X-rays negative, but Kelvin Herrera will still probably miss time

August 27, 2018

Philadelphia Phillies – Seranthony Dominguez bounced back with a clean 9th inning on Sunday, though it’s notable that it came in a game that the Phillies were winning by five. The team’s use of Hector Neris going forward also bears watching, as he has been probably the best relief pitcher in baseball since returning from the minors (6.2 IP, 15 Ks, 4 baserunners, 0 ERs). Look for the Phillies — three games back in the division and entering a crucial stretch — to ride their hottest arms in the weeks ahead.

Updated hierarchy: *Dominguez | Neshek | Neris.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago White Sox – After Hector Santiago turned a blowout interesting, Jace Fry came on with the bases loaded and 1 out in the 9th with the White Sox up by 5 runs. He induced a pop out and a strikeout, cashing his third save of the year. If you’re going to own a reliever in this bullpen, Fry is probably the best bet at the moment.

Hierarchy remains: *Fry | Cedeno | Gomez.
* = closer-by-committee

Milwaukee Brewers – Jeremy Jeffress picked up his 7th save of the season on Sunday. With the Brewers continuing to deploy Josh Hader in a fireman fashion (his last three outings — all two-inning affairs — have seen him enter in the 7th, 6th, and 6th innings), Jeffress may have inched ahead in terms of who is most likely to get a save on any given night. Joakim Soria, who got the 8th last night in his second clean outing off the DL, might factor in occasionally as well.

Updated hierarchy: *Jeffress | Hader | Soria.
* = closer-by-committee

San Francisco Giants – After pitching in three straight, Will Smith got the night off, and the save chance went to Mark Melancon, who converted his second opportunity in as many nights. Melancon looks to have surpassed Hunter Strickland as the handcuff; the latter has allowed 5 runs (2 ERs) in 4.2 inning since returning from the DL.

Updated hierarchy: Smith | Melancon | Strickland.

New York Yankees – The Yankees continued to mix things up in the 9th, this time opting for David Robertson. Robertson, Zach Britton, and Dellin Betances have each gotten a save apiece in Aroldis Chapman’s absence.

Hierarchy remains: *Betances | Britton | Robertson.
* = closer-by-committee

Washington Nationals — Kelvin Herrera went down with what appeared to be a serious leg injury. Initial x-rays were negative, but Herrera still potentially has some ligament damage and was on crutches in the clubhouse after the game. We expect him to miss a few games at the bare minimum, and the Nationals should return to Koda Glover in the ninth — at least until Ryan Madson returns from the DL.

Updated hierarchy: Glover | Miller | Holland.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jeurys Familia – Blake Treinen has pitched in back to back and three of four.
2. Archie Bradley – Brad Boxberger has pitched in back to back and hasn’t pitched in three straight all year.

Tomorrow
1. Hector Rondon – If Roberto Osuna pitches tonight, it’ll be three straight. Of note, he’s yet to pitch in three straight all year, so it’s conceivable he gets tonight off, but we expect he’ll go if necessary in tonight’s opener against the rival A’s.

Aroldis Chapman to undergo MRI on his knee today

August 22, 2018

New York Yankees — Aroldis Chapman left Tuesday’s tilt after throwing just six pitches, which left Tommy Kahnle to convert the 12th-inning save. After the game, Aaron Boone said that Chapman called for the trainer because he felt pain in his left knee. Chapman, who will undergo an MRI today, said it’s worrisome and Boone is calling this a huge concern. If Dellin Betances is still available in your league, now is the time to get him, as he is likely to get a bulk of the save chances should Chapman need a stint on the DL. Meanwhile, David Robertson was unavailable on Tuesday because of a sore shoulder, but Boone is not overly concerned about it and Robertson said he should be available today if needed.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Betances | Britton.

