Santiago Casilla out a few days; Bruce Rondon gets doors blown off

July 3, 2015

San Francisco Giants — Manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday that he’s going to “back off” from using closer Santiago Casilla for a few days after the pitcher reported a “tired arm.” Casilla didn’t record an out Wednesday night, giving up a three-run shot to Justin Bour to blow the game. As you might expect, Sergio Romo will get the first shot at closing, but Bochy could also play the matchups, which means lefty Javier Lopez or righty Hunter Strickland might get a shot.

Hierarchy remains: Casilla | Romo | Strickland.

Texas Rangers — Former Rangers closer Neftali Feliz was activated from the disabled list Thursday and could factor into the team’s late-inning plans, despite a rough time of it during his rehab outings (7.36 ERA over 11 innings). We’ll see how manager Jeff Bannister chooses to use Feliz in the early going, but have no fear — Shawn Tolleson is still the closer moving forward. If Feliz continues to struggle, Texas might have a difficult decision to make, because (as a veteran with five years of service time) Feliz can decline any minor league option.

Hierarchy remains: Tolleson | Scheppers | Kela.

Detroit Tigers – What’s going on out in the Tigers bullpen on a nightly basis? Other than Joakim Soria, this team can’t seem to find any stability from its relief corps. The latest example of inconsistency was Bruce Rondon, who allowed four runs on four hits while recording just one out before getting yanked. Rondon’s outing was especially crushing, as Detroit had just scored three runs to get within one. One bad performance won’t shake our confidence in Rondon yet, but that 12.00 ERA sure doesn’t look pretty in the box score.

Hierarchy remains: Soria | Chamberlain | Rondon.

Toronto Blue Jays — Setup man Steve Delabar has been dynamite for the Jays all season, but he came unglued Thursday night against the Red Sox, uncorking three wild pitches in just two-thirds of an inning (he only had two all year entering the game). Delabar also allowed three runs on three hits and a walk. Perhaps this disastrous outing was an aberration, but his command was all over the place, so his performance moving forward bears watching. In other news, the Jays had to use every member of the bullpen in Thursday’s 12-6 loss after starter Matt Boyd failed to record an out, allowing seven runs in the first inning.

Hierarchy remains: *Osuna | Delabar | Schultz.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Sergio Romo, San Francisco Giants — With Casilla out the next few days, Romo is the most likely to get the call. If Bochy decides to play matchups, he could end up using lefty Javier Lopez.
2. Jeremy Jeffress/Jonathan Broxton, Milwaukee Brewers — Closer Francisco Rodriguez has pitched in four of the last five days and may need a break Friday. It’s also Independence Day weekend, so Will Smith — who has also pitched in four of five — may be a bit busy with other… matters. Look for Jeffress or maybe even Broxton, who has that invaluable “closing experience” managers love, to close if needed.
3. Hector Rondon/Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs — Nothing is ever easy with Joe Maddon as the closer committee drags on in Chicago. Jason Motte had the most recent save, but Rondon or Strop get the next chance?
4. Carson Smith, Seattle Mariners — Smith was warming for the ninth inning on Wednesday, and could get the call in Seattle’s continued closer-by-committee.
5. Tommy Kahnle, Colorado Rockies — If John Axford remains out on Friday, the Rockies will turn to LaTroy Hawkins or Kahnle.

Steve Delabar, J.J. Hoover earn saves; Enrique Burgos is back

June 25, 2015

Toronto Blue Jays – Steve Delabar picked up his first save of the season yesterday in the 12th inning after Roberto Osuna got the final out of the 9th in a then-scoreless game. Osuna is still the leading candidate for saves going forward, but Delabar stands to play an important role in the Jays’ committee as well.

Hierarchy remains: *Osuna | Delabar | Schultz.
* = closer-by-committee

Arizona Diamondbacks – Enrique Burgos has returned to the Arizona roster and on Wednesday he made his first appearance since May 25, walking one and facing just three batters in a solid inning of work. He likely won’t return to the prominent role he held before his injury in May, but Burgos should see ample opportunities for holds in front of Brad Ziegler and Daniel Hudson.

Updated hierarchy: Ziegler | Hudson | Burgos.

Cincinnati Reds – With Aroldis Chapman still on paternity leave, J.J. Hoover picked up the save for the Reds on Wednesday. Chapman is expected to be back with the team on Thursday.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Hoover | Parra.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Boone Logan, Colorado Rockies – John Axford threw 32 pitches last night, blowing his first save with the Rockies.
2. Will Smith, Milwaukee Brewers – K-Rod has appeared in back-to-back games, combining to throw 29 pitches.
3. Casey Janssen, Washington Nationals – Drew Storen blew a save chance yesterday and has thrown 41 pitches over the last two games.

