Derek Law set to return to Giants bullpen Wednesday

September 14, 2016

San Francisco Giants – Hunter Strickland was summoned for the 9th inning on Tuesday, but the newest committee head failed to pick up his second straight save. Instead, three hits, a walk and an RBI ground out cut a 4-1 lead to 4-3. Lefty Steven Okert came in to face left-handed Ryan Schimpf, and Schimpf promptly hit a home run to give San Diego the lead. After the game, Bruce Bochy blamed “bad luck” and reaffirmed his confidence in Strickland. However confident Bochy may still be in Strickland, Derek Law is due back on Wednesday and should immediately challenge for save chances following one low-leverage outing. Meanwhile, poor Sergio Romo hasn’t seen a save chance all year and who knows if he will in this crowded committee.

Updated hierarchy: *Strickland | Law | Romo.
* = closer-by-committee

Texas Rangers — The Rangers erased a one-run deficit in the top of the 9th, paving the way for Tanner Scheppers to grab his first save since Aug. 6, 2013. Scheppers has been stupendous since returning to the Rangers’ bullpen on Sept. 7, retiring all seven batters he has faced in four appearances. It’s a crowded bullpen in Texas at the moment, but Scheppers is making a case to move into the hierarchy as the postseason approaches.

Hierarchy remains: Dyson | Bush | Diekman.

New York Mets — After the Mets regained a lead previously blown by Jeurys Familia, Fernando Salas got the first two outs of the 10th inning. With lefty Daniel Murphy at the plate, Terry Collins called upon LOOGY Jerry Blevins for the final out. Blevins struck Murphy out and picked up his first save since Sept. 11, 2012.

Hierarchy remains: Familia | Reed | Salas.

St. Louis Cardinals — Seung Hwan Oh has been battling a groin problem and was unavailable on Tuesday, paving the way for Kevin Siegrist to collect a save. Oh should be back on Wednesday, but if he isn’t then Siegrist should see the 9th once again.

Hierarchy remains: Oh | Siegrist | Bowman.

San Diego Padres – As the Vulture Save Watch predicted, Brandon Maurer did indeed get a day off, but so did Ryan Buchter, which left Kevin Quackenbush to pick up the save after the Padres erased a 4-1 ninth-inning deficit. Brad Hand had thrown in four straight games, but he didn’t pitch a full inning in any of those outings. We’ll move Quackenbush back into the hierarchy for now, but don’t be surprised if Hand gets some more late-inning chances.

Updated hierarchy: Maurer | Buchter | Quackenbush.

Arizona Diamondbacks — Matt Koch made his major league debut on Sept. 9. He needed just one more appearance to pick up his first career save, a four-inning gem in which he allowed just two hits while striking out four Rockies in an 11-4 victory.

Hierarchy remains: *Hudson | Delgado | Barrett.
* = closer-by-committee

Minnesota Twins — In case you didn’t get enough Trevor May news, he’s now out for the season due to a back problem. No word yet if his fingers will hurt due to the forthcoming landscaping duty.

Hierarchy remains: Kintzler | Pressly | Rogers.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Luke Gregerson, Houston Astros – Ken Giles has thrown 42 pitches in three innings over the past two days, including a blown save on Tuesday. Gregerson and Will Harris have also pitched in back-to-back games, but Gregerson has thrown the fewest pitches among the trio.

Hansel Robles enduring rough stretch

August 16, 2016

New York Mets – While the Mets have had one of the most stable bullpens in the majors this year, the dog days of summer appear to be wearing out Hansel Robles. After posting a 0.00 ERA in 10 July appearances, Robles has struggled in August, giving up 8 runs and 5 walks in just 8.1 innings. Left-hander Jerry Blevins has pitched well all season and should be rewarded with more late-inning opportunities if Robles continues to struggle.

Updated hierarchy: Familia | Reed | Blevins.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Mike Dunn, Miami Marlins – Both Fernando Rodney and Kyle Barraclough have pitched in three straight.

Edwin Diaz and Brad Hand are making moves

July 23, 2016

Seattle Mariners — Edwin Diaz pitched the eighth inning of a one-run game and added two more strikeouts to his league-leading 44 relief strikeouts since his June 6 debut. A converted starter, Diaz has a plus fastball and an incredible 18.3 K/9 ratio this season. All that’s holding him back thus far is his age (22), but four straight eighth-inning appearances suggests that Scott Servais is coming around to using him over Joaquin Benoit. It may be hard for Diaz to keep up his otherworldly ratios, but he could still see save chances soon.

