Emmanuel Clase collects first career save

August 31, 2019

Texas Rangers – As the Vulture Save Watch noted, Jose Leclerc was unavailable last night. However, Shawn Kelley was pressed into service in the sixth inning to protect a one-run lead with men on second and third. He got out of the jam, but that left the save opportunity to rookie Emmanuel Clase. Clase gave up a leadoff single, but got the next three outs to earn his first career save. Clase has been a solid addition to the bullpen, boasting a 100 MPH cutter as his primary weapon, and he figures to be a big part of the Rangers’ late-inning plans next year. As for September, there’s a chance he gets some more high-leverage chances, but it may be tough to see many more save opportunities with Kelley and Rafael Montero in the mix. We’ll see if Chris Woodward looks to the future in the final month of the season or sticks with the usual suspects.

Hierarchy remains: Leclerc | Kelley | Montero.

Washington Nationals – The Nationals activated both Hunter Strickland and Roenis Elias before last night’s game, and the duo immediately combined to blow a lead. Strickland entered the seventh inning with the Nationals up two but gave up a run and loaded the bases before giving way to Elias. Elias walked in an inherited runner before getting an inning-ending double play. Daniel Hudson also blew a save late, but got the win on an Anthony Rendon walk-off. The Nationals can’t wait for Sean Doolittle to get back, and he had a successful rehab outing, so his return may come sooner rather than later. 

Hierarchy remains: *Hudson | Strickland | Rodney.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins – Jose Urena is getting close to a return and will be the closer when he does make it back from the IL. Urena has been sidelined for the past three months with a herniated disc and will have to adjust to a bullpen role after spending most of his career as a starter, but he is traveling with the team and may be activated when rosters expand on Sunday. It sounds like Urena has the closer’s job waiting for him when he is activated, so if you are desperate for saves down the stretch, maybe the Marlins can help you out.

Updated hierarchy: *Stanek | Garcia | Brigham.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Matt Barnes/Ryan Brasier — Brandon Workman threw 29 pitches during last night’s blown save. The 15-inning affair didn’t do the Boston bullpen any favors, with Barnes and Brasier the best-rested options.
2. Cam Bedrosian — The Angels were on the other side of that 15-inning game, leaving Bedrosian, who didn’t appear last night, as the best-rested option. Hansel Robles tossed 25 pitches Friday.

Sunday:
1. Yoan Lopez — Archie Bradley got the win last night but needed 28 pitches to do it. Another long outing would make him unavailable on Sunday. 

Jose Leclerc to remain as Rangers closer

August 7, 2019

Texas Rangers — Shawn Kelley should be activated from the IL today, but he will not assume the closer’s role. Chris Woodward said that Jose Leclerc has earned that spot and will continue to pitch the ninth inning. Expect Kelley to join Jesse Chavez, Brett Martin and rookie fireballer Emmanuel Clase as the Rangers’ high-leverage options for the remainder of the year.

Updated hierarchy: Leclerc | Kelley | Chavez.

Chicago Cubs – The Cubs placed Brandon Kintzler on the 10-day IL and activated Pedro Strop from the IL. Joe Maddon said that Strop, who returned without having gone on a rehab assignment, will be eased back in and won’t close. He also won’t pitch on back-to-back days. This means guys like David Phelps and Steve Cishek will get a shot at save chances. You may even see Rowan Wick or Kyle Ryan pitching in some high-leverage spots. We’ll continue to monitor what will be a very intriguing week for the Cubs’ bullpen.

Updated hierarchy: *Phelps | Cishek | Strop.
* = closer-by-committee

Milwaukee Brewers — With both Josh Hader (28 pitches) and Freddy Peralta (31 pitches) needing a night off after a busy Monday, the Brewers turned to Matt Albers with a 4-2 lead in the ninth inning. Albers began the inning with a single, wild pitch and a double, but he settled down and converted his second save of the season. Jeremy Jeffress owns a 15.19 ERA over his last five outings. That’s not good.

Updated hierarchy: Hader | Peralta | Albers.

Washington Nationals – Fernando Rodney protected a two-run lead in the eighth inning on Tuesday. This came after he kept the Nationals ahead by three during the eighth inning of Monday’s triumph. Rodney has now earned an eighth-inning hold in each of the last three Nationals victories, which means we’ll slide him ahead of Hunter Strickland in this revamped Washington hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Doolittle | Rodney | Strickland.

Miami Marlins — A day after being activated from the IL, Ryne Stanek made his Marlins debut on Tuesday night in his first action since July 19. He allowed one hit and struck out a batter in the eighth inning of a 5-0 loss. Stanek excelled as an opener for the Rays but has a legit chance to close games for the Marlins this season and beyond.

