Sean Doolittle ever more likely to return to closing in Oakland

September 17, 2016

Pittsburgh Pirates — Tony Watson converted his 13th save in the tenth inning of Friday’s game, but the real stories happened in front of him. Swingman Juan Nicasio set a club record with his 28th straight relief appearance with at least one strikeout, and Antonio Bastardo picked up the win with a clean ninth inning. Neftali Feliz hasn’t pitched since September 3, and though the team believes he’ll pitch again this season, it’s time to reward Bastardo for his legit work setting up Watson.

Updated hierarchy: Watson | Rivero | Bastardo.

Boston Red Sox — Koji Uehara pitched a clean eighth inning last night, his fifth straight scoreless appearance since returning from the DL. Over that time, Uehara has a 0.60 WHIP and has thrown 78% of his pitches for strikes. Koji seems to be returning to his eighth-inning role, and we’ll edge him in front of Brad Ziegler.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Uehara | Ziegler.

Oakland A’s — Ryan Madson’s seventh blown save of the season on Friday renews speculation that the team will return Sean Doolittle to the role next year, if not sooner.

Updated hierarchy: Madson | Doolittle | Axford.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Fernando Rodney, Miami Marlins — A.J. Ramos took the loss last night in the 12th inning, after throwing 30 pitches. He has pitched in three of the last four, so he is likely going to get a rest today.
2. Ryan Buchter/Kevin Quackenbush, San Diego Padres — Brandon Maurer blew a save with 36 pitches on Friday. Buchter has pitched in two of three, so Quack might get another shot.
3. Brad Brach, Baltimore Orioles — Zach Britton has pitched in three of four and five of seven.

Derek Law goes to the DL and Clay Buchholz could be a key reliever

August 29, 2016

San Francisco Giants — More bad news for the woebegone Giants over the weekend, as Derek Law, the team’s most effective reliever since the All-Star break, went on the disabled list with a right elbow strain. Law had Tommy John surgery in 2014, but says that an MRI showed only inflammation from scar tissue. Bruce Bochy said that he would lean on Hunter Strickland and Cory Gearrin in Law’s absence.

Updated hierarchy: Casilla | Romo | Strickland.

Boston Red Sox — Matt Barnes got the call in a very high-leverage spot for Boston, up two in the sixth, with one out and the bases loaded. It didn’t go well. Infield single, three-run triple, hit-by-pitch, fielder’s choice, single to left — the final word was three inherited runs allowed, plus five charged to his own account. Since the All-Star break, Barnes has an 8.62 ERA and 1.60 WHIP. As unlikely as it once seemed, Clay Buchholz could play a pivotal role as an eighth-inning reliever for Boston down the stretch.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Ziegler | Buchholz.

New York Yankees — Jonathan Holder is the 23-year-old closer for New York’s AAA affiliate in Scranton (the mighty RailRiders). He entered Sunday’s game in Rochester in the sixth inning, up two with two on and nobody out, and proceeded to strike out the next 11 hitters. After a bloop infield single, he finished the game with another strikeout, earning a 12-K, 4-IP save for the ages. The MLB record for consecutive strikeouts is 10 (Tom Seaver), and no one has ever struck out more than nine while earning a major league save. Keep an eye on Holder.

Hierarchy remains: Betances | Warren | Clippard.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joe Blanton/Adam Liberatore, Los Angeles Dodgers — Kenley Jansen has pitched in three straight, five of six, and six of eight. Blanton has also seen some heavy use lately.
2. Neftali Feliz, Pittsburgh Pirates — Tony Watson has gone in four of five, and Feliz grabbed the last vulture save on Saturday.
3. John Axford, Oakland A’s — Ryan Madson pitched Saturday and Sunday; Monday could tell us whether Axford has slipped out of the backup closer role.
4. Joaquin Benoit, Toronto Blue Jays — Jason Grilli and Roberto Osuna have each pitched in two straight.

Feliz and Quackenbush record saves

August 28, 2016

Pittsburgh Pirates — As predicted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Tony Watson got the day off on Saturday and Neftali Feliz picked up the save.  Feliz should continue to fill in as closer when Watson is unavailable.

Hierarchy remains: Watson | Feliz | Rivero.

San Diego Padres — Kevin Quackenbush pitched a perfect ninth with two strikeouts for his first save of the season.  The Vulture Save Watch correctly predicted that Brandon Maurer would have Saturday off and that Quackenbush would get the save.  However, Brad Hand was available and pitched the eighth inning.  Quackenbush saved six games for the Padres down the stretch in 2014 and it looks like he has moved ahead of Hand in the Padres bullpen and could continue to see save chances when Maurer is not able to go.

