Wade Davis returns from the DL

September 3, 2016

Kansas City Royals — Wade Davis was activated from the DL on Friday, and Ned Yost immediately threw him into the fire. After the Royals took a one-run lead, Davis got a save opportunity in his first action since July. He promptly hit the first batter he faced, and after a double and a two-run single, Davis was on the hook for the loss. It seems as though Yost trusts Davis to return to the closer role immediately, but there is reason to believe that Herrera may split the save opportunities down the stretch. When Davis entered the game last night the Royals bullpen was coming off two straight extra-inning games. Kelvin Herrera was also perfect in save opportunities while Davis was out, and Yost said after the game that he would avoid using Davis in back-to-back games for now. With as good as Davis has been, and given the clear save opportunity yesterday, he goes to the top spot in the hierarchy. However, don’t drop Herrera just yet. In a tight playoff race, he will certainly get chances down the stretch.

Updated hierarchy: Davis | Herrera | Soria.

Washington Nationals — Mark Rezepczynski got the first two outs of the seventh inning Friday before he walked and hit a batter. Dusty Baker then turned to 23-year-old Koda Glover to protect the one-run lead. Glover struck out Jose Reyes to end the frame, then stayed on in the 8th to face the heart of the Mets order and pick up his second hold of the year. He has had a solid first 10 games and Baker was quick to praise him after the win. Rzepczynski has been excellent for years, but he is still mostly a left-handed specialist.

Updated hierarchy: Melancon | Kelley | Glover.

Oakland A’s — Sean Doolittle is back from the disabled list and some extra rehab. He should see some late-inning work if the A’s get a lead over the final month of the season.

Updated hierarchy: Madson | Axford | Doolittle.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Kelvin Herrera, Kansas City Royals — Ned Yost has said that he won’t use Wade Davis on back to back days.
2. Mauricio Cabrera, Atlanta Braves — Jim Johnson has pitched in three straight games.
3. Corey Knebel, Milwaukee Brewers — Tyler Thornburg has appeared in four of the last five contests, including a 17-pitch outing last night.

Mitchell Boggs’s job in trouble; Jim Henderson closing in Milwaukee

April 9, 2013

St. Louis Cardinals – Mitchell Boggs had what he described as “the worst outing of my career” on Monday, as he turned a tie game into an eventual 9-run loss for the Cardinals.  Skipper Mike Matheny suggested after the game that Boggs, despite also blowing a save last week, would still be his closer, but it might not be for long. Edward Mujica may get a shot to close games, as could youngster Trevor Rosenthal, who has been pitching the 8th inning (albeit poorly) for the past week.  Hierarchy change: Trevor Rosenthal to 2nd in line, replacing Mark Rzepczynski.  Mitchell Boggs to Hot Seat.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Boggs |Mujica |Rzepczynski |Motte |4/9/13 |Motte(DL) |

 
Texas Rangers – Before the season, Ron Washington tabbed Robbie Ross and Michael Kirkman as his set-up men.  Ross has been solid, but thus far, Kirkman is sporting a 13.50 ERA and has mostly been used as a match-up guy.  Hard-throwing righty Tanner Scheppers has been the one throwing meaningful innings for the Rangers, and he hasn’t allowed a run through 4.2 innings thus far.  Hierarchy change: Tanner Scheppers to 2nd in line, replacing Michael Kirkman.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedTEX |Nathan |Ross |Scheppers |Nathan |4/9/13

 
Kansas City Royals – Aaron Crow picked up a save on Monday, pitching a clean 9th inning.  Greg Holland and Kelvin Herrera had both pitched on back to back days and three of the past four, and were both getting a night off.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedKC |Holland |Herrera |Crow |Holland |4/9/13

 
Milwaukee Brewers – John Axford got a vote of confidence from manager Ron Roenicke after a rough outing on Wednesday, but after taking the loss in an extra-inning game over the weekend, it appears that Roenicke is ready to make a move.  In a save situation this afternoon against the Cubs, it was Jim Henderson who emerged from the Milwaukee bullpen, not Axford.  The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had speculated on such a move Monday morning, and Henderson got the job done, striking out two while only allowing one hit.  Hierarchy change: Jim Henderson to Closer, John Axford to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedMIL |Henderson |Axford |Gonzalez |Axford |4/8/13

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Robbie Ross/Tanner Scheppers, Texas Rangers – Joe Nathan has pitched in two straight and three of the last four.
2. John Axford, Milwaukee Brewers – Jim Henderson has pitched in two in a row, throwing 30 pitches last night.

