Carlos Martinez to close for the Cardinals

June 26, 2019

St. Louis Cardinals – When the news that Jordan Hicks tore his UCL came out, we initially liked Carlos Martinez to be the closer. We moved John Gant ahead of Martinez based on comments from John Mozeliak, but now Mozeliak has changed course after talking with Mike Shildt and said yesterday that Martinez will be the team’s closer. We’ll keep monitoring this situation, but Martinez looks to be the reliever to own in St. Louis.

Updated hierarchy: *Martinez | Gant | Miller.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago Cubs — Craig Kimbrel struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth inning for Triple-A Iowa last night in what should be his last minor-league outing. Kimbrel is expected to join the Cubs’ bullpen by Thursday or Friday. Joe Maddon said that he doesn’t plan to use Kimbrel for more than three-out save situations until the end of the season when there are more serious playoff implications.

Hierarchy remains: *Strop | Cishek | Kintzler.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox — Matt Barnes struck out two in a solid seventh inning, preserving a three-run lead against the 9-1-2 hitters. Ryan Brasier and Brandon Workman pitched the eighth and the ninth, respectively, with Workman earning his third save of the season. Alex Cora has said that he doesn’t want Barnes facing an opponent’s best hitters every single game, and Tuesday seemed like a good spot to give him a high-leverage inning without any of the fuss. Workman and Barnes remain the two best options to pick up saves among the Red Sox bullpen.

Hierarchy remains: *Barnes | Workman | Brasier.
* = closer-by-committee

Washington Nationals — Yesterday we asked our Twitter followers to tell us who their favorite terrible closer of all-time is. Fernando Rodney, one of the most popular answers to that question, made his Nationals debut on Tuesday and pitched the ninth inning of a 5-1 victory. Rodney walked one, struck out one and induced a game-ending double play in his first MLB outing in over a month. Dave Martinez said that Rodney and fellow newcomer Jonny Venters will see some high-leverage situations, so we’ll keep an eye on how Rodney in particular performs with his new club.

Hierarchy remains: Doolittle | Suero | Rainey.

Philadelphia Phillies — Juan Nicasio needed some help from Hector Neris last night, but he got out of the eighth inning unscathed to continue his scoreless month of June. Nicasio hasn’t allowed a run in nine appearances (7.2 IP) this month and should continue to see high-leverage spots along with Adam Morgan and JD Hammer. Morgan bounced back from a rough return to action on Saturday with a scoreless seventh inning last night.

Updated hierarchy: Neris | Hammer | Nicasio.

Los Angeles Angels — Noe Ramirez struggled last month, culminating in a four-hit, five-run disaster on May 23. Since then, Ramirez has thrown 16.1 scoreless innings in a row and struck out 21 batters in that span. That includes three Ks over 1.2 innings of work last night in a 5-1 win. Ramirez probably isn’t ahead of Cam Bedrosian right now, but he’s certainly pitching his way into the late-inning conversation for the Angels.

Hierarchy remains: Robles | Buttrey | Bedrosian.

San Francisco Giants – Sam Dyson earned his second seventh-inning hold in his last three appearances on Tuesday. Dyson has recorded six holds in June and has become a part of the Giants’ late-inning plans. Reyes Moronta is striking out hitters at an impressive rate and has been outstanding in June, not allowing a run in 7.1 IP this month. Both Moronta and closer Will Smith will be popular trade targets for contenders, which should open the door for Dyson and Tony Watson to see more high-leverage opportunities when the dust settles.

Hierarchy remains: Smith | Watson | Moronta.

Kansas City Royals – While it wasn’t a traditional vulture save, Ian Kennedy sure did steal a save last night after Brad Hand allowed five runs and recorded zero outs in last night’s ninth inning, proving he’s human after all. If only Terry Francona read our Vulture Save Watch and save Tyler Clippard for the ninth. If you had Ian Kennedy in your lineup, congrats on the unlikely save!

Hierarchy remains: Kennedy | Peralta | Diekman.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Nick Wittgren – We thought Brad Hand would get yesterday off, but didn’t and that was probably a mistake as he noted above. After last night, Hand has gone in two straight and five of six. Wittgren pitched two innings on Monday and rested yesterday, while Tyler Clippard threw 1.1 innings last night and has thrown 36 pitches over the last two days.
2. Pedro Baez – Kenley Jansen has pitched in three of four, as has Baez. The Dodgers play on Thursday as well and Julio Urias threw 40 pitches over three innings of work last night, so either Baez or Jansen is likely to get one of the next two days off. It’s just a matter of who gets rested when.
3. Zack Britton – Aroldis Chapman has thrown 25 pitches in each of the last two games.

