J.J. Hoover takes over 8th inning for Reds; Betancourt to the DL

June 9, 2015

Cincinnati Reds – J.J. Hoover has been anointed as the Reds’ new 8th-inning man. The flame-throwing righty now has a 1.93 ERA and a sub-1.00 WHIP. He picked up his second hold of the season last night setting up Aroldis Chapman. Expect Hoover to continue to get the 8th inning as long as he is pitching lights-out.

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Hoover | Cingrani.

Colorado Rockies – Having battled a sinus infection and vertigo symptoms for weeks, Rafael Betancourt will spend some time on the disabled list. Throughout his three-week-long illness, Betancourt has struggled mightily, culminating with an on-field tantrum on Saturday. While Betancourt takes time to recover, 29-year-old Brooks Brown should slide in to take his place, but he may not be there for long as LaTroy Hawkins is close to returning to the roster.

Updated hierarchy: Axford | Oberg | Brown.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Tony Cingrani, Cincinnati Reds – Even though he is no longer the set-up man in Cincy, Cingrani may get a save opportunity tonight with both Chapman and Hoover having pitched in back to back games.

Kenley Jansen had high blood pressure; Kevin Jepsen earns a Tampa save

June 5, 2015

Los Angeles Dodgers — The mystery surrounding closer Kenley Jansen’s absence has been solved. Jansen, who has a history of heart trouble, felt sick to his stomach during Wednesday’s game and was found to have high blood pressure when checked by a doctor, so he was held out as a precaution while his bullpen mates blew the game. On Thursday night, no late-inning relievers were needed as LA lost 7-1. Jansen should be good to go if needed on Friday.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Hatcher | Garcia.

Tampa Bay Rays — Kevin Jepsen — and not Jake McGee — pitched the 9th and earned the save against the Seattle Mariners, his second of the season. Brad Boxberger was unavailable after throwing 32 pitches in a rough outing Wednesday night. McGee pitched a scoreless eighth inning Thursday, but hasn’t had a save opportunity since he returned from the disabled list. We’re going to slide Jepsen to the first-in-line slot for the time being.

Updated hierarchy: Boxberger | Jepsen | McGee.

Boston Red Sox — Pitching in a tie game in the ninth against the Twins Thursday, closer Koji Uehara struggled, throwing 22 pitches without getting a single man out. Uehara was charged with four runs (two earned) and took the loss. Third baseman Pablo Sandoval had a costly error with runners on first and second and nobody out, leading to the big rally. Uehara has taken two losses this week, both due in part to Sandoval errors. The 40-year-old’s confidence may be shaken a bit, but he’s been rock solid all year (10 K/9, 1.00 WHIP) and remains firmly entrenched as the Sox closer.

Hierarchy remains: Uehara | Tazawa | Barnes.

Colorado Rockies — You probably thought you’d never read this name again in the annals of Closer Monkey, but 42-year-old reliever LaTroy Hawkins, who began the season as the Rockies closer, isn’t done yet. Recovering from right biceps tendinitis, Hawkins pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes Thursday night, striking out Cubs super prospect Javier Baez in the process. Hawkins is scheduled to make at least one more appearance in AAA before a possible promotion back to the big leagues, where he could once again factor into the back-end of the Rockies bullpen.

Hierarchy remains: Axford | Betancourt | Oberg.

Detroit Tigers – Rumor has it that the Tigers may activate Bruce Rondon as early as Friday. If and when that happens, he would slide immediately into Detroit’s late-inning plans, perhaps even usurping Al Alburquerque in the hierarchy.

Hierarchy remains: Soria | Chamberlain | Alburquerque.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Junichi Tazawa, Boston Red Sox — Koji Uehara is 40 years old and has pitched in two of the last three games, including a 22-pitch outing Thursday. Tazawa has pitched in two straight, but he’s younger and could be called upon if Koji needs the night off.
2. Addison Reed, Arizona Diamondbacks — Everyone seems to suspect that Addison Reed will regain the closer’s job because he has pitched well since his demotion, but manager Chip Hale continues to trot out Brad Ziegler when there’s a save to be had. Reed, however, is still worth watching as the D-Backs committee approach isn’t behind them just yet.
3. Carlos Torres, New York Mets — Jeurys Familia threw 33 pitches (just 18 for strikes) against the Diamondbacks Thursday night to earn his 16th save; despite the fact it was his first appearance since Sunday, he could be unavailable Friday due to the heavy workload. Look for Carlos Torres to get the call in the ninth, if needed.

Joe Nathan out for year; Mark Melancon picks up save despite continued low velocity

April 24, 2015

Detroit Tigers – Former closer Joe Nathan, the active leader in saves and the second-oldest player in the AL, is out for the season with a torn UCL in his pitching elbow. Nathan suffered the injury on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday morning. Although Nathan will require a second Tommy John surgery, he insists that he will return to pitch another day. Joakim Soria, with 5 saves in 5 chances this season, should be secure in the closer role from this point forward. Ian Krol, meanwhile, got sent to the minors to work on his delivery, which will likely lead to more holds opportunities for Al Alburquerque.

Updated hierarchy: Soria | Chamberlain | Alburquerque.

Colorado Rockies — John Axford, back from dealing with his son’s snake bite, earned his second save of the season on Thursday, shutting down the Padres in the 9th. After the game, regular closer Adam Ottavino said that he had asked for the day off due to “usual pitcher soreness.” All indications are that Ottavino is fine and will remain the closer moving forward, but Axford will play an important role as well. In other news, former closer LaTroy Hawkins has been placed on the DL with tendinitis in his biceps. This is Hawkins’s final season in what has been a $47 million career; his next appearance in one of our updates may be as part of a front office.

