Jeurys Familia off to a positive start in his return from the IL

May 18, 2019

New York Mets — Jeurys Familia pitched a scoreless eighth inning with the Mets down two, and it looks like the Mets are working him back towards the late innings front of Edwin Diaz. Mickey Callaway has said that Familia will have to earn his way into the back end of the bullpen with Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman pitching well, but the last two outings have been encouraging for the Mets’ big-money setup man. He will still have to fight past Lugo and Gsellman, but last night was another positive step for Familia. 

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Lugo | Gsellman.

Seattle Mariners — The Mariners designated Zac Rosscup for assignment yesterday as the Mariners shook up their roster in response to a 4-13 slump. Rosscup hasn’t been bad this year, posting a 3.21 ERA over 20 innings, but manager Scott Servais said that Rosscup wasn’t really built for how the Mariners are planning to use their bullpen. With Rosscup gone, the Mariners will likely lean on a combination of Connor Sadzeck, Cory Gearrin and even Anthony Swarzak to get the ball to Brandon Brennan and Roenis Elias.

Updated hierarchy: *Elias | Brennan | Sadzeck.
* = closer-by-committee

Texas Rangers — Jose Leclerc was excellent as the Rangers’ opener on Friday, setting down the Cardinals’ top three hitters in order. Ariel Jurado will start today’s game, and he’s expected to go multiple innings. Jesse Chavez has had a resurgence over his last six appearances, not allowing a run over his last 7.2 IP. He’ll have to help get the Rangers to the ninth inning now that Shawn Kelley is still a couple days away from being activated.

Updated hierarchy: Martin | Leclerc | Chavez.

Toronto Blue Jays – The Blue Jays jumped out to an early lead, which allowed Javy Guerra to pitch the last three innings to earn his first save of the year. Guerra spent some time as the Dodgers’ closer in 2011 and was the subject of one of the first posts in Closer Monkey history, giving up a vulture save to young fireballer Kenley Jansen. He lost the job permanently to Jansen in 2012 and has only recorded a handful of saves since. He isn’t a normal part of the Jays’ late-inning plans.

Hierarchy remains: Giles | Biagini | Mayza.

Houston Astros — Ryan Pressly turned in a web gem to set a MLB record with his 39th consecutive scoreless appearance, breaking Craig Kimbrel’s mark of 38 set in 2011. Pressly has been the best reliever in baseball thus far this year, but still has 20 games to go if he wants to break Kimbrel’s single-season record. 

Hierarchy remains: Osuna | Pressly | Rondon.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Ian Kennedy— Wily Peralta has thrown 31 pitches over two straight appearances.
2. Kyle Crick — Felipe Vazquez has also made two consecutive appearances.
3. Emilio Pagan — Jose Alvarado threw 28 pitches last night and has pitched in two of the last three. Diego Castillo has pitched in three of four while Pagan is well rested. 

Sunday:
1. Dan Winkler — Today would be back to back and three of four for Luke Jackson. 
2. Ryan Pressly/Hector Rondon — The same is true for Roberto Osuna and Pressly.
3. Pat Neshek — And Hector Neris.
4. Jose Leclerc — And Chris Martin.
5. Adam Conley — Sergio Romo threw 28 pitches over two innings last night, so any work today means he would probably get Sunday off. 

Shawn Kelley records first save since Leclerc’s demotion, Blake Treinen battling elbow soreness.

May 5, 2019

Texas Rangers — Shawn Kelley recorded the first save for the Rangers since Jose Leclerc was removed as closer.  Chris Martin pitched a scoreless 8th inning ahead of Kelley.   The Rangers did not commit to Kelley after the game and at least one beat writer thinks Kelley and Martin will still share the job.  However, the most significant news might be that Leclerc pitched a perfect seventh inning with two strikeouts.  This was perhaps his best outing of the season, and the Rangers would love to get Leclerc back in the closer’s role sooner rather than later so there might not be many save chances for Kelley or Martin.

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

Oakland A’s — Blake Treinen is battling elbow soreness and was unavailable yesterday.  Treinen thinks it is elbow tendinitis, but he will be checked out further on Monday.   Lou Trivino would have been the closer yesterday and appears to be the speculative add if Treinen’s injury turns out to be anything serious.

Updated hierarchy: Treinen | Trivino | Soria.

Baltimore Orioles — After not recording any of the first four saves for the Orioles, Mychal Givens has now picked up the last three, including closing out yesterday’s 3-0 victory.  Newly acquired Shawn Armstrong bridged the gap from the starter to Givens yesterday and given the lack of interesting arms at the back end of the Orioles’ bullpen, he could continue to see work in that role.

Updated hierarchy: Givens | Fry | Armstrong.

