Oliver Drake placed on IL; Seth Lugo is the Mets stopper going forward

August 10, 2020

Tampa Bay Rays – Oliver Drake was placed on the IL with biceps tendinitis, leaving Nick Anderson as the likely first choice for saves in Tampa. Jose Alvarado returns from the paternity list today; he and Diego Castillo could also be in the mix going forward.

Updated hierarchy: *Anderson | Alvarado | Castillo.
* = closer-by-committee

Kansas City Royals – With Trevor Rosenthal needing a day off, the Royals went to Scott Barlow for the save on Sunday. Barlow has gotten some higher-leverage inning over the past week and, after Sunday, has posted scoreless outings in 9 of his 10 appearances. We’ll bump him up the hierarchy accordingly.

Updated hierarchy: *Rosenthal | Barlow | Holland.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s – Journeyman Burch Smith picked up his first career save on Sunday, throwing the last three innings of a 5-run A’s victory. He’s yet to allow a run in 10.1 innings this year (and is currently sporting a 0.48 WHIP), so he could potentially start seeing some more high-leverage spots going forward.

Hierarchy remains: Hendriks | Soria | Diekman.

Seattle Mariners – A shaky outing from Dan Altavilla means yet another shakeup of the Mariners hierarchy, as the righty allowed three earned runs while recording only 2 outs in the 8th inning on Sunday. Taylor Williams entered to clean up and stayed on for the 9th, logging 3 Ks in the process. On the back of that strong outing, we’ll jump Williams up to the top here — he’s now got 3 saves against 1 each for Altavilla and CJ Edwards — with the understanding that this situation remains pretty fluid.

Updated hierarchy: *Williams | Edwards | Altavilla.
* = closer-by-committee

Cleveland Indians – A 44-minute rain delay during the bottom of the 10th inning cost Brad Hand a save chance on Sunday, as the lefty only managed one out before the skies opened. Oliver Perez subsequently replaced him and recorded the save.

Hierarchy remains: Hand | Karinchak| Wittgren.

Houston Astros – Roberto Osuna’s season is likely over, as he was transferred to the 45-day IL on Sunday. Speculation continues that he will need Tommy John, and could potentially miss 2021 as well.

Hierarchy remains: Pressly | Taylor | Scrubb.

New York Mets – The Mets went to Seth Lugo with a one-run lead in the 8th Saturday and would’ve kept him in if they hadn’t extended their lead to four; instead, he was available Sunday to get his 3rd save of the season, while Edwin Diaz pitched the 8th. Diaz has looked a lot better as of late, and might be the go-to guy for saves when Lugo is unavailable (which is generally more often than most relievers). But he has still dropped to second place in this bullpen and won’t get the call unless Lugo can’t go.

Updated hierarchy: Lugo | Diaz | Betances.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Edwin Diaz/Dellin Betances – Seth Lugo has pitched back to back and Edwin Diaz has pitched two of three.
2. Joakim Soria – A heavy workload last week might mean two straight days off for Liam Hendriks.

Tomorrow
1. Blake Treinen/Pedro Baez – If Kenley Jansen or Blake Treinen go tonight, it’ll be two straight; monitor usage to see who’s available tomorrow.
2. Buck Farmer/Gregory Soto – Joe Jimenez, Buck Farmer, and Gregory Soto have all pitched in two of three; monitor usage to see who’s available tomorrow.
3. Evan Marshall/Jimmy Cordero – If Alex Colome, Evan Marshall, or Jimmy Cordero goes tonight, it’ll be two straight; monitor usage to see who’s available tomorrow.
4. Chris Martin – If Mark Melancon goes tonight, it’ll be two straight.