Mitchell Boggs to close during Motte’s absence; Gibbons gives nod to Janssen

March 25, 2013

St. Louis Cardinals – Jason Motte will start the season on the DL.  The Cardinals closer felt his forearm tighten up after his most recent appearance, and the Cardinals announced over the weekend that they were shutting him down for at least a week due to a mild flexor strain.  Mitchell Boggs will close in his absence.  Hierarchy change: Mitchell Boggs to Closer, Edward Mujica to Set-up, Mark Rzepczynski to 2nd in line; Jason Motte injured.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |Updated
STL |Boggs |Mujica |Rzepczynski |Motte |3/25/13

 
Toronto Blue Jays – Blue Jays manager John Gibbons seems to think that Casey Janssen will be ready to open the season come April 2.  Janssen himself is far less certain.  Either way, though, Gibbons told the Toronto Sun that Janssen was definitely his closer, even if he wasn’t ready for the season.  So if Sergio Santos gets a few save opportunities, they won’t last long, as Janssen will inherit the job whenever he does return.  Hierarchy change: Casey Janssen to Closer, Sergio Santos to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Janssen |Santos |Oliver |Santos |3/25/13

John Axford struggling; David Robertson returns

June 15, 2012

St. Louis Cardinals – Victor Marte pitched parts of the 7th and 8th innings on Thursday, earning his 9th hold of the season.  While Mark Rzepczynski generally pitches later in games than Marte, he’s struggled as of late and would likely remain in a specialist role even if Jason Motte and Mitchell Boggs both suffer injuries.  Hierarchy change: Victor Marte to 2nd in line, replacing Mark Rzepczynski. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Motte |Boggs |Marte |Motte |6/15/12

 
Milwaukee Brewers – John Axford blew his second save in two days on Thursday, and has seen his ERA jump to 5.55 after giving up 7 runs in his last three outings.  He would be in more danger if the Brewers had any lights-out middle relievers, but Francisco Rodriguez- the only real threat to Axford’s job- is also having a mediocre season.  Still, if Axford continues to pitch poorly, the Brewers might have to look elsewhere.  John Axford to Hot Seat. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIL |Axford |Rodriguez |Veras |Axford |6/15/12

 
New York Yankees – The Yankees activated David Robertson from the DL on Thursday.  Robertson is expected to return to a set-up role, but could challenge for the closer job if Rafael Soriano struggles.  Hierarchy change: David Robertson to Set-up, Boone Logan to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYY |Soriano |Robertson |Logan |Robertson |6/15/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Shawn Camp, Chicago Cubs – James Russell has registered 2 saves for the Cubs since the demotion of Rafael Dolis; Camp has gotten the other.  Matchups will likely determine who is used in the 9th today.
2. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has gotten 5 of the last 8 save opps, but Downs could still snag a save on any night if match-ups are right.
3. Jose Veras, Milwaukee Brewers – John Axford has blown saves on back to back days, throwing 47 pitches in the process, and might be given a day off.  Francisco Rodriguez has pitched in three in a row, and five of the last six, making Jose Veras the most likely candidate for a save opp.

Ernesto Frieri closing for Angels; Rafael Dolis struggling

May 24, 2012

St. Louis Cardinals – Mark Rzepczynski pitched the 8th inning ahead of Jason Motte on Wednesday night, and the lefty has proven the ability to pitch to both righties and lefties.  Hierarchy change: Mark Rzepczynski to 2nd in line, replacing Fernando Salas.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Motte |Boggs |Rzepczynski |Motte |5/24/12

 
Cincinnati Reds – Jose Arredondo pitched 1.1 innings on Wednesday, bridging the gap to closer Aroldis Chapman.  Logan Ondrusek has struggled as of late (7.04 ERA in May) and Dusty Baker has been looking to Arredondo more as his late-innings righty.  Hierarchy change: Jose Arredondo to 2nd in line, replacing Logan Ondrusek. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Marshall |Arredondo |Madson |5/24/12

 
Chicago Cubs – Rafael Dolis gave up three runs in a non-save situation on Wednesday.  Dolis, whose stats look uglier every day (24.2 IPs, 4.74 ERA, 10 Ks/13 BBs), could be removed from the role if he continues to struggle, particularly if the Cubs want to give Carlos Marmol another crack at the job when he returns.  Rafael Dolis to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Dolis |Russell |Camp |Marmol |5/24/12 |Marmol(DL) |

 
Colorado Rockies – Adam Ottavino pitched the 7th inning in a close game on Wednesday, and now has 6 scoreless innings with 9 Ks since being called up.  Hierarchy change: Adam Ottavino to 2nd in line, replacing Matt Reynolds. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCOL |Betancourt |Belisle |Ottavino |Betancourt |5/24/12

 
Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri struck three men out in the 11th inning, nailing down his first career save.  Frieri has been nothing short of dazzling (8.2 IPs, 0 ERs, 0 hits, 19 Ks) since being acquired from the Padres.  While Mike Scioscia said he would still like to use Scott Downs in the 9th on occasion, Frieri’s dominance means he’ll get the majority of the opportunities going forward.  Hierarchy change: Ernesto Frieri to Closer, Scott Downs to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Downs |Walden |Walden |5/24/12 |Hawkins(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Sean Marshall/Jose Arredondo, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in two straight and four of the last five.  The Reds could give him a night off and play match-ups in the ninth.
2. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has pitched in two straight and four of the last six, while Scott Downs has only pitched twice in that span.  Downs could get the save opportunity tonight, particularly if facing a lefty-heavy lineup.