Greg Holland getting his groove back; Roberto Osuna on paternity leave

September 12, 2017

Toronto Blue Jays – Roberto Osuna has left the team for a few days, returning to Mexico to be on hand for the birth of his child. Dominic Leone got the save in his place last night; look for Leone and Ryan Tepera to share opportunities for the next couple days in Osuna’s absence.

Hierarchy remains: Osuna | Tepera | Leone.

Texas Rangers – Matt Bush returned from the DL over the weekend, and got his first action Monday night, throwing a clean 7th inning and picking up his 8th hold. We suspect that’s about how he’s used for the rest of the season.

Updated hierarchy: *Claudio | Barnette | Bush.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies – After being temporarily demoted to committee status, Greg Holland seems to have worked out his issues and last night collected his fourth save in seven days. Given his recent issues, a few hiccups could lead to a quick re-installation of the committee, but for the time being, we don’t see anyone else in the Colorado bullpen getting save opps as long as Holland is rested.

Updated hierarchy: Holland | McGee | Neshek.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Ryan Tepera/Dominic Leone – Roberto Osuna is on paternity leave and will miss a few days.
2. Jake McGee – Greg Holland has gone in three of four and didn’t look quite as sharp last night as he had looked in his previous outings. He could potentially get the night off.

Tomorrow
1. Dellin Betances – If Aroldis Chapman goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.
2. Jake McGee – See above. If Greg Holland goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and four of five.

The Angels return to a closer-by-committee

September 11, 2017

Los Angeles Angels – Sporting a three-run lead, the Angels went Bedrosian-Parker-Petit to get through the final three innings. So the committee is back — maybe it never really left — though we still think Parker is the best bet at this point to get a save on any given night.

Updated hierarchy: *Parker | Bedrosian | Petit.
* = closer-by-committee

Arizona Diamondbacks – A day after Fernando Rodney got smacked around, Archie Bradley got the 9th inning and picked up his first save of the season. However, after the game, Torey Lovullo was quick to say there was no closer controversy — Rodney was just getting the day off. Still, given how dynamite Bradley has been all season, we think that the would-be controversy may be on if Rodney has another bad outing or two.

Hierarchy remains: Rodney | Bradley | Hernandez.

Toronto Blue Jays – Luis Santos got his first career save on Sunday afternoon, pitching the final three innings of a Blue Jays blowout win. Through three big league outings, Santos has been rock solid (8.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 7 Ks, 1 BB), and given that the Blue Jays bullpen isn’t exactly a model of consistency, they might be willing to give him a look in some higher leverage spots down the stretch.

Hierarchy remains: Osuna | Tepera | Leone.

Washington Nationals – Sean Doolittle got a second consecutive day off after pitching four of the previous five, so the Nationals instead clinched the NL East on the back of an extremely shaky Ryan Madson save. But the fact that Madson converted — and the fact that Brandon Kintzler was ostensibly available and stayed on the bench — suggests that Madson will get future chances when Doolittle is unavailable.

Updated hierarchy: Doolittle | Madson | Kintzler. 

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Joe Smith – The Indians are probably invested in keeping their record-long win streak alive, but since they have a 13-game lead in the division, they might give Cody Allen a day off after his back to back outings on Saturday and Sunday.

Tomorrow
1. Joe Smith – See above. If Cody Allen goes tonight, it’ll be three straight.
2. Anthony Swarzak – If Corey Knebel goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.

Roberto Osuna unavailable due to a bad neck, Nicasio moves to top of Cardinals’ committee

September 10, 2017

St. Louis Cardinals — The Cardinals went right back to their newest bullpen piece last night, and Juan Nicasio responded by striking out two in a scoreless inning for the save.  Nicasio has been pitching well and racking up reliever stats (2 wins, 2 holds, and 2 saves in his last 7 appearances).   Seung Hwan Oh has not been particularly effective at the top of the committee, and now the Cardinals look ready to use the veteran Nicasio in that spot.

Updated hierarchy: *Nicasio | Lyons | Oh.
* = closer-by-committee

Toronto Blue Jays – Ryan Tepera got the call in the ninth inning yesterday, and despite giving up a couple runs, he was able to record his second save of the season.  Regular closer Roberto Osuna was unavailable due to a bad neck.  The Blue Jays hope Osuna will only miss a day or two, but we will continue to monitor the situation to see if the injury becomes more serious.  Ryan Tepera should close while Osuna is out.

Hierarchy remains: Osuna | Tepera | Leone.

Kansas City Royals — Brandon Maurer pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up the first save since Kelvin Hererra’s demotion.  Mike Minor pitched 1.2 scoreless innings ahead of Maurer and got the win.  Maurer should get the majority of save chances, and could have a chance to kick the asterisk if he can pitch well down the stretch.

Hierarchy remains: *Maurer | Alexander | Minor.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Yankees — The Yankees are hoping Aroldis Chapman can return to form as a dominant closer down the stretch, and yesterday he certainly looked the part.   In his first 1-2-3 save since July 25th, Chapman was efficient throwing strikes while also electric, striking out Mike Napoli on a 102 MPH fastball to finish the game.  This outing might be enough to solidify Chapman in the closer’s role again, but we will wait to see one more before removing the committee.