Updated hierarchy: Ottavino | Axford | Betancourt.

Los Angeles Dodgers — LA continues to have the most volatile closing situation in the league. On Thursday, after Chris Hatcher and Joel Peralta had already pitched, Pedro Baez got the chance at his first career save, but promptly coughed up the one-run lead, allowing a leadoff single and a game-tying triple. Although Baez managed to strand that runner on third, the Dodgers went on to lose 3-2 against the Giants. The Baez move, which puzzled the great Vin Scully, shows how wide-open things are now in the Dodgers’ ninth. The uncertainty should end soon, with Kenley Jansen scheduled to begin a rehab assignment next week.

Hierarchy remains: *Peralta | Hatcher | Baez.
*closer-by-committee

New York Yankees — Andrew Miller picked up his AL-leading sixth save Wednesday; Miller, who has not allowed a run, has 15 strikeouts in 7 games this season. Joe Girardi hasn’t confirmed that Miller is the full-time closer, but we’re sure enough to remove the committee asterisk. Dellin Betances, meanwhile, has overcome his early control issues and allowed only one walk in his last five appearances. He’ll be the guy should Miller falter or get hurt.

Hierarchy remains: Miller | Betances | Carpenter.

Kansas City Royals — On Saturday, injured closer Greg Holland will be evaluated by team doctors, who will decide when he can begin a throwing program. Holland has not thrown a baseball since feeling discomfort in his pectoral muscle, but said he “feels a lot better.” He’s eligible to return from the DL on May 3, but it will take longer if his evaluation goes poorly. Wade Davis has done a fine job filling in for Holland, and he picked up the save Thursday night after a wild night in Chicago, where a bench-clearing brawl led to five ejections.

Hierarchy remains: Davis | Herrera | Frasor.

Pittsburgh Pirates — With his velocity still down, embattled Pirates closer Mark Melancon managed to shut down the Cubs 1-2-3 in the ninth inning Thursday, finishing with a strikeout of über-prospect Addison Russell. Melancon’s cut fastball hovered in the 85-90 mph range, down from the low-to-mid-90s range he reached for most of last season. Melancon remains Pittsburgh’s primary closer, but his seat ought to be feeling very warm…

Hierarchy remains: Melancon | Watson | Hughes.

Texas Rangers — Rangers manager Jeff Bannister will use Tanner Scheppers in lower-leverage situations for the time being after some rough outings. Bannister likes the righty’s stuff, so don’t be surprised to see Scheppers return to the eighth-inning role soon.

Updated hierarchy: Feliz | Tolleson | Scheppers.

Toronto Blue Jays – Liam Hendricks was ineffective in a 7-2 game, creating a save situation for Blue Jays committee head Miguel Castro. Castro made things even more interesting by giving up a three-run homer, but escaped with a fly out and a strikeout to end it. This poor outing notwithstanding, Castro remains the most likely closer on any given day.

Hierarchy remains: *Castro | Osuna | Cecil.
*closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Roberto Osuna/Brett Cecil, Toronto Blue Jays — Castro has pitched in two straight games and leads a committee, so Osuna or Cecil could see a chance Friday.
2. Chris Hatcher/Paco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Dodgers — It’s a closer-by-committee system until Jansen returns. It could be Hatcher’s turn on Friday, or they could turn to Rodriguez, one of the few relievers who didn’t pitch for the Dodgers last night.
3. Ernesto Frieri, Tampa Bay Rays — Manager Kevin Cash has made it clear that he’ll use his best reliever, Brad Boxberger, in the most important moments of a game, sometimes earlier than the ninth inning. This is a wise move for the Rays, but a headache for fantasy owners. Kevin Jepsen has pitched in two straight, so keep an eye on Frieri.
4. Jordan Walden, St. Louis Cardinals — Trevor Rosenthal has pitched in two straight games and could be in line for a night off Friday.
5. Jonathan Broxton, Milwaukee Brewers — Save opportunities are few and far between for the bad Brewers, but closer Francisco Rodriguez has pitched in two straight games (and on three days out of four). Look for Broxton to fill in if K-Rod needs a breather.

Andrew Miller now fronting Yankees committee

April 14, 2015

New York Yankees – Andrew Miller was called on to close the door on the Yankees’ come from behind victory tonight with a five-out save. Dellin Betances was used in the 8th and continued to struggle, giving up two hits and two walks in one inning of work. At this point it seems that Joe Girardi is most comfortable relying on Miller to lock up close games. While still ostensibly a committee, we are ready to flip Betances and Miller.

Updated hierarchy: *Miller | Betances | Carpenter.
* = closer-by-committee

Cincinnati Reds – Jumbo Diaz’s struggles continued in Chicago tonight, instantaneously surrendering a two run lead by giving up a long home run to Chris Coghlan in the 8th inning tonight. J.J. Hoover and Tony Cingrani might see more hold opportunities if Diaz is moved to a lower-leverage position.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Diaz | Cingrani.

Colorado Rockies – Rafael Betancourt was the freshest option in the bullpen for Walt Weiss last night after LaTroy Hawkins was unceremoniously sacked; Betancourt threw a perfect 9th inning with 2 Ks in recording the save. Adam Ottavino still could be the favorite for saves going forward, but Betancourt will also get consideration going forward after his spotless work on Monday.

Updated hierarchy: *Ottavino | Betancourt | Logan.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs – Hector Rondon has pitched in three straight after snagging a Vulture Win last night in extra innings.
2. Chris Hatcher/J.P. Howell, Los Angeles Dodgers – Joel Peralta has pitched in back to back games and three of four.