Tomorrow
1. Cam Bedrosian – If Hansel Robles and Ty Buttrey pitch today then that will be two straight and three of four for each of them.
2. Pedro Baez – Should Kenley Jansen pitch today, it’s very likely he’ll rest on Thursday.
3. Lou Trivino – Liam Hendriks tossed 24 pitches last night and may need Thursday off if he has another lengthy outing tonight.
4. JD Hammer – Hector Neris is in the same boat as Hendriks, as Neris threw 25 pitches in 1.1 inning of work on Tuesday.

Jeremy Jeffress day-to-day with neck spasms

September 25, 2018

New York Yankees – Aroldis Chapman pitched a clean 7th inning on Monday night, earning his first hold of the season; Dellin Betances pitched the 8th and Zach Britton pitched the 9th for the save. After a rough first outing back, Chapman has now thrown two scoreless innings. Aaron Boone has said that he hopes to have the lefty closing games come playoff time, so it seems possible-to-probable that he gets a save chance the next time one arises.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Betances | Robertson. 

Milwaukee Brewers – Just yesterday we opined that, despite his otherworldly September, it was unlikely that Corey Knebel would see a save chance again by year’s end. But a bout of neck spasms hit Jeremy Jeffress yesterday, and sure enough, Knebel was summoned for the 9th, whereupon he earned just his second save since July. Jeffress is day-to-day.

Hierarchy remains: Jeffress | Hader | Knebel.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Fernando Rodney – Blake Treinen and Jeurys Familia have gone three of four, and with the A’s having clinched a playoff spot, they might give their top two relievers the day off today.
2. Hector Rondon – Roberto Osuna threw 20 pitches last night, and tonight would make three of four, so the Astros may just rest him to prep for the playoffs.

Tomorrow
1. Greg Holland – If Sean Doolittle goes today, it’ll be back to back; we figure the Nats might not risk throwing him three in a row at this point.
2. Chris Martin – If Jose LeClerc goes today, it’ll be three straight.
3. Kyle Crick – If Felipe Vazquez goes today, it’ll be back to back and three of four.
4. Kenta Maeda – If Kenley Jansen goes today, it’ll be back to back and three of four.

 

Arodys Vizcaino earns first save since June

September 23, 2018

Atlanta Braves – Arodys Vizcaino earned his first save since June 17 when he closed out an NL East title for the Braves on Saturday. Vizcaino still needs to work towards back-to-back appearances, which should start this week. As the Braves prepare for the postseason, it would make sense for them to give Vizcaino another save chance or two to see if he’s capable of once again being a closer, even if it’s a shared role with AJ Minter.

Updated hierarchy: Minter | Vizcaino | Venters.

Oakland A’s — Jeurys Familia pitched Saturday and allowed an earned run for the third time in four appearances. Meanwhile, Fernando Rodney has overcome a rough stretch of his own to string together four straight scoreless outings. We’ll keep an eye on where both of these former closers are trending in case Blake Treinen needs a night off prior to the postseason.

Hierarchy remains: Treinen | Familia | Rodney.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Jordan Hicks — Carlos Martinez threw 38 pitches last night in his second straight day of work.
2. Mike Wright Jr. — Mychal Givens threw 24 pitches over two innings on Saturday and Paul Fry has thrown 31 pitches over the last two days.
3. Adam Ottavino/Seung Hwan Oh — Both Wade Davis (28 pitches) and Ottavino (22 pitches) have gone on back-to-back days, but Ottavino only threw five pitches last night.
4. David Robertson — Aroldis Chapman may not see a save chance just yet, and both Zach Britton and Dellin Betances have seen heavy usage over the past three days.

Monday:
1. Steven Wright — If Craig Kimbrel goes today that will be three of four.
2. Adam Ottavino/Seung Hwan Oh — If either Davis or Ottavino goes today, it will be three straight for them.
3. Adam Conley/Kyle Barraclough — Same goes for Drew Steckenrider and Adam Conley.
4. Jeurys Familia/Fernando Rodney — And for Blake Treinen and Jeurys Familia.
5. Kyle Crick — Felipe Vazquez threw 23 pitches last night and another lengthy outing could mean an off day Monday.

Trevor Hildenberger with his third straight save, but the job isn’t all his yet

August 16, 2018

Minnesota Twins — Trevor Hildenberger may be getting the hang of this, picking up his third save in as many chances since Fernando Rodney’s departure. Paul Molitor insists that the closer role is still fluid, and although Hildenberger was asked to pick a closer entrance song on Wednesday, so were four other guys with a shot to close (Addison Reed, Trevor May, Taylor Rogers, and Tyler Duffey). Reed has been passed over for those other guys lately in the middle innings, but if Molitor is telling the truth, Reed could still get the next chance.