Updated hierarchy: Cishek | Diaz | Benoit.

San Diego Padres — Lefty Brad Hand pitched the eighth inning in a three-run game; although he gave up a run, he earned his third hold in the last week, edging him past Kevin Quackenbush in our hierarchy. Hand could see another promotion soon, as Ryan Buchter has been drawing interest from teams in the market for lefthanded relief help.

Updated hierarchy: Maurer | Buchter | Hand. 

New York Mets — Hansel Robles pitched a solid sixth and seventh to earn the win on Friday. Robles has seen his role expand in the New York bullpen, while Jerry Blevins has been used as more of a LOOGY.

Updated hierarchy: Familia | Reed | Robles.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs — Hector Rondon has pitched in four of the last five games, including a 22-pitch outing last night.
2. Fernando Abad, Minnesota Twins — Brandon Kintzler worked in and out of a jam on Friday, needing 24 pitches to close out the Red Sox. He’s gone in three of four now, while the rest of the Twins’ pen is well-rested.
3. Adam Ottavino, Colorado Rockies — Carlos Estevez pitched in his third straight game on Friday. Ottavino has been excellent since his return and may get a shot at a save on Saturday.

Jim Henderson hits DL; Bruce Rondon records win

June 22, 2016

New York Mets — Jim Henderson hit the DL Tuesday with right biceps tendinitis. Manager Terry Collins said that he will mix and match in the seventh, with Jerry Blevins picking up a hold in that inning on Tuesday. Blevins lowered his ERA to 1.45 with the clean outing and gets Henderson’s spot in the hierarchy for now.

Updated hierarchy: Familia | Reed | Blevins.

Detroit Tigers — Bruce Rondon was once again sharp in his second appearance since being recalled from Triple-A Toledo. This time it was in the eighth inning of a tie game, and Rondon’s strong showing helped earn him a victory as the Tigers scored in the bottom half of the frame. Like Rondon, Shane Greene was held out of Monday’s 12-inning affair, which bodes well for Rondon moving past Greene for a more permanent late-inning role in the Tigers’ bullpen.

Updated hierarchy: Rodriguez | J.Wilson | Rondon.

Minnesota Twins — Brandon Kintzler picked up his third save of the season and second four-out save in as many chances. Since Kevin Jepsen was demoted from the closer’s role, Kintzler has been the only Twins reliever to record a save, and may be close to dropping the asterisk in Minnesota.

Hierarchy remains: *Kintzler | Abad | Pressly.
* = closer-by-committee

Arizona Diamondbacks – As predicted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Daniel Hudson picked up the save with Brad Ziegler getting a night off after three straight appearances.

Hierarchy remains: Ziegler | Hudson | Clippard.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Zach Duke, Chicago White Sox — Both David Robertson (58 pitches) and Nate Jones (36) have pitched in each of the last three games.
2. Joe Blanton, Los Angeles Dodgers — Kenley Jansen has pitched in three straight and four of the last five.

Joe Biagini benefits as Drew Storen falls

May 28, 2016

Toronto Blue Jays — Joe Biagini was the bridge to closer Roberto Osuna yesterday, finishing the seventh inning and starting the eighth before giving up the tying run and eventually vulturing a win. Drew Storen (7.80 ERA) hasn’t pitched since May 20th and is reportedly on the trading block. A change of scenery may do Storen wonders, but it seems unlikely that he could wind up closing.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Floyd | Biagini.

New York Yankees — Aroldis Chapman was brought in to get the final out after Kirby Yates gave up a homer to make it a three-run game. Chapman did his job twice, getting the rare stat line that has more strikeouts than outs recorded. The last pitcher to do this was the immortal Jerry Blevins, who did it in the bare minimum of six pitches. The last guy to do it in a full inning was Mr. July himself, Will Smith, who should be back with the Brewers next week.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Miller | Betances.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Gavin Floyd, Toronto Blue Jays — Roberto Osuna has pitched in the last three games (39 pitches).
2. Michael Blazek, Milwaukee Brewers — Jeremy Jeffress and Tyler Thornburg have each seen action in three of four (four of six for Jeffress).
3. Addison Reed, New York Mets — Jeurys Familia gave up a four-run lead in the ninth on Friday night (32 pitches).
4. Andrew Miller, New York Yankees — Chapman threw only nine pitches to earn that otherworldly 54 K/9 ratio, but you know Joe Girardi tries to avoid using his big three on back-to-back-to-back nights.