Nationals blow leads in 8th and 9th innings

April 7, 2017

Washington Nationals – Nationals manager Dusty Baker had to give the dreaded vote of confidence Thursday after his bullpen gave up slim leads in the eighth and ninth innings before losing the game in extras: “I mean, my bullpen — I love my bullpen,” Baker said. “These guys are going to be one of the best, if they’re not already.” Every name you know pitched, including Koda Glover with a clean 7th and Shawn Kelley with 2 runs allowed in the 8th in his season debut. Saddled with another lead in the ninth, Baker may have opted to play the matchups (or was Blake Treinen slow to warm up?), bringing in lefty Sammy Solis to start the ninth. Solis allowed a hit and a walk before getting a double play that sent the runner to third. In came Treinen, who allowed a game-tying single with two strikes before recording a strikeout. Joe Blanton continued the bullpen woes, allowing three hits and a run to take the loss. As for the late-innings hierarchy, Treinen’s job is safe — he converted his first two saves easily before last night — but where everyone else lines up is still a bit of a mystery.

Hierarchy remains: Treinen | Glover | Kelley.

Cincinnati Reds – Raisel Iglesias got the night off Thursday after throwing 21 pitches Wednesday. With a comfortable three-run lead in the ninth Thursday, the Reds opted to bring in Drew Storen, who recorded his first save of the season. Iglesias is still the committee’s lead in Cincy (for now), and will pitch if the situation calls for it Friday.

Hierarchy remains: *Iglesias | Storen | Lorenzen.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox – The Sox were rained out Thursday, so we never got a good look at what that back end of the bullpen might look like after closer Craig Kimbrel. A few things we do know: Matt Barnes will miss the next few games because his grandmother died, Robbie Ross Jr. has the flu, and Joe Kelly isn’t the setup man, yet. With Barnes out, it would be reasonable to think Kelly slides into that role for now, but watch for Heath Hembree to get a few looks later in games, too.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Barnes | Kelly.

 

VULTURE SAVE WATCH

Today:
1. Nick Vincent, Seattle Mariners – Edwin Diaz has gone in two straight, throwing 45 pitches in the process. This early in the year, Seattle is unlikely to go with the young fireballer in three straight, so look for Vincent to get the call if needed.
2. Will Harris, Houston Astros – Will Harris may get a chance Friday as both Ken Giles and Luke Gregerson have pitched on three of the last four days.
3. Koda Glover/Shawn Kelley, Washington Nationals – Blake Treinen has pitched on three of the last four days. Glover and Kelley each got into their first games Thursday, so both should be well-rested enough to get the nod Friday, if needed.

Saturday:
1. Adam Ottavino/Mike Dunn, Colorado Rockies – Ottavino, Dunn and closer Greg Holland have all pitched in three of the last four days, so the Rocks need to hope for a blowout or pray for rain Friday to give their arms some rest. If that doesn’t happen and the Rockies have a slim late-inning lead again, one of the three will likely be off Friday. Whoever that is would get the nod Saturday. Capisce?
2. Koji Uehara, Chicago Cubs – Wade Davis has pitched in two of the last three games, while Pedro Strop has gone in three of five. If Davis goes again Friday, he’ll probably get Saturday off, leaving the job for Strop or the well-rested Koji Uehara.
3. Brad Ziegler, Miami Marlins – If A.J. Ramos pitches again Friday, that would be three straight, and he would undoubtedly avoid pitching in four straight Saturday.
4. Fernando Salas, New York Mets – Addison Reed pitched in his second straight game Thursday, throwing only seven pitches. He’ll be good to go Friday. Salas, who threw 24 pitches Thursday and has gone in three of four likely will rest Friday, leaving the door open for him to pitch Saturday if Reed needs a rest.

If it’s spring, the Rangers must be blowing saves

April 6, 2017

Texas Rangers — Last season, Sam Dyson gave up 19 earned runs in 73 appearances. In his first two games of this season, he’s almost halfway there (8 ER, 1 IP), with the latest blow a go-ahead grand slam by Francisco Lindor. The Rangers have fired their closer each of the last two Mays, but so far Jeff Banister is a lot calmer than Rangers media (“Is it time for full-fledged panic?”). The Rangers have tomorrow off, so we expect Dyson to get the next save chance — although speculators should give Matt Bush a slight edge over Jeremy Jeffress.

Hierarchy remains: Dyson | Bush | Jeffress.

Tampa Bay Rays — Kevin Cash is weird. He pulled starter Alex Cobb in the sixth after just 90 pitches, then yanked putative setup guy Xavier Cedeno after only one batter, who got an infield single. Jumbo Diaz escaped the jam, allowing Cash to get two scoreless innings from Erasmo Ramirez. Alex Colome earned the save despite two hits that bounced off him at high velocity. We won’t mess with the Rays’ hierarchy yet, but changes could be coming.

Hierarchy remains: Colome | Cedeno | Ramirez.

