Aroldis Chapman to undergo MRI on his knee today

August 22, 2018

New York Yankees — Aroldis Chapman left Tuesday’s tilt after throwing just six pitches, which left Tommy Kahnle to convert the 12th-inning save. After the game, Aaron Boone said that Chapman called for the trainer because he felt pain in his left knee. Chapman, who will undergo an MRI today, said it’s worrisome and Boone is calling this a huge concern. If Dellin Betances is still available in your league, now is the time to get him, as he is likely to get a bulk of the save chances should Chapman need a stint on the DL. Meanwhile, David Robertson was unavailable on Tuesday because of a sore shoulder, but Boone is not overly concerned about it and Robertson said he should be available today if needed.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Betances | Britton.

Houston Astros — AJ Hinch announced on MLB Network Radio yesterday that he’ll start using Hector Rondon in the seventh and eighth innings while relying on Roberto Osuna as the team’s primary closer. Hinch holds no regard for your fantasy team, however, as Rondon picked up the save on Tuesday while Osuna pitched the eighth. After the game, Hinch said that he had Osuna warming for the seventh in case he was needed to bail the Astros out of a jam. He also said that Osuna might have pitched the ninth as well had he not thrown 28 pitches in the previous inning. We think Hinch will stick to his word and keep Osuna as his primary closer, but be prepared for situations like tonight to arise where Rondon gets a save chance after Osuna is forced into a high-leverage spot in the seventh or eighth.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Rondon | McHugh.

Washington Nationals — Kelvin Herrera returned from the DL on Tuesday and finished off a 10-4 win with a 1-2-3 ninth inning. With Sean Doolittle still not close to returning from his injury, Herrera has a strong chance to finish the season as the Nationals’ closer.

Updated hierarchy: Herrera | Glover | Miller.

Minnesota Twins — In our last Twins update, we said that Taylor Rogers may snag a couple more save opportunities if the matchups were right. Well, with the Twins breaking a 2-2 tie in the top half of ninth and a pair of lefties due up for the White Sox, Rogers got the call again and recorded two strikeouts en route to his second save of the season. Trevor May preserved the tie against the top of the White Sox order in the eighth. Rogers is more likely to earn a save when a team has a couple of lefties due up. He is also more likely to earn a save than Addison Reed, who hasn’t recorded a hold since August 10.

Updated hierarchy: *Hildenberger | May | Rogers.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Dellin Betances – Even if Aroldis Chapman doesn’t head to the DL, he may get Wednesday night off anyway.
2. Jordan Hicks – Bud Norris has thrown 39 pitches over the last two days. Hicks had Tuesday off after a 33-pitch effort on Monday.
3. Jared Hughes – Raisel Iglesias threw 29 pitches to record five outs last night. Hughes had Tuesday off following a tough outing on Monday.
4. Hector Rondon – Roberto Osuna hurled 28 pitches last night while Rondon threw only nine. Even with the Astros off on Thursday, AJ Hinch may choose to rest Osuna.

Tomorrow
1. Adam Conley – Drew Steckenrider threw 20 pitches on Tuesday, so a lengthy outing on Wednesday may earn him an off day on Thursday.
2. Craig Stammen/Matt Strahm – An appearance today for Kirby Yates will be his third in four days. Stammen enters today having pitched in three of four.

Ryan Madson will close for Washington, at least until Sean Doolittle returns

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August 9, 2018

Washington Nationals — Dave Martinez confirmed that it’ll be Ryan Madson getting the ninth inning with Kelvin Herrera on the shelf. Justin Miller and Koda Glover will split the set-up role, with Greg Holland lurking as another potential high-leverage option, if he can figure things out. Meanwhile, Sean Doolittle (stress reaction in left foot) has been cleared to throw on flat ground, but is trying not to rush back too soon.

Updated hierarchy: Madson | Miller | Glover.

Cleveland Indians — Cody Allen isn’t making the most of his chances at the ninth inning. In a save chance on Wednesday, he gave up a leadoff home run and put two other guys on before escaping the inning and winding up with a walk-off win.

Hierarchy remains: *Hand | Allen | Miller.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
None.

Friday:
1. Jose Alvarado — Sergio Romo has pitched in two straight, including a blown save on Wednesday.
2. Josh Hader — Corey Knebel threw 24 pitches on Wednesday and 46 pitches in outings over the weekend.
3. Roberto Osuna — An appearance today for Hector Rondon would mark three in four days.

Kyle Barraclough could be out of a job in the next few hours

[EDITOR’S NOTE: We are running our annual Donation Drive this week. Thank you, as always, for supporting us!]

August 7, 2018

New York Mets – After Bobby Wahl and Robert Gsellman navigated the 7th and 8th innings, the Mets called on lefty Jerry Blevins for the 9th. Joey Votto was due up third, so the matchup made sense, and Blevins did the job, earning his first save of the year. Blevins hasn’t given up a run in his last six appearances, and might be in line for another save chance or two if the Mets continue to play matchups in this fashion.