Updated hierarchy: Maurer | Quackenbush | Hand. 

Seattle Mariners — The Mariners have placed Tom Wilhelmsen on the disabled list with back spasms.  Steve Cishek and Nick Vincent should help set-up Edwin Diaz while Wilhemsen is out.

Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Cishek | Vincent.

Colorado Rockies – Up until yesterday, Adam Ottavino’s ERA for 2015 and 2016 matched his jersey number; 0.  Ottavino blew the save on Saturday while giving up his first run since September 2014.  Ottavino had the longest active scoreless streak in the majors, but it was ended by the Washington Nationals, who ended Zach Britton’s streak just a few days earlier.

Hierarchy remains: Ottavino | Logan | Estevez.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Shawn Kelley, Washington Nationals – Mark Melancon has gone in three straight.
2. Joe Blanton, Los Angeles Dodgers – Kenley Jansen has pitched in back-to-back games and four of the past five.
3. A.J. Ramos, Miami Marlins – Fernando Rodney has appeared in three of the past four games.
4. Randall Delgado, Arizona Diamondbacks – Daniel Hudson got the last save opportunity but was unable to convert it so Delgado could get the next shot.

0.11 not a good ratio for Jeremy Jeffress

August 27, 2016

Texas Rangers — Jeremy Jeffress was placed on the restricted list following a Friday morning DWI arrest. Jeffress failed three drug tests in the minors — which he attributed to self-medicating his epilepsy — and was suspended twice. The Rangers are likely to activate him today and allow the legal process to play out before deciding on any suspension, but with Matt Bush and Jake Diekman pitching effectively, Jeffress may have to earn his way back into the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Dyson | Diekman | Bush.

Arizona Diamondbacks — True to his word, Chip Hale used Randall Delgado and Daniel Hudson to protect a one-run lead on Friday. Delgado escaped the eighth with his scoreless streak intact (now 13 appearances), but Hudson, pitching for a third straight day, was not so lucky. He got two outs, then gave up three straight singles to blow his first save of the year. Arizona recovered to win in extra innings, but the bullpen woes continue and the team is no closer to finding an answer at closer. Delgado may have the inside lane for the next save chance.

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

Houston Astros — Luke Gregerson remained unavailable with an ankle injury; although he hasn’t pitched in nine days, the team is hopeful that he will return over the weekend. Michael Feliz, Chris Devenski, and Pat Neshek have filled in for Gregerson.

Hierarchy remains: Giles | Harris | Gregerson.

Kansas City Royals — The scoreless streak for the Royals bullpen came to an end at 41.1 innings on Friday night. Peter Moylan gave up two singles to start the ninth, and Kelvin Herrera couldn’t keep the inherited runners from scoring. This was the longest such streak since one by the 1966 A’s, also in Kansas City. Meanwhile, Wade Davis should be back next week.

Hierarchy remains: Herrera | Soria | Strahm.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Randall Delgado, Arizona Diamondbacks — Daniel Hudson has pitched in three straight games, needing 32 pitches on Friday.
2. Neftali Feliz, Pittsburgh Pirates — Tony Watson has pitched three days in a row.
3. Kevin Quackenbush, San Diego Padres — Brandon Maurer threw 38 pitches on Friday and Brad Hand has gone in three of four. Brandon Morrow would be an option, but he’s on paternity leave.
4. Joakim Soria, Kansas City Royals — Kelvin Herrera was on the mound when the Royals’ scoreless streak ended, so clearly he can’t be trusted. He’s also pitched in two straight and three of four.
5. Xavier Cedeno, Tampa Bay Rays — Alex Colome has gone in three of four.

Miller and Watson record saves

August 7, 2016

Cleveland Indians – It wasn’t fun for Andrew Miller, but he did pick up his first save since being traded to Cleveland.  The Indians’ hope to be able to use Miller to close out games, but manager Terry Francona also likes Miller’s versatility.  Miller will occasionally be used in big spots prior to the 9th inning, but he should still see the majority of save chances.

Updated hierarchy: Miller | Allen | Shaw.
* = closer-by-committee

Pittsburgh Pirates — Tony Watson bounced back from a blown save on Friday night to record his second save since closer Mark Melancon was traded.  Despite the slip up on Friday, Watson should continue to see save chances for the rest of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Watson | Feliz | Rivero.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Tom Wilhemsen, Seattle Mariners – Edwin Diaz has pitched in two straight, and four of the past five.
2. Joakim Soria, Kansas City Royals – Kelvin Herrera has pitched in two straight, throwing a total of 45 pitches
3. Felipe Rivero, Pittsburgh Pirates – Tony Watson and Neftali Feliz have both appeared in back-to-back games