Pirates, Nationals, and Braves deep in trade deadline drama

July 30, 2016

Pittsburgh Pirates — The Pirates are fielding offers from the Nationals, Indians, and Giants for closer Mark Melancon. Although Pittsburgh is in the playoff hunt and Melancon has been one of the most effective closers in the game, the team may be looking to improve other areas of its roster while trusting some combination of Neftali Feliz and Tony Watson in the ninth. Watson, a lefty, has owned the eighth most of the year, while Feliz has 98 career saves and better peripherals, including a 10.3 K/9 ratio. We still give Feliz a slight edge, but both could be excellent speculative adds; the Pirates are a good team that plays a lot of close games.

Hierarchy remains: Melancon | Feliz | Watson.

Washington Nationals — After the Nationals’ bullpen was rescued in the eighth by a triple play, Felipe Rivero headed out for the save situation. Jonathan Papelbon was unavailable after pitching in four of the last six games. Rivero got the first two outs before giving up a single and being pulled for Shawn Kelley, who secured the vulture save. Although GM Mike Rizzo gave Papelbon a vote of confidence after the game, Dusty Baker suggested that the righthander would be examined after the game and could be headed to the DL. Whether it’s an injury, trade, or straight-up demotion, either way Papelbon is sitting on a burning hot seat.

Hierarchy remains: Papelbon | Kelley | Rivero.

Atlanta Braves — Jim Johnson picked up his fifth save of the year by successfully protecting a one-run lead last night. With Atlanta in selling mode, however, teams like the Mets are inquiring about Johnson, and the Braves could be close to moving him. If he gets traded, it seems that Mauricio Cabrera — who pitched another clean eighth for his third straight hold — would get the first crack at saves.

Hierarchy remains: Johnson | Cabrera | Withrow.

Tampa Bay Rays — Former All-Star closer Brad Boxberger was activated from the disabled list on Friday. Although he’s unlikely to unseat Alex Colome, he should immediately enter the late-inning conversation, just ahead of Kevin Jepsen and Erasmo Ramirez.

Updated hierarchy: Colome | Cedeno | Boxberger.

Texas Rangers — Three holds over the last week entitles Keone Kela to return to the Rangers hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Dyson | Diekman | Kela.

San Diego Padres — The Padres acquired Carter Capps in a seven-player deal with Miami. Capps is out for the year after Tommy John surgery, but is a strong candidate to close in San Diego next season.

Hierarchy remains: Maurer | Buchter | Hand. 

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Chris Withrow, Atlanta Braves — Both Jim Johnson and Mauricio Cabrera have pitched in three of four games.

Kelvin Herrera struggles, likely behind Joakim Soria in Royals’ closer race

July 7, 2016

Kansas City Royals — There wasn’t a save chance for KC on Wednesday, but it’s noteworthy that Kelvin Herrera came out for the eighth in a tie game. Herrera struck out the side, but also allowed two runs on three hits to take the loss. This only strengthens our belief that Ned Yost will give Joakim Soria the first shot to close.

Hierarchy remains: *Soria | Herrera | Hochevar.
* = closer-by-committee

Philadelphia Phillies — Edubray Ramos has pitched in three straight close seventh innings, including a Wednesday appearance with a tied score. As Philly’s closer of the future, his role could continue to grow in the second half of the season — especially if the team trades Jeanmar Gomez before he hits arbitration. For his part, David Hernandez has allowed 13 earned runs over his last nine appearances (9.2 IP).

Updated hierarchy: Gomez | Neris | Ramos.

Cleveland Indians — It’s been seven weeks since we talked to you about the Cleveland bullpen, but Zach McAllister has forced our hand. The righty started on Saturday after a 19-inning affair and got shelled by Toronto; on Wednesday, he came in for the seventh down six runs and gave up four more. Jeff Mansihp Manship (2.13 ERA, five holds) and Dan Otero (1.36 ERA, 8.45 K/9) are each pitching better than McAllister — and adding Otero gives the Indians the most anagrammable hierarchy in the league.

Updated hierarchy: Lonely Cad | Brash Yawn | Neat Odor.

Houston Astros — It wasn’t pretty for Luke Gregerson (1 ER, 3 BB), but he managed to grab the vulture save we foretold for him.