Updated hierarchy: *Gsellman | Lugo | Blevins.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins – Kyle Barraclough entered the game with a 2-run lead and immediately gave up two singles and a walk to start the inning. He then ran the count full to Kolten Wong before striking him out looking on a backdoor slider that was almost certainly not a strike, then walked the next hitter on five pitches to force in a run. Javy Guerra was then summoned, and induced a game-ending double play to pick up the save. After the game, Mattingly was noncommital about the closer role going forward, saying he “wouldn’t do anything without talking to everybody.” We’ll see if there’s a change afoot later today after Mattingly talks to everybody — add Drew Steckenrider now, if you haven’t done so already.

Hierarchy remains: Barraclough | Steckenrider | Conley.

Chicago Cubs – Brandon Kintzler has picked up three eighth inning holds in the last four days, and appears to have quickly earned the trust of Joe Maddon. Look for him to potentially get save chances when Pedro Strop is unavailable.

Updated hierarchy: Strop | Kintzler | Edwards.

Houston Astros – Recently acquired and reinstated from suspension for domestic abuse, Roberto Osuna made his Astros debut and was credited with the win, as the Astros would score 3 runs in the top of the 9th to beat the Giants. Rondon pitched the 9th as usual, and it appears as though remains the preferred option for the closer role. Osuna may vulture some chances due to match up or fatigue, but it’s Rondon’s job to lose.

Updated hierarchy: Rondon | Osuna | McHugh.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Tony Watson – Will Smith has gone in back to back games including a blown save last night.

Tomorrow
1. Alex Colome – If Edwin Diaz goes tonight, it’ll be three straight.
2. Brandon Kintzler/CJ Edwards – If Pedro Strop or Brandon Kintzler goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and four of five.
3. Alex Claudio/Cory Gearrin – If Jose LeClerc goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four. Chris Martin could also potentially vulture this chance, depending on matchups/fatigue.

Jake Diekman logs first post-Kela 9th; Ken Giles and Roberto Osuna swapped

July 31, 2018

Houston Astros – The Astros traded one headache for another, acquiring Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna in exchange for Ken Giles. Osuna, eligible to return on Sunday, probably won’t close for the Astros, as Hector Rondon has been nails since taking over the job, but he’ll likely get the first bite at the apple should Rondon falter.

Hierarchy remains: Rondon | McHugh | Pressly.

Toronto Blue Jays – John Gibbons said that Ken Giles will get the chance to close at some point for the Blue Jays. We’re guessing there will be a feeling out process first and that he won’t move into the role immediately, but we’re still starting him out just behind Ryan Tepera, and he could climb to the top quickly.

Updated hierarchy: *Tepera | Giles | Clippard.
* = closer-by-committee

Atlanta Braves – Brad Brach got his first action for Atlanta last night, pitching a scoreless 8th inning ahead of AJ Minter. We were close to removing Minter’s asterisk before the Brach trade, and we’ll plan to do so should the Braves continue to deploy them in this fashion.

Hierarchy remains: *Minter | Brach | Winkler.
* = closer-by-committee

Minnesota Twins – The Twins traded Zach Duke to Seattle last night. They also got Addison Reed back from the DL. We’ll make the requisite hierarchy change, but hopefully you owned neither of these guys and this doesn’t matter to you.

Updated hierarchy: Rodney | Hildenberger | Reed.

Seattle Mariners – Edwin Diaz became the first player to reach 40 saves and we aren’t even in August yet. Pat yourself on the back if you drafted him, as he’s now on pace for a 60-save season, which would put him just short of the MLB record (62) set by Francisco Rodriguez. Also, look for the newly-acquired Zach Duke to share 7th inning duties with James Pazos, Nick Vincent and others.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Colome | Pazos.

St. Louis Cardinals – The Cardinals placed Luke Gregerson on the DL yesterday, and the righty appears unlikely to pitch again this season. We’ll give his spot on the hierarchy to the recently-acquired Chasen Shreve.

Updated hierarchy: Norris | Hicks | Shreve. 

Texas Rangers – After the trade of Keone Kela to the Pirates, the Rangers turned to Jake Diekman in the 9th inning. It didn’t end up being a save since the Rangers added a run in the 9th to make it a four-run lead, but it seems likely Diekman will, at least, share the closer role with Jose LeClerc, if not more. However, Diekman could also potentially be traded later today, so LeClerc should probably be added either way.

Updated hierarchy: Diekman | LeClerc | Claudio.

Pittsburgh Pirates – The Pirates have acquired former Rangers’ closer Keone Kela. Felipe Vazquez should hang on to the closer’s job with Kela sliding into a set-up role alongside Kyle Crick.

Updated hierarchy: Vazquez | Kela | Crick.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Craig Stammen – Kirby Yates threw 2 innings last night.
2. Tony Watson – Will Smith has pitched in back to back games, including 1.1 innings last night.
3-9. Jose LeClerc, Jose Alvarado, Jordan Hicks, Trevor Hildenberger, Justin Anderson, Jared Hughes, Drew Steckenrider – These guys are all sitting right behind closers who could conceivably be moved today. (Craig Stammen would be here too, but he’s already listed above.) If you’re looking to speculate on who might be closing by this afternoon, consider this order to be our confidence index — start at the beginning of this list and work your way down.

Tomorrow
1. Alex Colome/James Pazos – If Edwin Diaz or Alex Colome go tonight, it’ll be three straight.
2. Jordan Hicks – If Bud Norris goes today, it’ll be back to back and three of four.