Hierarchy remains: *Hildenberger | Reed | May.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s — Oakland is consistently using Fernando Rodney later than Lou Trivino, and we have to believe that Rodney would be the team’s third choice for saves at this point.

Updated hierarchy: Treinen | Familia | Rodney.

Toronto Blue Jays — Ken Giles gave up a one-out home run in the ninth on Wednesday, but he still converted his third save in four days — enough to pull the committee asterisk from the Blue Jays.

Hierarchy remains: Giles | Tepera | Clippard.

Chicago White Sox — Ugh, these guys again. Wednesday it was Jeanmar Gomez to start the ninth with a walk, a single, and a strikeout. Lefty Luis Avilan hadn’t pitched with a lead in two weeks, so of course Rick Renteria called his number. Avilan wasn’t particularly effective, allowing Gomez’s two baserunners to score on two hits, but he managed to secure a third out for his second save. STAY AWAY.

Hierarchy remains: *Cedeno | Vieira | Minaya. 
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Brad Brach — AJ Minter has appeared in three of four.
2. Addison Reed — Two straight nights for Hildenberger and a manager who’s talking matchups.
3. Ryan Tepera — Ken Giles has gone in three of four.
4. Jordan Hicks — So has Bud Norris.
5. Justin Anderson — And Blake Parker.

Friday:
1. Craig Stammen — Kirby Yates has pitched in two of three.

Nationals, Dodgers playing bullpen roulette

August 14, 2018

Texas Rangers – Jose LeClerc picked up his second save of the season on Monday, and for the second time, it was Cory Gearrin pitching the 8th ahead of him. With Chris Martin struggling from his return to the DL and Alex Claudio hardly ever pitching when the Rangers are ahead, look for Gearrin to be a sold source of holds down the stretch. Lefty Jeff Springs, who has started career with 7 solid innings of work, might soon become the lefthanded preference over Claudio.

Updated hierarchy: LeClerc | Gearrin | Claudio.

Washington Nationals – Ryan Madson should avoid the DL, so we’ll put the righty back on the hierarchy in what is now a very unsettled bullpen. Koda Glover’s first outing as the would-be closer — he got he ball in the 9th inning of a tie game — ended after 1 batter, as he gave up a walk-off home run to Paul Dejong. Justin Miller and Sammy Solis also gave up runs, while Greg Holland allowed several hard-hit balls in his 0.2 innings of work. But at least the latter didn’t allow any runs? So I guess he gets to stay in the top three for now. At present, this bullpen is among the most wide-open in baseball.

Updated hierarchy: *Glover | Madson | Holland.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Angels – Blake Parker pitched the 9th inning yet again, this time with his team up by four runs. Over the last month and a half, the only time anyone other than Parker has gotten a save chance was when the righty needed a night off. We’re removing his asterisk in a probably-overdue move.

Updated hierarchy: Parker | Anderson | Bedrosian.

St. Louis Cardinals – Bud Norris blew the save chance, allowing two runs and only recording one out before being replaced by Dakota Hudson in a tie game. While there is no indication his job is in trouble yet, another bad outing or two in short order and he could certainly see the hook. Hudson and Jordan Hicks are the two most likely candidates to replace Norris in the event he is demoted.

Hierarchy remains: Norris | Hicks | Hudson.

Los Angeles Dodgers – Scott Alexander was summoned for the 9th inning last night, but it might have been for the last time. In a one-run game, Alexander was singled to death, allowing four hits and four runs before being replaced by Pedro Baez. With Kenta Maeda and Ross Stripling moving to the bullpen, either guy could replace Alexander. Kenley Jansen is already throwing, and saying that he’ll be back sooner than people are expecting, but until then, this bullpen is deeply unsettled.

Hierarchy remains: *Alexander | Maeda | Stripling.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Justin Anderson – Blake Parker has pitched back to back and three of four.
2. Tony Watson – Will Smith has pitched in back to back and three of four.
3. Jordan Hicks – Bud Norris has pitched back to back games and might get the night off after his blown save last night. If Norris does indeed go, he’ll definitely be off tomorrow.

Tomorrow
1. Kevin McCarthy – If Wily Peralta goes today, it’ll be three straight.
2. Jeurys Familia/Fernando Rodney – If Blake Treinen goes today, it’ll be three straight. Familia has been struggling lately, making Rodney is a darkhorse for this vulture chance as well.