Updated hierarchy: *Garcia | Quijada | Stanek.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Yankees – Aroldis Chapman and Zack Britton had both pitched in three of four and four of six, so Adam Ottavino was the only hierarchy member available on Tuesday. He tossed a five-pitch eighth inning to preserve a 7-4 lead and stayed on for the ninth to close out an 9-4 win for his first save as a Yankee. With Aaron Boone not wanting to exhaust his most important bullpen arms ahead of a postseason run, expect some more vulture saves for guys like Ottavino, Chad Green and Tommy Kahnle down the road depending on usage. 

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Britton | Ottavino.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Chris Martin – Shane Greene has pitched in three of the last four.
2. Evan Marshall – Alex Colome has appeared in two straight, throwing 45 pitches over the pair of games. Aaron Bummer tossed 26 pitches over two frames yesterday. The White Sox do have Thursday off.

Chris Martin, Jose Leclerc to share closing duties with Shawn Kelley on the shelf

July 23, 2019

Texas Rangers – With Shawn Kelley officially on the IL, Chris Woodward indicated that Jose Leclerc and Chris Martin would handle 9th inning duties in Kelley’s absence. We detailed their recent work in yesterday morning’s post, and figure this might come down to who converts successfully first. From an organizational perspective, the Rangers may want to give Martin the first few cracks in the hopes that he succeeds and bolsters his trade value. But Leclerc has been viewed as the closer of the future for some time, so they might just give him back the job he lost at the end of April.

Hierarchy remains: *C.Martin | Leclerc | B.Martin.
* = closer-by-committee

Cincinnati Reds – Raisel Iglesias couldn’t escape the 8th inning last night, allowing an inherited run to score, plus three more, as the Reds relinquished the lead. They got it back in the top of the 9th, allowing Jared Hughes to convert his first save of the season. Michael Lorenzen and Amir Garrett had already pitched earlier in the night.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Lorenzen | Garrett.

San Francisco Giants – The Giants gave Will Smith the night off after he’d appeared in three of the last four, and Sam Dyson got the 9th, converting for his 2nd save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Smith | Dyson | Watson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. John Gant/Andrew Miller – Carlos Martinez has gone back to back and three of four.
2. Michael Lorenzen – Raisel Iglesias has gone back to back, throwing 50 pitches.

Tomorrow
1. Blake Parker – If Taylor Rogers goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.

Shawn Kelley officially on the IL

July 22, 2019

Texas Rangers – Shawn Kelley officially went on the IL today with an arm injury. As we mentioned this morning, we’re giving a slight edge to Chris Martin over Jose Leclerc to get the majority of save opportunities in Kelley’s absence. We will monitor pregame interviews to see if Chris Woodward announces an official replacement.

Updated hierarchy: *C.Martin | Leclerc | B.Martin.
* = closer-by-committee

Rangers await word on severity of Shawn Kelley’s injury

July 22, 2019

Texas Rangers – Shawn Kelley hurt his arm on one of his warm up pitches on Sunday, and was removed from the game before he threw a single pitch. He was sent for an MRI, and we await word on the severity of his injury. If he’s going to miss significant time, then we’re leaning very slightly towards Chris Martin over Jose LeClerc as his replacement. Martin has posted two straight months with a sub-2 ERA and — get this — he hasn’t walked a batter since April (31/0 K/BB ratio since May 1). It’s very possible, though, that Chris Woodward does turn to former closer Leclerc, who does have more experience in the role and has also been pitching well as of late, having struck out 32 hitters in his last 22.2 IP. We’ll send an update if Woodward makes the call today.

Hierarchy remains: Kelley | Martin | Leclerc.

Tampa Bay Rays – A tired Rays bullpen turned to Adam Kolarek for the save opportunity on Sunday, and the lefty converted with a perfect inning of work for his first save of the year. Though the Rays use everybody everywhere, Kolarek will be pretty low on the list of likeliest 9th inning man on most nights.

Hierarchy remains: *Castillo | Pagan | Drake.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Joakim Soria – Liam Hendriks has gone three straight.
2. Ryan Pressly – Roberto Osuna has gone in three of the last four.

Tomorrow
1. Jeremy Jeffress – If Josh Hader goes tomorrow it’ll be three straight.
2. Kyle Crick – If Felipe Vazquez goes tonight, it’ll be three straight.
3. Sam Dyson – If Will Smith goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and four of five.
4. John Gant/Andrew Miller – If Carlos Martinez goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.