Kenley Jansen to close; Dale Thayer could see more opportunities

May 8, 2012

Cleveland Indians – As predicted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Chris Perez and Vinnie Pestano were both held out of Cleveland’s doubleheader on Monday, and Cleveland went to young lefty Nick Hagadone in the first game.  Tony Sipp got the save in game 2, but Hagadone (1.08 ERA) has been the Indians most impressive middle reliever as of late.  Hierarchy change: Nick Hagadone to 2nd in line, replacing Joe Smith.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCLE |C.Perez |Pestano |Hagadone |C.Perez |5/8/12

 
Boston Red Sox – Vicente Padilla recorded a 2.2 inning save yesterday in a game the Red Sox won comfortably.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Morales |Albers |Bailey |5/8/12 |Bailey(DL) |

 
San Diego Padres – As noted yesterday, Andrew Cashner was given the night off after a long outing on Sunday, but the Padres opted to use Dale Thayer in the 9th inning, leaving Luke Gregerson in the 8th inning role.  Should Cashner falter again, it could be Thayer (173 career minor league saves) who nabs the most opportunities in Huston Street’s absence.  Hierarchy change: Dale Thayer to Set-up, Luke Gregerson to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Cashner |Thayer |Gregerson |Street |5/8/12 |Street(DL) |

 
Los Angeles Dodgers – Don Mattingly before Monday’s series opener said that he was removing Javy Guerra from the closer role.  Kenley Jansen will close in his place, Mattingly said.  Hierarchy change: Kenley Jansen to Closer, Javy Guerra to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |Jansen |Guerra |Lindblom |Jansen |5/8/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jon Rauch, New York Mets – Frank Francisco has pitched on three consecutive nights.
2. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Downs is making a quick recovery from his injury, and the Angels have opted not to put him on the disabled list.  Mike Scioscia said that Downs will return to the mound– and presumably, the closer’s role– whenever he feels up to it.

Ernesto Frieri to close for Angels; Andrew Cashner struggles

May 7, 2012

Los Angeles Dodgers – Javy Guerra blew another save on Sunday, and for the first time, manager Don Mattingly expressed wavering confidence in the righty, saying that he’d have to keep looking at the closer role.  Guerra will likely get one more shot to close before being benched, though he remains firmly on the Hot Seat and is a good bet to lose his job with one more blown save.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |Guerra |Jansen |Lindblom |Guerra |5/7/12

 
San Diego Padres – Despite throwing 100+ mph gas all night, Andrew Cashner was knocked around on Sunday, giving up 4 earned runs in a tie game in the 8th inning.  He’s still likely the Padres go-to guy while Huston Street recovers, but could quickly lose that distinction if he falters again.  Andrew Cashner to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Cashner |Gregerson |Thayer |Street |5/7/12 |Street(DL) |

 
Miami Marlins – As noted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Steve Cishek threw 52 pitches over 3 innings on Friday and was again unavailable on Sunday, so the Marlins went to Edward Mujica for the save in the 9th.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIA |Cishek |Mujica |Bell |Bell |5/7/12

 
Atlanta Braves – For the second day in a row, the Braves had a comfortable late-inning lead, and a long reliever notched a save; this time, it was Cristhian Martinez, who pitched 2.2 clean innings in the blowout.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedATL |Kimbrel |Venters |O'Flaherty |Kimbrel |5/7/12

 
Los Angeles Angels – Scott Downs was helped off the field after sustaining an apparent knee injury in the 9th inning on Sunday.  He will undergo evaluation, but he was spotted on crutches after the game, so he’s likely to miss at least a few days.  LaTroy Hawkins also was injured in the game, and while the Angels did not name a new closer, Mike Scioscia appears to be reluctant to give the closer job back to Jordan Walden, instead mentioning Ernesto Frieri as a possible candidate.  Hierarchy change: Scott Downs injured, Ernesto Frieri to Closer, Jason Isringhausen to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Walden |Isringhausen|Walden |5/7/12 |Downs(INJ) | |Hawkins(INJ)|