Hierarchy remains: *Chapman | Betances | Robertson.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Ryan Tepera – Roberto Osuna may get another day off to deal with his bad neck.

Monday
1. Jake McGee – If Greg Holland pitches Sunday, it will be three in a row
2. Tony Barnette/Ricardo Rodriguez – Alex Claudio threw 30 pitches yesterday so if he goes again today, he could get Monday off.

 

Cam Bedrosian pitching like closer for Angels

August 13, 2017

Los Angeles Angels — Cam Bedrosian converted his second straight save opportunity since Bud Norris was removed as closer.  Keynan Middleton got the win, and Blake Parker struck out two in a scoreless eighth inning.  Bedrosian could be on his way to asserting himself as the primary closer for the Angels, but we will see how things play out in the next couple days before we pull the committee.

Hierarchy remains: *Bedrosian | Parker | Middleton.
* = closer-by-committee

Philadelphia Phillies — After Hoby Milner got the first out of the ninth, Luis Garcia came on and recorded the last two outs for his second save of the season.  As we mentioned in the Vulture Save Watch, Hector Neris had pitched a lot recently, and it looks like the Phillies will use Milner and Garcia in the ninth when Neris is not available.

Hierarchy remains: Neris | Garcia | Milner.

Arizona Diamondbacks – When Fernando Rodney entered the ninth inning yesterday, it was not a save opportunity, but when he left, it was.  Rodney, who had not pitched since August eighth, started the ninth with a 6-0 lead, but got pulled after giving up four hits and two runs.  David Hernandez came on to get the last out and record his first save since getting traded to the Diamondbacks.  Rodney had not given up a run in over a month prior to Saturday, and his job as closer should be safe for now.

Hierarchy remains: Rodney | Bradley | Hernandez.

Toronto Blue Jays — Dominic Leone struck out three in 1.2 scoreless innings for his sixth hold of the season.  It was Leone’s fourth hold in the month of August, and he seems to have settled into a role at the back-end of the Blue Jays’ bullpen

Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Tepera | Leone

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Blake Parker/Yusmeiro Petit – Cam Bedrosian has pitched in two of three and the Angels have been cautious with him since coming back from his injury. Parker has pitched in three of four, and Keynan Middleton has pitched in four of five.
2. Tony Watson/Pedro Baez – Kenley Jansen has pitched in three of the past four.

Monday
1. Michael Lorenzen – If Raisel Iglesias pitches on Sunday, it will be three of four, including a 41 pitch outing on Friday.
2. Junichi Tazawa – Brad Ziegler has pitched in two straight.

Claudio emerges from Rangers’ committee, Doolittle moves to top for Nationals

July 23, 2017

Texas Rangers — Keone Kela started the eighth inning last night with the Rangers up one run.  He recorded two outs, but also gave up a hit and a walk, and Alex Claudio came on to finish the inning.  Claudio came back out to pitch a scoreless ninth and pick up his fourth save of the year.  Claudio has finished the Rangers last four wins, and has earned the closer’s job.  We will remove the asterisk, but there still could be some times Claudio is needed before the ninth because of the Rangers’ current bullpen condition.

Hierarchy remains: Claudio | Kela | Leclerc.

Washington Nationals – Sean Doolittle picked up his second straight save since being traded to the Nationals.  Ryan Madson again pitched the eighth inning ahead of Doolittle.  Dusty Baker also said he would have used Doolittle on Friday if they had a lead in the ninth, so it appears clear Doolittle is the head of the committee for now.  Doolittle has issued a leadoff walk and given up a run in both of his save chances, and that is the only thing keeping us from removing the committee completely.

Updated hierarchy: *Doolittle | Madson | Albers.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins — With the rumors still swirling about closer AJ Ramos being dealt, manager Don Mattingly offered his thoughts on who could close if Ramos is dealt.  Kyle Barraclough would be Mattingly’s preference to close.  Claw is a good speculative add if you are looking for help in the saves category.

Hierarchy remains: Ramos | Barraclough | Tazawa.

Toronto Blue Jays – Blue Jays’ set-up man Joe Smith has been activated from the disabled list.  The veteran should jump right back in to a late inning role.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Smith | Tepera.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Kyle Barraclough – AJ Ramos has pitched in two straight, throwing a total of 42 pitches.  Barraclough has also pitched in two straight but thrown a lot less pitches.
2. George Kontos – Sam Dyson has pitched in two straight, and four of five.  Hunter Strickland has also pitched in two straight, throwing a total of 48 pitches.
3. Keone Kela – Alex Claudio has gone in two straight, working a total of 3.1 innings over that span.

Monday
1. Archie Bradley – If Fernando Rodney pitches on Sunday, that will be three of four.
2. Andrew Miller – Cody Allen threw 31 pitches on Saturday so if he goes again on Sunday, he will likely get Monday off.
3. Pat Neshek – Hector Neris has pitched in two straight.