Ryan Pressly blows save, now has 40.50 ERA

August 7, 2020

Houston Astros – Ryan Pressly, who has been battling blister issues lately, was…not great in a save situation Thursday, coughing up two runs without recording an out to take the loss. After the game, manager Dusty Baker said Pressly hadn’t had much work lately but was “confident to pitch.”  Assuming he can get his blister situation under control, Pressly is the best bet for Astros saves for now. Meanwhile, closer Roberto Osuna is on the IL and was recently recommended to have Tommy John surgery, according to a report, but he is seeking a second opinion first.

Hierarchy remains: Pressly | Taylor | Scrubb.

Chicago Cubs – Craig Kimbrel got some work in the eighth inning of a 12-0 game Thursday. He allowed a triple, a walk, and an RBI single before getting two groundouts and a punchout. The appearance dropped his ERA to 23.63. He has allowed at least one run in every appearance this season. 

Hierarchy remains: *Kimbrel | Wick | Jeffress.
* = closer-by-committee

Atlanta Braves — Will Smith was activated from the 10-day IL Thursday after he missed all of summer camp because of a COVID-19 diagnosis. He should work his way quickly into the back end of Atlanta’s bullpen. Mark Melancon (4 IP, 0 ER, 2 SV, 1 W) has been very good and should hold onto the closer’s role for now. 

Updated hierarchy: Melancon | Greene | Smith.

New York Yankees — Aroldis Chapman is scheduled for another bullpen session Saturday. If that goes well, he should face live hitters at the team’s alternative training site next week. 

Hierarchy remains: Britton | Ottavino | Green.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Blake Taylor/Andre Scrubb – Ryan Pressly is battling blister issues and did not pitch well in a blown save Thursday. 
2. Brad Boxberger – Brandon Kintzler has pitched in three straight days. 
3. Rowan Wick – Craig Kimbrel has pitched in two of three and hasn’t looked right at all this season.
4. Joakim Soria – Liam Hendriks has gone in four of six. 

Tomorrow
1. Adam Morgan/Jose Alvarez – A Friday outing would be three straight for Hector Neris.
2. James Karinchak – If Brad Hand pitches today, that will be three outings in four days.
3. Adam Ottavino – A Zach Britton appearance today would be four of six for him.
4. Carlos Estevez – Same as above for Jairo Diaz. 
5. Greg Holland – If Ian Kennedy goes today, he’ll have pitched in three of the previous five days. A taxing outing could require some rest. 

Wade Davis, Roberto Osuna placed on the IL

August 3, 2020

Baltimore Orioles – Cole Sulser picked up his third save of the season on Sunday with a clean 2-inning effort against the Rays. All indications are that he’s the full time stopper at this point, so we’re removing his asterisk.

Updated hierarchy: Sulser | Givens | Castro.

Minnesota Twins – Taylor Rogers got the day off after pitching two straight, allowing Sergio Romo to pick up his second save of the year. Always read your Vulture Save Watch, folks.

Hierarchy remains: Rogers | Romo | Stashak.

Texas Rangers – After the Rangers took a 4-run lead in the top of the 7th inning, they turned to Jonathan Hernandez, who turned in two very strong innings (0 hits, 1 walk, 4 Ks) before giving way to Edinson Volquez, who pitched a perfect 9th. While both outings were impressive, the order in which these two were used suggests that Volquez has the edge for saves at the moment. We’ll shuffle the committee hierarchy accordingly.

Updated hierarchy: *Volquez | Hernandez | Goody.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies – Wade Davis was placed on the 10-day IL Sunday with a right shoulder strain. Jairo Diaz picked up the 1-out save in his absence, following a somewhat shaky inning of work from Carlos Estevez, who allowed three inherited runners to score in the 8th and an additional run in the 9th. Still, he’s probably second to Diaz in this hierarchy. With this shakeup, we’d also like to tip our cap to Daniel Bard, who claims the record for “longest stretches between appearances on a Closer Monkey hierarchy,” as we’re adding him at 2nd in line. Bard last appeared on a hierarchy in November 2011 — the fifth month of this site’s existence — when he was briefly elevated to the closer role for the Red Sox (behind him: Alfredo Aceves and Franklin Morales) in the short period between the departure of Jonathan Papelbon and the signing of Mark Melancon. Bard would shift to the rotation soon after, and though the Sox did put him back in the bullpen before releasing him — and while he had short minor league stints with four other teams (as well as a career eulogy on one of our All Star Break shitposts) — he never made it back to a hierarchy. Until now. A heartfelt congratulations, Daniel.