Hierarchy remains: Harris | Gregerson | Giles.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Neftali Feliz/Arquimedes Caminero, Pittsburgh Pirates — Mark Melancon has pitched in two straight and five of the last six. Feliz and Tony Watson have each gone in four of five, so maybe Clint Hurdle will give Arquimedes a place to stand.
2. Pedro Baez, Los Angeles Dodgers — Baez’s usage has been weird lately, but he was the only reliever the Dodgers didn’t use in their 14-inning game on Wednesday. Kenley Jansen and Joe Blanton have each been used in three of four.
3. Shawn Kelley, Washington Nationals — Ordinarily this would be a stretch, but Jonathan Papelbon just came back from the DL and has pitched in two of the last three.

Ryan Dull setting records; Luke Gregerson pitching well

July 5, 2016

Milwaukee Brewers – Tyler Thornburg has not pitched in a week and it is not entirely clear why. Last night Will Smith set-up Jeremy Jeffress, but there is little to suggest that Thornburg is injured or otherwise in Craig Counsell’s doghouse. Considering the fact that the Brewers batted out of order last night, pure incompetence cannot be ruled out. We’ll switch Thornburg and Smith for now.

Updated hierarchy: Jeffress | Smith | Thornburg.

Tampa Bay Rays – Ryan Garton snagged a sneaky vulture save last night with Xavier Cedeno getting the night off. The Rays have used a number of pitchers in the late innings recently, but Kevin Cash has shown confidence in Garton in the last few weeks. We expect him to continue to get late inning work going forward.

Updated hierarchy: Cedeno | Ramirez | Garton.

Houston Astros – In the last week, the Astros have used Luke Gregerson as Will Harris’s set-up man over Ken Giles. Giles has had a tough year following high expectations, and now seems to be second in line in Houston with Gregerson re-establishing his footing.

Updated hierarchy: Harris | Gregerson | Giles.

San Francisco Giants – Sergio Romo, the longtime Giants set-up man, has been activated from the disabled list and will be available to pitch tonight. However, Bruce Bochy told the press that Romo will not be getting his old job back right away. For now, Cory Gearrin will continue to get the 8th inning. We do not expect Bochy to be shy in deploying Romo in the late innings, however.

Updated hierarchy: Casilla | Gearrin | Romo.

Pittsburgh Pirates – The Pirates have used Tony Watson as the primary set-up man recently, but they still went with Neftali Feliz for the vulture save chance last night. Serves us right for not trusting our own hierarchy.

Hierarchy remains: Melancon | Feliz | Watson.

Oakland A’s – Ryan Dull set a record last night for stranding inherited runners. His reward is the first in line spot on the Closer Monkey hierarchy, as his appearance last night was the second time in a row that he’s been used to set-up Ryan Madson.

Updated hierarchy: Madson | Dull | Axford.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Cory Gearrin, San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla has pitched in back to back games and three of four.

Joe Smith hits the DL

June 8, 2016

Los Angeles Angels — Joe Smith was placed on the 15-day DL Tuesday thanks to a hamstring injury, which he tried to pitch through for three weeks. Smith hopes to be back in 12 days. Fernando Salas will slide up to Smith’s spot in the meantime, with but after that there’s no clear-cut contender for the seventh inning. Greg Mahle and Jose Alvarez are two lefties that have battled for that role, while Mike Morin, called up on Tuesday, pitched well earlier this season and was mentioned by manager Mike Scioscia as someone who will also be in the mix for the eighth. Despite mop-up duty on Tuesday, Morin gets our nod based on Scioscia’s postgame comments.

Updated hierarchy: Street | Salas | Morin.

Pittsburgh Pirates — After a horrible weekend for Tony Watson, which included a blown save, a loss and six earned runs allowed, it looks like Neftali Feliz is the trusted arm in the eighth inning for Clint Hurdle. Feliz pitched the eighth in both games of Tuesday’s doubleheader and his only blemish was a solo home run in the afternoon affair.

Updated hierarchy: Melancon | Feliz | Watson.