Roberto Osuna’s stellar outing has him in contention for more saves

June 23, 2015

Toronto Blue Jays – While the Blue Jays’ bullpen remains unsettled, 20 year-old Roberto Osuna is making a name for himself with his 100 mph fastball. Last night Osuna was called on to get the Jays out of a jam in the 8th, which he did by striking out three Tampa hitters around a walk. He then returned and struck out two more in the 9th for his first save. John Gibbons said after the game that “you can’t say enough about Osuna,” but did not name him the new closer, which leads us to believe that tonight’s game is vital. Osuna is likely unavailable after his 33-pitch outing, so if the Jays get a save opp, and Cecil converts it, he probably hangs on to his job for at least a little while longer. But if he pitches badly, or doesn’t pitch at all, then that opens up the chance for Osuna to seize control of the gig going forward. Steve Delabar, two years removed from an All Star game appearance, also lurks as a candidate, while the Jays continue to be mentioned in talks for Jonathan Papelbon and Francisco Rodriguez.

Hierarchy remains: *Cecil | Osuna | Delabar.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago Cubs – Joe Maddon, the Lord of the Closer Committee, continues to keep us guessing. Hector Rondon had been emerging as the leader of the pack until last night, when he and Pedro Strop pitched scoreless innings ahead of 33 year-old birthday boy Jason Motte.

Hierarchy remains: *Rondon | Strop | Motte.
* = closer-by-committee

Arizona Diamondbacks – In a somewhat surprising move, Addison Reed was sent to the minors on Sunday. He’ll work on his stuff and could return to a prominent role later this season. Fan favorite David Hernandez moves up to take his place.

Updated hierarchy: Ziegler | Hudson | Hernandez.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. J.J. Hoover, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman is out on paternity leave, so Hoover may get a save chance today.
2. Steve Delabar, Toronto Blue Jays – Brett Cecil hasn’t been publicly removed from the closer role yet, but if John Gibbons is planning on a demotion, then it’ll be Steve Delabar filling in for a recovering Roberto Osuna (33 pitches last night; 65 over the last four games) tonight.
3. Joba Chamberlain, Detroit Tigers – Joakim Soria has pitched in back to back games and has allowed a run in each appearance; he may get the day off.
4. Ken Giles, Philadelphia Phillies – Likewise, Jonathan Papelbon has gone in back to back games and allowed runs in each appearance. The Phillies may give him today off, as they likely don’t want to risk injuring one of their trade candidates.

Jeurys Familia will be out for the next few games

June 20, 2015

New York Mets — Jeurys Familia entered Friday night’s game with the team behind in the eighth, and exited with an apparent injury. After the game, Terry Collins called it a cramp, but Familia said it was “left groin tightness” that might keep him out for the next few days.

Hierarchy remains: Familia | Parnell | Robles.

New York Yankees — Since Chris Martin returned from the disabled list eight days back, he’s been hit hard, yielding five runs and eight hits in three appearances. As a result, the Yankees announced today that they and the big righthander will consciously uncouple, with New York moving on to young Brian Mitchell, and Martin riding the rails to Scranton to try his luck with the IronPigs of Lehigh Valley. Nobody said it was easy. But no one ever said it would be this hard.

Updated hierarchy: Betances | Wilson | Shreve.

Arizona Diamondbacks — Although Addison Reed has been fairly effective since being demoted, Chip Hale continues to use Daniel Hudson as his number two reliever.

Updated hierarchy: Ziegler | Hudson | Reed.

Toronto Blue Jays — Steve Delabar threw only three strikes on Friday, but they were enough to get the Blue Jays out of the eighth inning on their way to victory. Hitters have a paltry .100 average against Delabar, who has allowed only two earned runs in 15 appearances.

Hierarchy remains: Cecil | Osuna | Delabar.

Washington Nationals — Former Yankee David Carpenter has paid immediate dividends in the Nationals bullpen, giving the team four straight scoreless appearances — the most recent in the eighth inning ahead of Drew Storen on Friday night. The Nats, who became familiar with Carpenter during his successful tenure with their NL East foes in Atlanta, hope that he can regain some of his former glory.

Updated hierarchy: Storen | Janssen | Carpenter.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Bobby Parnell, New York Mets — Familia could be unavailable for at least the rest of the weekend.
2. Kevin Jepsen/Jake McGee, Tampa Bay Rays — You know the routine with these guys. Brad Boxberger has the last two saves, so it’s time to share the wealth.
3. Roberto Osuna, Toronto Blue Jays — Brett Cecil needed 32 pitches to get through Friday’s save.
4. Fernando Rodney, Seattle Mariners — Carson Smith is still in a committee.