2017 AL Central Preview

February 27, 2017

Chicago White Sox – As of right now, the White Sox still have David Robertson as their closer.  However, with the White Sox in rebuilding mode, Robertson has been the subject of trade rumors.  Nate Jones and Dan Jennings, Chicago’s primary seventh and eighth inning men from last year, will return in 2017.  Jones had stellar numbers last season, as he finished with 80 Ks in 70.2 innings and a WHIP of 0.89, and should take over as closer if Robertson is dealt.  Another name to keep in the back of your mind is Zack Burdi, who is seen as the closer of the future.

Starting 2017 hierarchy: Robertson | Jones | Jennings.
Holds candidates: Jones, Jennings.

Cleveland Indians – Indians manager Terry Francona used his bullpen masterfully during the playoffs last year, and it almost ended with a World Series title.  Cody Allen has already been named the closer going into 2017, which leaves Andrew Miller to be used in high-leverage situations prior to the ninth inning.  Bryan Shaw, who was the primary set-up man before Miller was acquired last season, will also see time in the later innings.  Lefty Boone Logan signed this offseason, and he should be a good source of holds considering how much Francona likes to play the match-ups late in the game.

Starting 2017 hierarchy: Allen | Miller | Shaw.
Holds candidates: Miller, Shaw, Boone Logan.

Detroit Tigers — The Detroit bullpen is a big question mark heading into this season.  Francisco Rodriguez, the league’s active saves leader, will once again close.   Bruce Rondon ended up leading the team in WHIP after getting called up in June, and he will have the opportunity to prove he can do it for a full season in 2017.  Justin Wilson was up and down in his first year in Detroit, but should see time in the seventh and eighth innings again to start this season.  Keep an eye on Joe Jimenez, who is a young, hard-throwing closer in waiting.

Starting 2017 hierarchy: Rodriguez | Rondon | J. Wilson.
Holds candidates: Rondon, Justin Wilson, Alex Wilson.

Kansas City Royals – Wade Davis was traded in December, and all of a sudden the dominant bullpen trio of Greg Holland, Wade Davis, and Kelvin Herrera (HDH) that helped the Royals win a World Series just two years ago, was down to just one H.  Herrera saved 12 games last year, and he should continue the Royals’ recent tradition of stellar closers.  Veteran Joakim Soria will look to bounce back from a down year in 2016, which saw him rack up eight losses and eight blown saves.  Young lefty Matt Strahm is projected as a starter long-term, but after pitching well in relief last season, he will start 2017 in the bullpen.

Starting 2017 hierarchy: Herrera | Soria | Strahm.
Holds candidates: Soria, Strahm.

Minnesota Twins — The Twins’ bullpen was bottom five in the league in ERA last year, and they may start 2017 with a similar set of relievers.  All-Star Glen Perkins missed most of last season, and could start this season on the disabled list.  Brandon Kintzler filled in for Perkins last year and will close again until Perkins is ready to reclaim the job.  The Twins could still add a veteran reliever, but for now, they are expected to lean on Ryan Pressly and Taylor Rogers again.

Starting 2017 hierarchy: Kintzler | Pressly | Rogers.
Holds candidates: Pressly, Rogers.

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.

Romo looks like Giants’ closer again while Mariot gets save for Phillies

September 25, 2016

San Francisco Giants – Sergio Romo converted his second straight save opportunity for the Giants.  Romo pitched a scoreless tenth inning, and was left in by Bruce Boche to face two lefty batters.  Boche had been playing match-ups in the later innings so the fact that Boche left him in there is enough for us to remove the asterisk.

Hierarchy remains: Romo | Law | Smith.

Houston Astros — Things keep getting worse for Ken Giles.  A day after one of his worst outings of the season, he was hit by a line drive during batting practice on Saturday.  X-rays came back negative and he has been diagnosed with a contusion.  However, manager A.J. Hinch said it wasn’t good.  If Giles is unable to go the rest of the season, Luke Gregerson would likely fill in as closer.

Hierarchy remains: Giles | Gregerson | Harris.