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joe Smith/Tony Sipp, Cleveland Indians – Both closer Chris Perez and set-up man Vinnie Pestano have pitched in 4 of the last 5 games, and the Indians have a doubleheader today, meaning 7th-inning men Joe Smith and Tony Sipp could get save opportunities.
2. James Russell/Kerry Wood, Chicago Cubs – Rafael Dolis pitched 2 innings yesterday, and has pitched in 4 out of the last 5 games.
3. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde has pitched on three consecutive days.
4. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres – Andrew Cashner threw 39 pitches in a rough outing yesterday and could have the night off.
5. Franklin Morales, Boston Red Sox – Alfredo Aceves has pitched 4.2 innings over the past three days, throwing 69 pitches in the process.

New closers in Chicago, KC; Marmol and Peralta struggling

April 8, 2012

San Diego Padres- Luke Gregerson was the set-up man for the Padres late last season, but yesterday, they went to Gregerson in the 7th inning of a tie game, saving Andrew Cashner for the 8th.  Hierarchy change: Andrew Cashner to Set-up, Luke Gregerson to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Street |Cashner |Gregerson |Street |4/8/12

 
Washington Nationals- Davey Johnson has said that he would alternate between Henry Rodriguez and Brad Lidge for save opportunities, and he stayed true to his word, calling on Rodriguez to pitch the 9th yesterday.  He closed the game out successfully, and the next opportunity should go back to Lidge.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Lidge |Rodriguez |Clippard |Storen |4/8/12 |Storen(DL) |

 
Chicago Cubs- Carlos Marmol had another ugly performance on Saturday, two days after taking the loss in the Cubs’ opener.  Marmol, who blew 10 saves in 2011, would be in more danger if set-up man Kerry Wood had been anything less than awful as well.  But should Marmol continue to struggle, the Cubs may be forced to look to Wood, or perhaps to young Rafael Dolis, for the 9th inning role.  Carlos Marmol to Hot Seat. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Wood |Dolis |Marmol |4/8/12

 
Tampa Bay Rays- Joel Peralta was brought in to stop the Yankees rally yesterday, but only faced two hitters, the second of whom hit a HR off him.  Jake McGee was then brought in for one batter before Fernando Rodney came in to close it out.  Based on Peralta’s success filling in as closer last year, he figures to get another shot, but could be in danger of losing the job should he falter again.  Joel Peralta to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTB |Peralta |Rodney |McGee |Farnsworth |4/8/12 |Farnswor(DL)|

 
Cleveland Indians- Tony Sipp was shelled on Saturday, two days after he looked shaky in the season’s opener.  For the time being, the Indians will likely call on Rafael Perez when they need a lefty, at least while Sipp works himself out.  Hierarchy change: Rafael Perez to 2nd in line, replacing Tony Sipp.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCLE |C.Perez |Pestano |R.Perez |C.Perez |4/8/12

 
Chicago White Sox- Hector Santiago closed out the White Sox victory on Saturday.  The White Sox mystery closer has been revealed, though the young lefty was not the trendy choice until he was seen warming up in the bullpen for a possible save opportunity that never materialized on Friday.  Jesse Crain seems to have fallen into a middle inning role, leaving Matt Thornton and Addison Reed to pitch the 7th and 8th.  Hierarchy change: Hector Santiago to Closer, Matt Thornton to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Santiago |Thornton |Reed |Reed |4/7/12

 
Kansas City Royals- The Royals, up 4 runs in the 8th inning, went to Greg Holland first.  Jonathon Broxton pitched the 9th in a non-save situation and will close for the foreseeable future.  Hierarchy change: Jonathon Broxton to Closer, Greg Holland to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Broxton |Holland |Crow |Broxton |4/7/12 |Soria(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH:
None.

Visit our main page for more fantasy baseball bullpen information.