angeles Angels — After his blown save, Huston Street has pitched on three straight days (as has his lieutenant, Joe Smith). If the Angels get a save chance, we might learn whether Fernando Salas has nosed ahead of Mike Morin to be second in line.
2. Chris Hatcher, Los Angeles Dodgers — Yimi Garcia is still the top option, but Chris Hatcher recorded a save this week, proving the volatility of the situation. Rehabbing closer Kenley Jansen wants to come back next week, but Don Mattingly reigned that in a bit. For now, we’re dealing with a committee situation in LA.
3. Seth Maness, St. Louis Cardinals — Trevor Rosenthal has pitched on 5 of the last 7 days, and could be due for a night off Friday. He was called into action last night when Maness and Kevin Siegrist ran into trouble in the ninth inning of a 5-1 game.

Brett Cecil collects first save; Edward Mujica struggles

April 29, 2015

Toronto Blue Jays –After being named the Blue Jays’ closer early Tuesday, Brett Cecil picked up his first save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Cecil | Osuna | Loup.

Boston Red Sox –Not only was Edward Mujica awful on Tuesday, but he was awful in the fourth inning. He balked twice and allowed three runs. Even though Junichi Tazawa has now allowed a home run in each of his last two appearances, he’s been the only decent option out of the Sox ‘pen in front of Uehara this season. Mujica may be designated for assignment thanks to zero saves, zero holds and a 6.30 ERA.

Updated hierarchy: Uehara | Tazawa | Ogando.

New York Yankees –Don’t Panic, Yankees fans. In a game that seemed to move at the Speed of Sound under A Sky Full of Stars, Chris Martin made sure there was no ninth-inning Trouble and recorded his first career save. Both Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances had pitched in back-to-back games.

Hierarchy remains: Miller | Betances | Martin.

Miami Marlins — After a horrible outing on Monday and a sleepless night, Steve Cishek bounced back Tuesday to pick up just his second save of the season. He says his velocity is down “a tick” but that he “starts slowly during the first month of the season”. As April turns into May, Cishek owners hope he can pick up speed and avoid the Hot Seat.

Hierarchy remains: Cishek | Ramos | Dunn.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. A.J. Ramos, Miami Marlins — Steve Cishek has pitched in three straight and four out of five.
2. Danny Farquhar, Seattle Mariners — Fernando Rodney has thrown in three consecutive games.
3. Pedro Baez/Chris Hatcher, Los Angeles Dodgers –It could be anybody on any given night in LA.

John Axford gets the first post-Ottavino save chance for Colorado

April 28, 2015

Colorado Rockies — As we told you last night, John Axford was first in line to get a save opportunity with Adam Ottavino headed to the disabled list. Rafael Betancourt could also get some chances, but if you must ride with a Rockies closer, the Ax Man is the choice. And we’re sorry.

Updated hierarchy: Axford | Betancourt | Logan.

Miami Marlins — Steve Cishek coughed up three runs in the ninth inning on Monday, ruining Jarrod Cosart’s spectacular start. After the game, Cosart had his teammate’s back, reminding the media how effective Cishek has been in his relatively short career as a closer. With A.J. Ramos pitching lights-out in a setup role, however, Miami won’t stick with Cishek forever, especially given his atrocious trend line. Expect to see him discussed on the Hot Seat this week.

Hierarchy remains: Cishek | Ramos | Dunn.

Toronto Blue Jays – The Jays’ bullpen fell apart late against the Red Sox last night; Roberto Osuna gave up the tying run in the eighth, and Miguel Castro surrendered a walk-off single in the ninth. After the game, John Gibbons said that Brett Cecil would have gotten the save opportunity, had one arisen, although he still has full confidence in Castro. It’s anybody’s guess who will have the edge going forward, but we’ll edge Cecil to the front of what clearly remains a committee.

Updated hierarchy: *Cecil | Castro | Osuna.
*closer-by-committee

Kansas City Royals — Even with Greg Holland’s injury, the Royals have had the best bullpen in the majors this season — and a substantial part of that has been the work of Ryan Madson, out of baseball since 2011 with a series of arm injuries and not even expected to make the Opening Day roster. Madson now has 11 strikeouts in eight appearances, and will continue to get important innings for Kansas City.

Updated hierarchy: Davis | Herrera | Madson.

New York Yankees — Another great outing for Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller. In 19.2 innings, the two have now allowed no earned runs and eight hits, while striking out 32.

Hierarchy remains: Miller | Betances | Martin.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joba Chamberlain, Detroit Tigers— Joakim Soria has gone in three straight.
2. Edward Mujica, Boston Red Sox — 40-year-old Koji Uehara has pitched on three of the last four days.
3. A.J. Ramos, Miami Marlins — Steve Cishek has pitched in three out of four.
4. Brett Cecil, Toronto Blue Jays — As noted above, Cecil would have gotten the save chance last night.
5. Pedro Baez/Chris Hatcher, Los Angeles Dodgers — Yimi Garcia was called on in the eighth on Monday. Things are still in flux in the late innings in LA.

Miguel Castro gets first Blue Jays save; Koji Uehara back Monday?

April 10, 2015

Toronto Blue Jays — On the day Brett Cecil was demoted from the closer job, new committee head Miguel Castro mowed down the Yankees in the ninth to earn his first career save. A righty, the 6-5 Castro retired three Yankee lefthanded batters in Stephen Drew, Didi Gregorius and Jacoby Ellsbury. Roberto Osuna, Toronto’s other 20-year-old phenom, handled his business in the sixth and seventh, and Cecil responded to his new role encouragingly, with an effective eighth.

Hierarchy remains: *Castro | Osuna | Cecil.
*closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox — The Red Sox haven’t had a save situation yet, but fans and owners pining for the return of Koji Uehara may not have to wait much longer. Uehara has a scheduled relief outing for Single-A Greenville on Friday, and manager John Farrell said the team isn’t ruling out a possible return to the big club after just the one rehab outing. Because Uehara’s hamstring injury “wasn’t arm-related,” as Farrell put it, we’re pretty comfortable with the expectation that Uehara will be back for the team’s home opener on Monday. As a side note, current closer Edward Mujica got some work in during the 9th inning of the team’s 6-2 win over the Phillies Thursday night.

Hierarchy remains: Mujica | Ogando | Tazawa.

New York Mets — Pitching in a non-save situation Thursday, Jeurys Familia allowed two hits and a run in the ninth inning of the Mets’ 6-3 win. Manager Terry Collins said before the game Thursday that Familia would not be the team’s exclusive closer, but will be “the guy” once he “can get lefties out in certain situations.” Confusingly, Collins finished by saying, “Right now Jeurys is going to close.” In case you were wondering, lefties hit .293 against Familia last season, but the two hits he allowed Thursday were to righties (Ian Desmond and Reed Johnson). It’s safe to say Familia is still the guy until Mejia returns.

Hierarchy remains: Familia | Torres | Montero.

Los Angeles Dodgers — The Dodgers acquired righty reliever Ryan Webb from the Orioles Thursday. Webb was recently designated for assignment, but has a career 3.38 ERA and gives LA some much-needed bullpen depth. Webb has never recorded a save, but could conceivably enter a game in the late innings if Chris Hatcher or Joel Peralta falter. His situation is worth watching.

Hierarchy remains: *Hatcher | Peralta | Howell.
*closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Andrew Miller, New York Yankees — Miller remains in a committee situation and could be in line for a save if the matchup against his former team, the Red Sox, is right.
2. Joel Peralta, Los Angeles Dodgers — In another committee, Chris Hatcher and Peralta have each recorded a save. Don Mattingly could turn to Peralta again in the right situation.