Minnesota Twins – Blake Parker had recorded the last two saves for the Twins and appeared ready to lose the committee asterisk, but yesterday proved Taylor Rogers could still be in line for the occasional save. Parker came on in the seventh inning and that left Rogers for the ninth. It didn’t end up being a save since the Twins made it a four-run lead in the top of the ninth, but Rogers should continue to see the ninth if Parker is used before then.

Hierarchy remains: *Parker | Rogers | Hildenberger.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Craig Stammen – Kirby Yates has pitched in two straight, throwing a total of 48 pitches.
2. Lou Trivino – Blake Treinen will be unavailable today due to elbow discomfort

Monday
1. Nick Wittgren – if Brad Hand pitches on Sunday, it will be three in a row.
2. Joe Kelly – same with Kenley Jansen.

Jose Leclerc out as Rangers closer

May 1, 2019

Texas Rangers – Chris Woodward said this afternoon that he was removing Jose Leclerc from the closer role. Leclerc was one of the most promising young arms in baseball coming into the year, but for now, it looks like Chris Martin and Shawn Kelley will be the top choices for saves in Texas.

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

Jose Leclerc may not be the Rangers closer much longer

May 1, 2019

Texas Rangers – Jose Leclerc’s struggles continued on Tuesday night, as he blew a 3-0 lead thanks to two doubles and two infield singles. He hasn’t pitched a clean inning since April 3, which is not optimal. After the game, Chris Woodward declined to outright remove Leclerc from the closer’s role. However, he did say that the team will discuss that option and perhaps give Leclerc some outings that are a little less stressful. We wouldn’t be shocked if Woodward makes a decision this afternoon, so if Chris Martin or Shawn Kelley are available in your league, they are worth stashing. Martin pitched the eighth and Kelley pitched the seventh last night, but Kelley has better numbers this year and that all-important closing experience.

Hierarchy remains: Leclerc | Martin | Kelley.

Los Angeles Angels — Ty Buttrey faced the 2-3-4 hitters in the eighth inning and retired them all to keep the game tied. After the Angels took the lead in the bottom half of the frame, Hansel Robles got the ball in the ninth and recorded his second save of the season. We had mentioned earlier this month that Buttrey may get the highest-leverage work of the game, which would free up Robles for more save chances. That seems to have been the case here. Buttrey certainly could get save opportunities of his own, but we’ll move Robles up to the top spot in the hierarchy based on tonight’s usage. 

Updated hierarchy: *Robles | Buttrey | Garcia.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Mets – With Edwin Diaz getting a night off, Jeurys Familia was in line for a multi-inning save and secured five outs in a row, which pleased manager Mickey Callaway. Unfortunately for Familia, he needed six outs for the save, and after a walk and three singles, the Reds tied the game. The Mets came back and won, but Familia proved that the Vulture Save Watch can only predict save chances. It can’t convert them, too.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Familia | Lugo.

St. Louis Cardinals – As the Vulture Save Watch predicted, Jordan Hicks got the night off and Andrew Miller recorded the final two outs of Tuesday’s win to collect his first save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Hicks | Miller | Gant. 

Chicago Cubs – With Pedro Strop presumably unavailable, Steve Cishek got the final out of the eighth and stayed on for the ninth with the Cubs leading by a run. Cishek allowed the first two runners to reach, but his defense turned a 6-4-3 double play and Cishek struck out Jay Bruce looking with a runner on third to earn his first save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: *Strop | Cishek | Kintzler.
* = closer-by-committee

Milwaukee Brewers – Junior Guerra nearly completed a three-inning save on Tuesday, striking out the first six hitters he faced before finding trouble in the ninth. Guerra got one out before a walk and an RBI double was enough to summon Josh Hader to finish the job. Hader allowed a two-run homer but closed out the game. Expect Guerra to continue to get high-leverage work now that Alex Wilson has been designated for assignment.

Updated hierarchy: Hader | Jeffress | Guerra.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Kelvin Herrera/Jace Fry/Aaron Bummer – Both Alex Colome and Kelvin Herrera got yesterday off due to a postponement after they had gone back to back and three of four. Depending on how the first game goes today, Herrera, or Jace Fry or Aaron Bummer could vulture a save in the nightcap.
2. Jared Hughes – Raisel Iglesias pitched two innings (28 pitches) on Monday and threw 17 more pitches on Tuesday.
3. Seth Lugo – Edwin Diaz should be available tonight, but Seth Lugo may vulture a save chance if Diaz is held out again.

Tomorrow
1. Jeurys Familia/Seth Lugo – If Diaz does make his fourth appearance in five days on Wednesday, there’s a good chance he’s held out of Thursday’s matinee.