Philadelphia Phillies — With Jeanmar Gomez getting a break from closing, Michael Mariot got the call in the ninth inning on Saturday.  He gave up a lead-off homer to the first batter he faced, and walked a couple batters, but was still able to convert the save chance.  Hector Neris pitched the eighth inning ahead of Mariot and gave up a run on a hit and two walks.  Neither pitcher was particularly impressive, so we will move Mariot ahead of Neris for now based on how manager Pete Mackanin used them yesterday.  Cue the bad Mariot jokes on twitter.

Updated hierarchy: *Gomez | Mariot | Neris.
* = closer-by-committee

Kansas City Royals — Kelvin Herrera picked up his twelfth save of the season on Saturday.  Wade Davis hadn’t pitched in a week so the Royals sent him out there in the eighth inning when they were down two and it didn’t look like there would be a need for the bottom of the ninth.  The Royals ended up scoring five runs in the top of the ninth and that left Herrera to pitch the bottom of the ninth.  Although Herrera has been great, Wade Davis is still the closer in Kansas City.

Hierarchy remains: Davis | Herrera | Soria.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Will Harris, Houston Astros – Ken Giles could be unavailable due to injury and Luke Gregerson has pitched in two straight and three of four.
2. Hector Neris, Philadelphia Phillies – Michael Mariot got the save yesterday but Neris could also get a shot at the end of this season.

Hunter Strickland could stabilize volatile Giants bullpen

September 12, 2016

Miami Marlins – It was only a one-out save, but A.J. Ramos showed he was up to the task despite his troublesome finger. He remains the most likely choice for saves for the Marlins down the stretch.

Hierarchy remains: *Ramos | Rodney | Barraclough.
* = closer-by-committee

San Francisco Giants – The San Francisco closer roulette wheel on Sunday landed on Hunter Strickland, who pitched the final 1.1 innings for his third save of the season. Sergio Romo and Will Smith bridged the gap to Strickland, though Romo had a forgettable outing, allowing a home run and a hit while only retiring one man. All things considered, this pushes Strickland to the top of the Giants closer committee. If he’s given (and converts) the next opportunity, he could seize hold of the job.

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

Colorado Rockies – Jake McGee got the 9th inning of a tie game on Sunday, and pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts. He’s now logged seven straight scoreless appearances and has fought his way back on to the Rockies hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Ottavino | Logan | McGee.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Shawn Kelley, Washington Nationals – Mark Melancon has pitched in three straight.
2. Kelvin Herrera, Kansas City Royals – The Royals may take it easy on Wade Davis today, who has pitched in two straight and thrown over 20 pitches in each appearance.

Wade Davis and Mauricio Cabrera record saves

September 4, 2016

Kansas City Royals — Ned Yost originally said he wanted to stay away from Wade Davis on Saturday, but Davis ended up coming on to get the last two outs of the 9th for the save, striking out both batters he faced.  Davis wanted to pitch on Saturday after blowing the save in his return on Friday.  The Royals will likely be cautious with Davis and try to avoid overworking him.  However they are in the middle of a playoff push so he should still see plenty of save chances, and for Royals fans and fantasy owners, hopefully lots of “Salvy Splashes.”

Hierarchy remains: Davis | Herrera | Soria.

Atlanta Braves – As predicted, Jim Johnson got the day off on Saturday, and Mauricio Cabrera pitched a perfect inning for his fourth save of the season.  The young flamethrower Cabrera could be the closer of the future for the Braves, but for the rest of this season he will likely only see save chances with Johnson is unavailable.

Hierarchy remains: Johnson | Cabrera | Simmons.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Kelvin Herrera, Kansas City Royals – Wade Davis has gone in back-to-back games in his return from the disabled list.
2. Hector Neris, Philadelphia Phillies – Jeanmar Gomez has pitched in two straight, and three of the past four.
3. Corey Knebel, Milwaukee Brewers – Tyler Thornburg, Corey Knebel, and Carlos Torres have all pitched in two straight.  However, Thornburg has pitched in five of the past six as well so Knebel could get the call if the Brewers want to avoid sending Thornburg out there again.