Carter Capps to open season on DL

April 3, 2017

San Diego Padres — Carter Capps will begin the season on the DL, though his stay there is not expected to be long. Brad Hand was mentioned by manager Andy Green as someone that will see some late-inning work in Capps’ absence.

Updated hierarchy: Maurer | Buchter | Hand.

Toronto Blue Jays — In case you missed our alert yesterday, Roberto Osuna will start the season on the new 10-day DL (cervical spasm), leaving Jason Grilli to open the season as Toronto’s closer. Osuna can return on April 9.

Updated hierarchy: Grilli | Smith | Howell.

Los Angeles Angels – Blake Parker was a non-roster invitee to camp and made the roster anyway after a terrific spring in which he posted a 0.73 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 12.1 innings. It may be worth taking a flier on him as someone who could get some work in the late innings to start the season. Meanwhile, Huston Street will resume some light throwing on Tuesday.

Updated hierarchy: Bedrosian | Bailey | Parker.

Atlanta Braves — Mauricio Cabrera will begin the season on the 10-day DL, paving the way for some other guys to potentially be the bridge to the 8th and 9th innings. We like lefty Ian Krol as perhaps the best option, with Eric O’Flaherty being another lefty that pitched his way onto the roster this spring and could see some high-leverage work to start the season.

Updated hierarchy: Johnson | Vizcaino | Krol.

Arizona Diamondbacks — The Diamondbacks were one of the six teams that opened the season on Sunday, and JJ Hoover looked sharp in the 8th inning as part of Arizona’s comeback win. He pitched with the D-Backs trailing by a run, but struck out two guys and kept the game in reach. Hoover made the roster out of spring training as a non-roster invitee and could see some more high-leverage innings ahead of Fernando Rodney.

Updated hierarchy: Rodney | Delgado | Hoover.

2017 AL East Preview

February 27, 2017

Baltimore Orioles – The Orioles once again project to have one of the best bullpens in baseball thanks to dominant closer Zach Britton, who dealt with oblique soreness last week. You may see the O’s practice a little caution with Darren O’Day, who spent time on the DL last season, but he will once again be a top setup guy. Brad Brach, who is already 1-0 against AL East opponents this year, will handle the seventh. Plenty of reliability, at least on paper, for the Baltimore bullpen entering 2017.

Starting 2017 hierarchy: Britton | O’Day | Brach.
Holds candidates: O’Day, Brach.

Boston Red Sox – The Red Sox will once again lean on Craig Kimbrel in the ninth inning, but the bridge to him will look a little different than last year. Power is the name of the game for the Sox with Koji Uehara and Brad Ziegler gone. Boston acquired Tyler Thornburg from the Brewers, and he will be the likely setup man despite an ugly spring debut. Converted starter Joe Kelly enters his first full season as a reliever and also can reach 100 on the radar gun. Robbie Ross, Jr., will be the first lefty out of the pen, and don’t forget about Carson Smith, due back sometime this summer following Tommy John surgery.

Starting 2017 hierarchy: Kimbrel | Thornburg | Kelly.
Holds candidates: Thornburg, Kelly, Ross Jr.

New York Yankees — Aroldis Chapman is back with the Yankees after winning a World Series with the Cubs. That means that Dellin Betances will slide back to an eighth-inning role. As for the seventh? Tyler Clippard is the frontrunner to start the season.

Starting 2017 hierarchy: Chapman | Betances | Clippard.
Holds candidates: Betances, Clippard.

Tampa Bay Rays — Alex Colome will resume his duties as closer for the Rays, with a crowded group behind him on the depth chart. 2015 closer Brad Boxberger probably has the inside edge for the eighth inning given his experience, but the seventh inning is a different story. Danny Farquhar, lefty Xavier Cedeno and former Rangers closer Shawn Tolleson will all battle for time in the late innings. If everyone remains healthy, Kevin Cash can mix and match in the late innings as he sees fit.

Starting 2017 hierarchy: Colome | Boxberger | Cedeno.
Holds candidates: Boxberger, Cedeno, Farquhar, Tolleson, Tommy Hunter.

Toronto Blue Jays — Roberto Osuna is back for another season as the Jays’ closer, and he should be even stronger this season. Behind him on the depth chart will be 40-year-old Jason Grilli, who will likely have his innings monitored even though he’s not really that tired. Toronto also acquired Joe Smith, who closed a bit last year with the Angels, as well as reliable lefty JP Howell. Those two should fight for holds depending on matchups ahead of Grilli and Osuna.

