The Hector Neris era as Phillies closer may be beginning…maybe

April 21, 2017

Philadelphia Phillies – In his seemingly continuous quest to frustrate fantasy team owners, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin opted to use his newly anointed closer Joaquin Benoit in the eighth inning Thursday to face the 4-5-6 hitters, giving likely closer-of-the-future Hector Neris a shot in the ninth. Neris slammed the door shut for his first save of the year. After the game, Mackanin said, “I was going to use Benoit for the time being. It just occurred to me: It’s nice to have two guys who can close. It was a good opportunity for me to use Neris. He came through very well.” Furthermore, he called Benoit and Neris guys he trusts in the late innings, refused to actually name a closer and then refused to call the situation a closer-by-committee. We’ll do Mackanin’s job for him by calling this a committee and sliding Neris to the top — he’s much younger and better than Benoit — though Benoit may get save chances as Mackanin sees fit.

Updated hierarchy: *Neris | Benoit | Ramos.
* = closer-by-committee

Houston Astros – Chris Devenski is off to a blistering start this year for the Astros and manager A.J. Hinch opted to use the reliever to finish the seventh and pitch the eighth and ninth innings, too, with a slim lead. Devenski ran into some trouble in the ninth — and actual closer Ken Giles was warming in the bullpen just in case — but Devenski closed the door for his first save of the year. But why him and not Giles? “I trust him as much as any pitcher I hand the ball to,” Hinch said, citing that his pitcher had such a clean eighth inning that he didn’t want to take him out. “He’s been exceptional.” Writers in Houston are calling Devenski the team’s relief ace — and who could blame them? He now has an astounding 25 strikeouts in 13.1 innings this year, good for a 16.88 K/9 mark. At worst, he’ll be in line for a number of holds and perhaps a few more save opportunities if he keeps this Andrew Miller-like impression going.

Updated hierarchy: Giles | Gregerson | Devenski.

New York Mets — Jeurys Familia returned from his 15-game domestic-violence suspension and tossed a scoreless ninth inning Thursday for the Mets in a 6-4 loss. Manager Terry Collins planned to pitch Familia in a non-save situation Thursday, with the hope he’d return him to the role as early as Friday.

Updated hierarchy: Familia | Reed | Salas.

Washington Nationals — The new Nationals closer committee got off on the right foot Thursday, with Koda Glover nailing down the final two outs of the eighth and Shawn Kelley finishing things off in the ninth for his second save. Expect Kelley to get the bulk of the opportunities, for now.

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

Detroit Tigers — The Tigers’ top relief prospect, Joe Jimenez, is reportedly getting called up from Triple A Friday to take the roster spot of injured infielder Jose Iglesias. The 22-year-old has dominated hitters this year in the minors (10 Ks, 0 ER in 5 appearances) and may factor quickly into the Tigers’ late-inning plans. We’ll see how Brad Ausmus uses him.

Hierarchy remains: Rodriguez | J. Wilson | A. Wilson.

Milwaukee Brewers – As predicted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Jacob Barnes was called upon in the ninth inning Thursday and finished the job for his first save of the year. Neftali Feliz and Corey Knebel were both unavailable.

Hierarchy remains: Feliz | Knebel | Barnes.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Matt Barnes — Red Sox manager John Farrell opted to use Craig Kimbrel in relief of a dominant Chris Sale in the 9th inning Thursday and Kimbrel blew the save, allowing a tying home run to Kendry Morales. Kimbrel stayed on to pitch the 10th and gather the win, but he threw 30 pitches in the process. If he’s unavailable Friday, Barnes will likely get the opportunity.
2. Corey Knebel — Neftali Feliz has been used a lot lately (three out of four before Thursday, including a nightmare 33-pitch outing Wednesday). He rested Thursday, but if he needs more rest Friday, Knebel could get the call.
3. Ryan Buchter — Brandon Maurer has pitched in two straight and three of the last four days. Assuming he’ll need a rest Friday, Ryan Buchter would slide in if the opportunity presents itself.
4. Koda Glover — Shawn Kelley threw 21 pitches Thursday and the Nationals don’t like using him on back-to-back days, so expect Glover to have a turn.