Updated hierarchy: *Diaz | Estevez | Bard.
* = closer-by-committee

Houston Astros – As expected, Roberto Osuna’s arm injury has resulted in an IL stint. Ryan Pressly is the best bet to close in his absence.

Updated hierarchy: Pressly | Taylor | Scrubb.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Joakim Soria – Liam Hendriks and Jake Diekman have pitched in back to back games.

Tomorrow
1. Adam Ottavino – If Zack Britton goes tonight, it’ll be two straight.
2. Blake Treinen – If Kenley Jansen goes tonight, it’ll be two straight.
3. Shane Greene/Chris Martin – If Mark Melancon goes tonight, it’ll be two straight. Same for Shane Greene, so check usage to see who’s available tomorrow.

Roberto Osuna to get MRI, Craig Kimbrel on the hot seat

August 2, 2020

Houston Astros — Roberto Osuna left yesterday’s game with an injury and is headed back to Houston for an MRI. The Astros also placed Chris Devenski on the IL. Ryan Pressly pitched the 8th inning yesterday and although it wasn’t a great outing and he seemed to be dealing with a figure issue, Pressly should take over as closer if Osuna misses an extended period of time.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Pressly | Taylor.

Chicago Cubs – Kyle Ryan started the 9th inning with the Cubs up 4, but after he gave up a two-run homer and a double, Rowan Wick got the call.  Wick gave up an RBI groundout to cut the lead to one but he was able to finish off the Cubs’ win for his first save of the season.  Jeremy Jeffress had another solid outing, as he entered the 7th inning with the bases loaded and two outs and was able to get out of the jam before coming back out for a scoreless 8th.  Closer Craig Kimbrel has struggled in both his appearances this season and manager David Ross would not commit to Kimbrel getting the next save chance.  Jeffress is a good speculative add at this point in case Kimbrel can’t get back on track.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Jeffress | Wick.

New York Yankees — The Yankees rested their top bullpen arms on Saturday and that left David Hale to close out of the final two innings of a 5-2 victory for the save.  

Hierarchy remains: Britton | Ottavino | Green.

Minnesota Twins — Tyler Clippard will serve as an opener for the Twins on Sunday.  Cody Stashak struck out a pair in a scoreless 8th inning hold ahead of Taylor Rogers on Saturday and we will slide him into Clippard’s hierarchy spot.

Updated hierarchy: Rogers | Romo | Stashak.

Los Angeles Angels — Hansel Robles’ nightmare start to the season continued on Saturday.  Robles gave up three runs in a blown save and now has given up 9 runs in 4 appearances.  The entire Angels’ bullpen has been struggling, but Felix Pena threw two scoreless innings ahead of Robles yesterday and that is enough to earn him a spot on the hierarchy.

Updates hierarchy: Robles | Buttrey | Pena.

Chicago White Sox — Codi Heuer got the last out of the 8th and then after the Whie Sox added 4 more runs in the top of the 9th, he finished off the game for the save.

Hierarchy remains: Colome | Bummer | Marshall.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Ryan Pressly – Roberto Osuna is getting an MRI
2. Ty Buttrey – Hansel Robles has pitched in two of three, including a blown save yesterday
3. Sergio Romo – Taylor Rogers has pitched in two straight and three of four.

Monday
1. Drew Pomeranz – If Kirby Yates pitches Sunday, it will be two of three, including a 28 pitch outing on Friday.
2. Jake Diekman – Today would be two straight for Liam Hendriks and the A’s might be cautious with their closer early in the season