Minnesota Twins – Trevor May was one of just two Twins relievers to not appear in an 11-inning win on Tuesday thanks to a lower back/hip issue, though his 5.13 ERA wasn’t exactly missed. Brandon Kintzler pitched the ninth after the Twins tied the game in the eighth while Kevin Jepsen allowed a hit in the 11th and has not recorded a 1-2-3 inning since April 17. In Glen Perkins news, the injured closer claims there’s “light at the end of the tunnel” and manager Paul Molitor said that Perkins will soon get a rehab assignment.

Updated hierarchy: Jepsen | Abad | Kintzler.

New York Yankees – As the Vulture Save Watch predicted, Aroldis Chapman got a night off and Andrew Miller picked up his seventh save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Miller | Betances. 

Atlanta Braves — Jim Johnson got his first high-leverage work since returning from the DL and retired the side on 10 pitches to protect a 3-2 lead in the eighth inning. His ERA is still over 7.00, but at least he can say he had a better night than Arodys Vizcaino, who suffered his second blown save.

Hierarchy remains: Vizcaino | Johnson | Cervenka.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jake Diekman/Matt Bush, Texas Rangers – Sam Dyson has appeared in three straight games, including a 30-pitch outing yesterday. Diekman threw 21 pitches on Tuesday and could also get a night off.
2. Hector Neris, Philadelphia Phillies – Jeanmar Gomez recorded a six-out save on Tuesday, throwing 25 pitches.
3. Tony Watson, Pittsburgh Pirates – Both Mark Melancon (27 pitches) and Neftali Feliz (37 pitches) appeared in each game of yesterday’s doubleheader, while Watson only pitched once.
4. Cory Gearrin, San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla threw 25 pitches in 1.1 innings of work on Tuesday, and while he hadn’t worked since June 1, he still may get a night off.

Blake Wood becoming key in the Reds’ brutal bullpen

April 23, 2016

Cincinnati Reds — J.J. Hoover is having a very rough April. Even a relatively low-pressure outing, down three in the ninth, turned into a four-run, five-hit implosion. It’s unclear whether Hoover will still be on the team through the weekend, but we have to believe he’s not sniffing any save chances for a while. Blake Wood and Ross Ohlendorf should move up accordingly.

Updated hierarchy: *Cotham | Cingrani | Wood.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies — Miguel Castro joined Jason Motte on the disabled list Friday, caused by inflammation in his right shoulder. It ain’t pretty, what’s left behind Jake McGee in the Rockies pen: new set-up guy Chad Qualls has a 6.35 ERA, Justin Miller averages two baserunners an inning, and Christian Bergman is giving up hits to everyone he doesn’t strike out. We’ll give the slot to lefty Boone Logan for now, but callup Gonzalez Germen could make it his before long.

Updated hierarchy: McGee | Qualls | Logan.

Oakland A’s — Although Bob Melvin says Oakland still has a closer committee, Sean Doolittle allowed two inherited runners to score before Ryan Madson earned save number seven with a perfect ninth. The A’s have been keeping their bullpen busy, with nine saves in their ten wins.

Hierarchy remains: *Madson | Doolittle | Axford.
* = closer-by-committee

Atlanta Braves — It doesn’t look like much of a committee in Atlanta either. Jason Grilli’s only save was of the vulture variety, and he came in on Friday night with the Braves down three in the eighth.

Updated hierarchy: Vizcaino | Grilli | Johnson.

Kansas City Royals — With Joakim Soria struggling, the Royals used Luke Hochevar in the seventh and Kelvin Herrera in the eighth, in a two-run game. Soria has earned enough goodwill to keep his slot through this one snub, but we’ll be watching to see who gets the next high-leverage eighth.

Hierarchy remains: Davis | Soria | Herrera.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Bryan Shaw, Cleveland Indians — Cody Allen didn’t take Friday off, but Saturday could be a different story. He’s now thrown 41 pitches in two days.
2. Joaquin Benoit, Seattle Mariners — Steve Cishek has gone in three straight.
3. Neftali Feliz, Pittsburgh Pirates — Both Mark Melancon and Tony Watson had lengthy outings on Friday night. Melancon also pitched on Thursday.
4. Joe Smith/Fernando Salas, Los Angeles Angels — Huston Street has pitched in two straight (37 pitches).