Jeurys Familia blows his first (regular-season) save in a year

July 28, 2016

New York Mets — Pour one out for Jeurys Familia’s 52-game regular-season save streak, the third-longest in MLB history (behind Tom Gordon and Eric Gagne). Familia’s streak is survived by Zach Britton’s 34-game regular-season save streak, Tony Wolters’s five-game hitting streak, and Vin Scully’s 67-year streak of being awesome.

Hierarchy remains: Familia | Reed | Robles.

Washington Nationals — Jonathan Papelbon and Shawn Kelley were each unavailable on Wednesday afternoon, so Felipe Rivero got a shot at a vulture save. After he stumbled, Blake Treinen earned his first career save with a timely double play. With Papelbon struggling, Washington is in the market for Andrew Miller, although Kelley could provide a perfectly serviceable in-house option.

Hierarchy remains: Papelbon | Kelley | Rivero.

Colorado Rockies — Jason Motte returned to the disabled list on Wednesday with another right shoulder strain. Walt Weiss still doesn’t seem to fully trust Jake McGee, so we’ll elevate fellow lefthander Boone Logan into the hierarchy — but note that Logan has been mentioned in some trade rumors.

Updated hierarchy: Estevez | Ottavino | Logan.

Detroit Tigers — As we predicted, Justin Wilson earned a vulture save (his first ever), while K-Rod tended to personal business. Rodriguez is expected to be back for Friday’s game.

Hierarchy remains: Rodriguez | J.Wilson | Greene.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Addison Reed, New York Mets — Familia will get Thursday off.
2. Kevin Siegrist, St. Louis Cardinals — Seung Hwan Oh has pitched in two straight and three of four (53 pitches).

Kelvin Herrera struggles, likely behind Joakim Soria in Royals’ closer race

July 7, 2016

Kansas City Royals — There wasn’t a save chance for KC on Wednesday, but it’s noteworthy that Kelvin Herrera came out for the eighth in a tie game. Herrera struck out the side, but also allowed two runs on three hits to take the loss. This only strengthens our belief that Ned Yost will give Joakim Soria the first shot to close.

Hierarchy remains: *Soria | Herrera | Hochevar.
* = closer-by-committee

Philadelphia Phillies — Edubray Ramos has pitched in three straight close seventh innings, including a Wednesday appearance with a tied score. As Philly’s closer of the future, his role could continue to grow in the second half of the season — especially if the team trades Jeanmar Gomez before he hits arbitration. For his part, David Hernandez has allowed 13 earned runs over his last nine appearances (9.2 IP).

Updated hierarchy: Gomez | Neris | Ramos.

Cleveland Indians — It’s been seven weeks since we talked to you about the Cleveland bullpen, but Zach McAllister has forced our hand. The righty started on Saturday after a 19-inning affair and got shelled by Toronto; on Wednesday, he came in for the seventh down six runs and gave up four more. Jeff Mansihp Manship (2.13 ERA, five holds) and Dan Otero (1.36 ERA, 8.45 K/9) are each pitching better than McAllister — and adding Otero gives the Indians the most anagrammable hierarchy in the league.

Updated hierarchy: Lonely Cad | Brash Yawn | Neat Odor.

Houston Astros — It wasn’t pretty for Luke Gregerson (1 ER, 3 BB), but he managed to grab the vulture save we foretold for him.

Hierarchy remains: Harris | Gregerson | Giles.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Neftali Feliz/Arquimedes Caminero, Pittsburgh Pirates — Mark Melancon has pitched in two straight and five of the last six. Feliz and Tony Watson have each gone in four of five, so maybe Clint Hurdle will give Arquimedes a place to stand.
2. Pedro Baez, Los Angeles Dodgers — Baez’s usage has been weird lately, but he was the only reliever the Dodgers didn’t use in their 14-inning game on Wednesday. Kenley Jansen and Joe Blanton have each been used in three of four.
3. Shawn Kelley, Washington Nationals — Ordinarily this would be a stretch, but Jonathan Papelbon just came back from the DL and has pitched in two of the last three.