Cleveland Indians — In the first success for the long-range Vulture Save Watch, Bryan Shaw picked up a save while Cody Allen and Andrew Miller rested after pitching in two straight.

Hierarchy remains: Allen | Miller | Shaw.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Arodys Vizcaino, Atlanta Braves — Jim Johnson went two innings on Wednesday; he might rest tomorrow.
2. Dan Altavilla, Seattle Mariners — Edwin Diaz can probably pitch on Thursday after going two innings, but if not, Altavilla is best rested.

Friday (new feature):
1. Shawn Kelley, Washington Nationals — If Blake Treinen goes in three of four, we’ll find out who’s second in line in Washington. Our guess is Kelley.
2. Arodys Vizcaino, Atlanta Braves — If Johnson does pitch Thursday, he’ll get Friday off.
3. Nick Vincent, Seattle Mariners — Vincent shouldn’t pitch tomorrow, so if Diaz does, look for Nick on Friday.
4. Joe Kelly, Boston Red Sox — Pitching tomorrow would mean three outings in four days for Craig Kimbrel.
5. Drew Storen, Cincinnati Reds — The same applies to Raisel Iglesias.

No clarity yet among Glover, Treinen, and Kelley

March 30, 2017

New York Mets — As expected, Jeurys Familia will miss the first 15 games of the year as a result of his offseason domestic violence arrest. Addison Reed will close during Familia’s suspension.

Updated hierarchy: Reed | Salas | Robles.

Washington Nationals — Still no clarity in D.C., where the front office loves what it sees from Koda Glover, but hasn’t been ready to commit to him over sinkerballer Blake Treinen and fragile-armed Shawn Kelley. The latest media speculation is that Treinen’s durability could give him the edge. We may not have an answer until the Nationals take on the Marlins next Monday.

Hierarchy remains: *Glover | Treinen | Kelley.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies — It’s a guessing game in Colorado, where neither Greg Holland nor Adam Ottavino is having a lights-out spring. We continue to believe that it’ll be Holland closing out games for the Rockies.

Hierarchy remains: Holland | Ottavino | McGee.

Seattle Mariners — The Mariners’ bullpen has been ravaged by injuries — Tony Zych and Steve Cishek will be on the shelf through at least mid-April, while Shae Simmons could see an even longer absence. 24-year-old Dan Altavilla — who made 28 starts in high-A in 2005 and jumped straight to the bigs from the Jacksonville Suns Jumbo Shrimp — will be counted on to repeat his impressive run from last September.

Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Vincent | Altavilla.

Boston Red Sox – Tyler Thornburg is headed to the disabled list with a controversial shoulder injury. Joe Kelly will slide into the eighth, leaving some combination of Matt Barnes, Robbie Ross, Jr., and Heath Hembree to take the seventh.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Kelly | Barnes.

Tampa Bay Rays — A lingering lat injury will sideline Brad Boxberger through at least the first few weeks of April. If Erasmo Ramirez isn’t traded soon, he’ll be in line to get some seventh-inning work. Old friends Danny Farquhar, Chase Whitley, and Shawn Tolleson are the other options.

Updated hierarchy: Colome | Cedeno | Ramirez.

Los Angeles Dodgers — Adam Liberatore will start the season in the minors. Grant Dayton, Luis Avilan, and Chris Hatcher are the names to know in his stead.

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Romo | Dayton.

Koda Glover on the inside track in Washington

March 22, 2017

Washington Nationals — Opening Day is just 12 days away, but Dusty Baker claims to have given no thought whatsoever to who will be closing for Washington. With most of the Nats’ big relievers pitching in minor league games, Koda Glover has been getting the bulk of the ninth innings for the big club — and Jon Heyman has reported that Shawn Kelley is no longer a candidate to close. Glover turns 24 next month, creating some concern about whether he can handle the role, but we think that Baker’s confidence in Glover’s skills (“We like us some Koda. Big time.”) and the manager’s preference for settled bullpen roles gives the youngster the advantage over Blake Treinen. Meanwhile, Joe Nathan’s strong spring might not be enough to allow him to survive Friday’s opt-out date on his contract.

Updated hierarchy: *Glover | Treinen | Kelley.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies — Greg Holland has looked healthy so far in his spring training appearances, and local reporters seem confident that he will start the season as the closer, moving Adam Ottavino into an eighth-inning role.

Updated hierarchy: Holland | Ottavino | McGee.

Cincinnati Reds — Presumed committee head Raisel Iglesias was scratched from a Saturday appearance with back problems and a stiff elbow. Bryan Price claims that the issues are minor, but any missed time for Iglesias will be a boon for Drew Storen, Michael Lorenzen, and Tony Cingrani.

Hierarchy remains: *Iglesias | Storen | Lorenzen.
* = closer-by-committee

San Francisco Giants — Those considering Will Smith as a source of holds will need to go elsewhere; Smith might need Tommy John surgery to repair a sprained UCL.

Hierarchy remains: Melancon | Strickland | Law.