Saturday
1. Matt Barnes — If Kimbrel pitches again Friday, he’ll likely be out Saturday.
2. Darren O’Day — Brad Brach has gone in two straight games entering today. If he goes again Friday, he certainly won’t be available Saturday, giving O’Day an opportunity.
3. Joaquin Benoit/Edubray Ramos — If Hector Neris pitches again Friday, he likely won’t be available Saturday as that would be three appearances in four days. If Benoit AND Ramos both pitch again Friday, Edubray Ramos could get a look Saturday.

Shawn Kelley still likely to get next Washington save opportunity

April 20, 2017

Washington Nationals — A 10-run win means the new Nationals closer committee will have to wait for its big debut. Expect Shawn Kelley to get the first shot, but because he probably won’t be used in back-to-back games, Koda Glover could see a fair amount of chances too.

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

Detroit Tigers — The active leader in saves and goose eggs would have added another of each — and a Houdini! — Wednesday night, but second base sacked Jose Iglesias and the Rays walked off on a two-run throwing error. K-Rod should be looking over his shoulder at Justin Wilson, who has struck out 11 and allowed no hits over his first 7.1 innings.

Hierarchy remains: Rodriguez | J. Wilson | A. Wilson.

St. Louis Cardinals — As foretold by the Vulture Save Watch Wednesday morning, Seung Hwan Oh got the day off and Trevor Rosenthal earned his first save since his demotion last June. Rosenthal is throwing harder than ever, with a fastball averaging 98.8 MPH this season. If Oh continues to have problems, Rosenthal (who is only 26) could recapture the closer role.

Hierarchy remains: Oh | Rosenthal | Siegrist.

Baltimore Orioles — It took only nine pitches for Brad Brach to lock down the first Orioles save chance since Zach Britton’s injury. Britton will have an MRI on Friday.

Hierarchy remains:  Brach | O’Day | Givens.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jacob Barnes — Neftali Feliz blew his first save of the season in dramatic style, with a walk-off three-run homer. Feliz threw 33 pitches Wednesday and has gone in three of four — as has Corey Knebel, who threw 30 himself. Barnes has pitched in those same three games, but with a lower workload. We’ll see if he gets a shot at his second career save.
2. Jeurys Familia/Fernando Salas — Familia returns from his 15-game suspension on Thursday, although he may be eased back into the closing role. Either way, Addison Reed probably gets the game off after his third appearance in four days.
3. Joakim Soria — Kelvin Herrera hasn’t thrown a ton of pitches, but he has appeared in two straight, four of five, and five of seven.

Friday
1. Ryan Buchter — Brandon Maurer should be available Thursday, but an appearance would be his third in four games.

Shawn Kelley, Koda Glover to share closing duties for Nationals

April 19, 2017

Washington Nationals – As expected, Dusty Baker announced that Blake Treinen will no longer be his closer. Slightly less expected was a committee, as Shawn Kelley and Koda Glover will share duties. The reasoning for this to not pitch Kelley every day due to injury concern, so do expect Glover to see some save opportunities. Treinen will return to the fireman role he had last year.

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

Shawn Kelley likely to close for Nationals

April 19, 2017

Washington Nationals – Blake Treinen and his 7.11 ERA struggled again on Tuesday, recording only one out while walking two and giving up two hits. One of those walks brought in a run and led to Dusty Baker calling on Shawn Kelley to get the save. After the game, Baker said he is considering a change at closer, with Kelley the likely replacement. We should find out Wednesday who will be the new Washington closer.

Updated hierarchy: Treinen | Kelley | Glover.

Chicago Cubs — So much for writing off Hector Rondon. He began the eighth inning with a one-run lead and retired the side in order thanks to a pair of strikeouts. Rondon has not allowed an earned run over his last four appearances, striking out five over 3.2 IP. In fact, he’s only allowed two hits in 23 at-bats en route to a 1.42 ERA. We’ll reward him and his new delivery with a spot back in the hierarchy, for now at least.

Updated hierarchy: Davis | Uehara | Rondon.