Brandon Kintzler establishing himself; Jonathan Papelbon returns

July 4, 2016

Minnesota Twins – Following a scoreless 9th inning yesterday, Brandon Kintzler now has four saves to Fernando Abad’s one. Abad has also struggled recently, having allowed 6 ERs in his last 5.1 innings. Kintzler is inches from kicking his asterisk and could make appealing trade bait for teams looking to add some help.

Hierarchy remains: *Kintzler | Abad | Pressly.
* = closer-by-committee

St. Louis Cardinals – Seung Hwan Oh picked up his second save in as many days on Sunday, and has been the clear choice for the Cardinals following Trevor Rosenthal’s demotion, despite Mike Matheny’s reluctance to name him the primary closer. The Cardinals are still hoping that Rosenthal can return to the role soon, but until then, Oh will get the fast majority of chances.

Updated hierarchy: Oh | Broxton | Rosenthal.

Washington Nationals – Jonathan Papelbon was activated from the DL this morning and will resume closing immediately. Shawn Kelley did a serviceable job in his place, but didn’t do nearly enough to raise a discussion about the role going forward.

Updated hierarchy: Papelbon | Kelley | Rivero.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Tony Watson, Pittsburgh Pirates – Mark Melancon has pitched in three straight.

Santiago Casilla placed on paternity leave

June 18, 2016

San Francisco Giants — Santiago Casilla was placed on paternity leave yesterday, and will miss the weekend series in Tampa Bay. Jeff Samardzija was excellent last night, so the bullpen was not needed. Casilla has three straight scoreless appearances, but is only a week removed from a rough stretch that saw him lose two games, blow a save and get pulled out of the 9th inning in favor of Javier Lopez. Casilla is still the top option in San Francisco, but this could be a chance for Cory Gearrin or Hunter Strickland to show Bruce Bochy that they can handle the final three outs if Casilla’s struggles return.

Hierarchy remains: Casilla | Gearrin | Strickland.

Washington Nationals — With Shawn Kelley unavailable, and Blake Treinen used to get out of a jam in the 7th, the save opportunity fell to Yusmeiro Petit. Petit worked around a leadoff single to close the game out for his second career save. Although he has pitched well recently,  Petit is still a longshot for saves going forward, even with Jonathan Papelbon on the DL.

Hierarchy remains: Kelley | Rivero | Treinen.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joaquin Benoit, Seattle Mariners — Steve Cishek has pitched in two straight, throwing 51 pitches.
2. Jim Johnson, Atlanta Braves –Arodys Vizcaino has pitched in 3 straight, and 4 of the last 5.

Shawn Kelley to close until Jonathan Papelbon’s return

June 17, 2016

Washington Nationals — When Felipe Rivero ran into trouble in the ninth inning Thursday night, manager Dusty Baker turned again to Shawn Kelley, who retired the two batters he faced to close it out for his second save. After the game, Baker named Kelley the closer until Jonathan Papelbon returns from the DL, though Kelley’s workload will be watched. With the closer-by-committee tag gone, be sure to snag him if he’s still available in your league.

Hierarchy remains: Kelley | Rivero | Treinen.

Minnesota Twins — Regular closer Glen Perkins is officially out for the rest of the season with a torn labrum. The original thought was rest and rehab would allow Perkins to heal properly and give him a chance to play again this season, but that’s now not the case.

Hierarchy remains: *Kintzler | Abad | Pressly.
* = closer-by-committee

Baltimore Orioles — Darren O’Day’s recovery from a strained hamstring is going slower than expected. He can come off of the DL this weekend, but he still hasn’t thrown off a mound. There’s no timetable for his return.

Hierarchy remains: Britton |  Brach | Givens.

Houston Astros — Luke Gregerson could be back from the family-emergency list as soon as Friday (but maybe as late as early next week). He was placed on the list earlier this week to deal with an issue with his father. No other information was released.

Hierarchy remains: Harris | Giles | Gregerson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joaquin Benoit, Seattle Mariners — Steve Cishek has pitched in three straight games, while Benoit enjoyed a night off yesterday.
2. Felipe Rivero/Blake Treinen, Washington Nationals — Shawn Kelley has pitched in two straight days and three of the last four, going at 1.2 innings in two of those games.