Houston Astros — AJ Hinch announced on MLB Network Radio yesterday that he’ll start using Hector Rondon in the seventh and eighth innings while relying on Roberto Osuna as the team’s primary closer. Hinch holds no regard for your fantasy team, however, as Rondon picked up the save on Tuesday while Osuna pitched the eighth. After the game, Hinch said that he had Osuna warming for the seventh in case he was needed to bail the Astros out of a jam. He also said that Osuna might have pitched the ninth as well had he not thrown 28 pitches in the previous inning. We think Hinch will stick to his word and keep Osuna as his primary closer, but be prepared for situations like tonight to arise where Rondon gets a save chance after Osuna is forced into a high-leverage spot in the seventh or eighth.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Rondon | McHugh.

Washington Nationals — Kelvin Herrera returned from the DL on Tuesday and finished off a 10-4 win with a 1-2-3 ninth inning. With Sean Doolittle still not close to returning from his injury, Herrera has a strong chance to finish the season as the Nationals’ closer.

Updated hierarchy: Herrera | Glover | Miller.

Minnesota Twins — In our last Twins update, we said that Taylor Rogers may snag a couple more save opportunities if the matchups were right. Well, with the Twins breaking a 2-2 tie in the top half of ninth and a pair of lefties due up for the White Sox, Rogers got the call again and recorded two strikeouts en route to his second save of the season. Trevor May preserved the tie against the top of the White Sox order in the eighth. Rogers is more likely to earn a save when a team has a couple of lefties due up. He is also more likely to earn a save than Addison Reed, who hasn’t recorded a hold since August 10.

Updated hierarchy: *Hildenberger | May | Rogers.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Dellin Betances – Even if Aroldis Chapman doesn’t head to the DL, he may get Wednesday night off anyway.
2. Jordan Hicks – Bud Norris has thrown 39 pitches over the last two days. Hicks had Tuesday off after a 33-pitch effort on Monday.
3. Jared Hughes – Raisel Iglesias threw 29 pitches to record five outs last night. Hughes had Tuesday off following a tough outing on Monday.
4. Hector Rondon – Roberto Osuna hurled 28 pitches last night while Rondon threw only nine. Even with the Astros off on Thursday, AJ Hinch may choose to rest Osuna.

Tomorrow
1. Adam Conley – Drew Steckenrider threw 20 pitches on Tuesday, so a lengthy outing on Wednesday may earn him an off day on Thursday.
2. Craig Stammen/Matt Strahm – An appearance today for Kirby Yates will be his third in four days. Stammen enters today having pitched in three of four.

Ryan Madson will close for Washington, at least until Sean Doolittle returns

[EDITOR’S NOTE: We are running our annual Donation Drive this week. Thank you, as always, for supporting us!]

August 9, 2018

Washington Nationals — Dave Martinez confirmed that it’ll be Ryan Madson getting the ninth inning with Kelvin Herrera on the shelf. Justin Miller and Koda Glover will split the set-up role, with Greg Holland lurking as another potential high-leverage option, if he can figure things out. Meanwhile, Sean Doolittle (stress reaction in left foot) has been cleared to throw on flat ground, but is trying not to rush back too soon.

Updated hierarchy: Madson | Miller | Glover.

Cleveland Indians — Cody Allen isn’t making the most of his chances at the ninth inning. In a save chance on Wednesday, he gave up a leadoff home run and put two other guys on before escaping the inning and winding up with a walk-off win.

Hierarchy remains: *Hand | Allen | Miller.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
None.

Friday:
1. Jose Alvarado — Sergio Romo has pitched in two straight, including a blown save on Wednesday.
2. Josh Hader — Corey Knebel threw 24 pitches on Wednesday and 46 pitches in outings over the weekend.
3. Roberto Osuna — An appearance today for Hector Rondon would mark three in four days.

Kelvin Herrera lands on the DL

August 8, 2018

Washington Nationals — We told you this morning that Kelvin Herrera was getting an MRI today, and it turns out he has a right rotator cuff impingement that will send him to the DL. Ryan Madson should get the bulk of the save chances in Herrera’s absence, with Justin Miller, the recently called-up Koda Glover and Greg Holland all behind Madson.

Updated hierarchy: Madson | Miller | Glover.