Los Angeles Angels – Bud Norris – yes, the Bud Norris that was the Astros’ opening-day starter in 2013 – has pitched well over his last four appearances, including a seventh-inning hold against his former club on Tuesday. During that four-game stretch (5.2 IP), Norris has struck out six and allowed just three hits. Expect him to keep getting high-leverage work ahead of Cam Bedrosian in a beleaguered Angels’ bullpen.

Hierarchy remains: Bedrosian | Parker | Norris.

Tampa Bay Rays – Danny Farquhar got the seventh inning on Tuesday in a Rays win, and with Erasmo Ramirez expected to start on Thursday, Farquhar has entered the late-innings conversation in Tampa.

Updated hierarchy: Colome | Cedeno | Farquhar.

Oakland A’s — Santiago Casilla picked up his second save of the season on Tuesday. It was just the third save total for the A’s this season, with Sean Doolittle having picked up the other one. That’s not a lot of saves.

Hierarchy remains: *Doolittle | Casilla | Madson.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Blake Parker – Cam Bedrosian threw 26 pitches in a six-out save on Tuesday, so he may get a night off, though the Angels do have Thursday off.
2. Trevor Rosenthal – Seung Hwan Oh has pitched in two straight games, tossing 46 pitches in the process.

Thursday
1. Jeurys Familia/Fernando Salas – Familia’s 15-day suspension for domestic abuse ends on Thursday. It remains to be seen if he’ll get a save chance right away, but with the chance for the Mets’ bullpen to get another heavy day of work on Wednesday, Terry Collins may want to throw Familia right into the fire.
2. Hector Neris – Joaquin Benoit will have pitched in two straight and four of five if he makes an appearance on Wednesday.
3. Trevor Rosenthal – If for some reason Oh gets the call on Wednesday, there is no way he’d pitch in a fourth straight contest.

Zach Britton rolls an ankle; Jake McGee looking sharp

April 8, 2017

Colorado Rockies – With the Rockies bullpen having been put to work early this season, it was Jake McGee who got the call to pick up the vulture save. McGee is feeling healthy, and he looked awesome, striking out the side on 14 pitches. With the rest of the bullpen needing rest, we’d like to see McGee in a couple more high leverage spots before he cracks the hierarchy again, but if the former closer can pitch like he did yesterday, he won’t stay out long.

Hierarchy remains: Holland | Ottavino | Dunn.

Baltimore Orioles – Zach Britton suffered an injury scare when he rolled his ankle fielding a comebacker, but stayed in the game and converted his second save of the year. Manager Buck Showalter said the injury didn’t look bad, but they will see how it feels “when the adrenaline wears off.” Britton is outstanding when healthy, having converted 51 straight saves, but if he needs some time off, Brad Brach has three clean 8th innings to his resume so far this season.

Hierarchy remains: Britton | Brach | O’Day.

Tampa Bay Rays – Xavier Cedeno has been bad in the early going this year. One day after giving up a hit to the only batter he faced, he was called on in a bases loaded jam only to walk in two runs before getting out of the inning. He did back into the win after the Rays took the lead in the bottom of the inning, and Alex Colome pitched a clean 9th for his 2nd save. Erasmo Ramirez took the 7th and 8th inning on Wednesday, and may get the next 8th inning shot.

Updated hierarchy: Colome | Ramirez | Cedeno.

Toronto Blue Jays – Roberto Osuna is on pace to return for the Blue Jays home opener on Tuesday. Jason Grilli will likely slot into the setup role after Osuna’s return, but could get a couple more chances this weekend.

Hierarchy remains: Grilli | Smith | Biagini.

 

VULTURE SAVE WATCH

1. Shawn Kelley / Koda Glover, Washington Nationals – Blake Treinen pitched in his 3rd straight game last night, and will get Saturday off. Shawn Kelley is better rested having been held out last night, but Koda Glover only threw 9 pitches yesterday so could be available.
2. Drew Storen, Cincinnati Reds – Raisel Iglesias pitched 2 scoreless innings to pick up his 2nd save throwing 32 pitches in the process.
3. Corey Knebel, Milwaukee Brewers – Neftali Feliz has pitched in three straight.

Sunday
1. Ryan Pressly, Minnesota Twins – Brandon Kintzler has pitched two straight.
2. Ryan Buchter, San Diego Padres – Brandon Maurer has pitched in two straight.