Starting 2016 hierarchy: Osuna | Grilli | Smith.
Holds candidates: Grilli, Smith, Howell.

Seung Hwan Oh leaves with groin trouble again

September 29, 2016

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Boston Red Sox — Boston clinched a division title when Toronto lost to Baltimore, but Craig Kimbrel and Joe Kelly couldn’t protect a three-run lead in the ninth, allowing the Yankees to remain barely alive in the wild card race. Kimbrel really struggled, yielding a line-drive single before sprinkling three walks around a wild pitch. John Farrell retains confidence in all three of his top relievers, and Kimbrel could be used in a more unorthodox, stopper-type role in the playoffs. But with the team’s playoff fate sealed, he might get some more rest.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Uehara | Ziegler.

St. Louis Cardinals — Seung Hwan Oh left last night’s game as a precaution to avoid further injury to his balky groin. Consider him day-to-day, with Kevin Siegrist ready to fill in if needed.

Hierarchy remains: Oh | Siegrist | Bowman.

Los Angeles Angels — Just when we thought it was safe to remove Andrew Bailey’s committee asterisk, the Angels turned to J.C. Ramirez in the ninth inning. The asterisk stays, but the next chance should still go to Bailey.

Hierarchy remains: *Bailey | Ramirez | Guerra.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies — Boone Logan got the first shot at Wednesday’s save, against a lefty-heavy lineup, but when he put two men on, Adam Ottavino was summoned for the last out.

Hierarchy remains: Ottavino | Logan | McGee.

San Diego Padres — Ryan Buchter hasn’t pitched in nine days, and although there’s been no explanation that we can find, it’s possible the rookie might be done for the season.

Updated hierarchy: Maurer | Hand | Quackenbush.

Seattle Mariners — If the Mariners miss the playoffs, it certainly won’t be Evan Scribner’s fault. After missing the first five months of the season with a strained right lat, he joined the team in the September roster expansion and has been fantastic — 12.1 scoreless IP over 10 games, with 14 Ks and only eight baserunners. Wednesday afternoon, Scribner escaped a Nick Vincent jam on his way to two more scoreless innings. He can’t crack the hierarchy, but he deserves a little love.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Cishek | Vincent.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Hector Rondon, Chicago Cubs — Aroldis Chapman has gone in three of four, and the Cubs are home free.
2. Jason Grilli, Toronto Blue Jays — Roberto Osuna blew a save yesterday, his fourth day of work in the last five.
3. Kelvin Herrera, Kansas City Royals — It’s been four of five for Wade Davis as well.
4. Kevin Siegrist, St. Louis Cardinals — See above.
5. Koji Uehara/Brad Ziegler, Boston Red Sox — Kimbrel struggled through 28 pitches Wednesday night.

Blue Jays bullpen in shambles as playoffs approach

September 27, 2016

Seattle Mariners – In a game with significant playoff implications, Edwin Diaz got torched by the Astros in the 9th inning, blowing his third save of the season. Luckily for Diaz, his team was able to bail him out by scratching out a run in the 11th to take the lead. In the bottom of the 11th, Nick Vincent kept Mariners fans on edge as he wobbled his way through the last three outs, earning his third save of the season. Down the stretch, we expect the Mariners to stick with Diaz, who has been solid lately, boasting a sub-1.00 WHIP in his last 30 appearances.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Cishek | Vincent.

Toronto Blue Jays – Thirty-nine year old Jason Grilli was tapped to finish off the Yankees in the ninth innings with the Jays up one run. He was only able to record one out before being replaced, but in the meantime he had surrendered 2 home runs and the lead. His outing last night was Grilli’s 65th appearance of the season, a career high, and John Gibbons may be hesitant to use ol’ Grilled Cheese in big spots down the stretch. But if he wants to look elsewhere, he may not have the services of Joaquin Benoit, who didn’t even pitch yesterday but still managed to get injured in one of the bench-clearing incidents during the game. If Benoit can’t serve as Roberto Osuna’s handcuff as a result, perhaps Grilli will get another chance, or Gibbons could look to platoon Joe Biagini and (gulp) Brett Cecil in the 8th.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Benoit | Grilli.

New York Yankees – Following Grilli’s “melt-down” *ducks*, Tommy Layne nabbed his first save of the season. He is not expected to be among the Yankee’s late inning plans for the end of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Betances | Clippard | Warren.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Luke Gregerson, Houston Astros – Ken Giles has pitched in two straight and three of four. He has thrown 96 pitches over his last four appearances.