• Wade Davis went on the IL yesterday with an oblique strain. Thankfully the injury is not considered to be too severe but in his place for saves will be Scott Oberg. Oberg has been an effective set up man this year with a 1.77 ERA but under the hood tells a different story with a 4.70/4.91/5.31 FIP/xFIP/SIERA. Oberg has thrown 20.1 innings and only has 13 strikeouts with 11 walks. His SwStr% suggests a few more whiffs may be coming but the overall profile looks like someone who might get a few saves but hurt your ratios. Behind him is Carlos Estevez and Bryan Shaw. Shaw has the “experience” but he’s carrying a 5.70 ERA this year with Estevez looking like the most promising option of the three but Oberg will be getting the first crack at saves. Estevez has a 3.27 ERA and solid peripherals with a fantastic 15.6% SwStr% and 29 strikeouts against 8 walks in 22 innings. It’s tough to trust a reliever in Colorado that isn’t getting saves but Oberg might not have a long leash if he struggles so I would keep an eye out for Estevez as well.

• Shawn Kelley has been off of the IL for two days and he’s closed two doors in that time, getting another save last night against the Mariners, striking out a pair for his 4th save this year. Jose Leclerc’s return to saves is likely imminent but until then Kelley should see the save chances. Regarding Leclerc, he’s been so up and down but in his last four appearances he has 5.1 innings pitched with 11 strikeouts and no walks and a 19.7% SwStr%. Leclerc’s velocity has been fine all year but he was struggling with missing bats and his control, if the last few outings show anything he might be back to where he was. He will likely never be a control artist but if he’s getting whiffs again he should provide solid value here on out, assuming he takes over the closer’s chair soon.

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The ground ball has been Luke Jackson’s best friend this season, and on Tuesday night it was his worst enemy. Jackson is one of only two qualified relievers to have a ground ball rate above 70 percent (Zack Britton is the other), and that had helped him to compile a 2.31 ERA with six saves heading into the Braves’ series in San Francisco. He was called on to protect a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning on Tuesday night, and he began predictably enough by getting Evan Longoria to hit into a groundout. Then Brandon Crawford stung a line drive for a single, but Jackson struck out Steven Duggar to get on the cusp of his seventh save.

That’s when the parade of ground ball singles began. Kevin Pillar and Pablo Sandoval both got base hits on grounders that had xBAs of .250 and .090, respectively. Pillar’s single scored Crawford, and then both Pillar and pinch-runner Mac Williamson scored on a Joe Panik grounder that just eluded the outstretched glove of Ozzie Albies, giving the Giants a walk-off win.
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Just when it seemed safe to trust Mychal Givens, the implosion occurs. Givens entered last night’s appearance riding a six game scoreless streak with 11 strikeouts against four walks over nine innings with four saves. After giving up a home run to Gleyber Torres, who obliterates Orioles pitching, Givens returned for the ninth hoping to record a 1.1 inning save. Back to back singles by Brett Gardner and Cameron started the top of the ninth with immediate traffic, less than optimal. Givens induced a fielder’s choice ground out by D.J. LeMahieu, but the runners advanced leading to a sacrifice fly by Aaron Hicks. So, two outs and two runners on set the stage for a Luke Voit walk then a three-run go ahead home run by Gary Sanchez. Read the rest of this entry »

In Sunday’s game against the Cardinals, Chris Martin had just his second chance for a save since Jose Leclerc was moved out of the closer’s role nearly three weeks ago. Martin was working with just a 3-2 lead, and after Dexter Fowler launched a one-out solo homer, that lead was gone. Even though that was the only hit Martin allowed, already the clock is ticking on his time as closer.

That, however, has more to do with the recent improvements Leclerc has made. He was spotless in pitching the fifth and sixth innings on Sunday, striking out five of the six batters he faced, and Leclerc has induced swings-and-misses on 11 (or 20.4 percent) of his last 54 pitches. When asked about Leclerc’s proximity to getting back his old ninth-inning job, Chris Woodward replied, “he’s real close.” If Leclerc does not get the Rangers’ next save chance, it sure sounds as if he may get the one after that.
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• After blowing the save against the Yankees on Friday, Jose Alvarado came back yesterday to get his 5th save of the year. Emilio Pagan pitched in the 8th and 9th getting 5 strikeouts, Hunter Wood pitched in the 10th and  Alvarado finished the 11th for the save. Diego Castillo had pitched in three of the last four games so he wasn’t used and although Alvarado got the save yesterday we are still going to have Castillo atop the committee. With that said, as has been the case all year, Castillo and Alvarado should share the save duties throughout the year and if we flip the order tomorrow I wouldn’t be too surprised. Pagan has taken a back seat in terms of saves of late but it’s worth noting after last night’s performance that he has only allowed one run in 14.2 innings pitched and has an insane 35.9% K-BB%. He shouldn’t be relied upon for more than a couple of random saves but he’s worth rostering nonetheless for ratios and strikeouts.

• Hansel Robles has become the go to man for the 9th inning in Anaheim but it was Ty Buttrey who got the save last night, getting the final 5 outs in the process. Although Buttrey received the save, I’m not quite ready to make this a committee again since Robles has really received the vast majority of save chance of late. Robles has the velocity and strikeouts one would want in a closer but Buttrey has been the better pitcher and both should definitely be owned in a majority of leagues. On the year Buttrey has thrown 23.2 innings with only two runs allowed and is supporting a 1.25/2.74/2.37 FIP/xFIP/SIERA with a 13.4% SwStr%. The Angels have used him for more multi-inning appearances with Robles largely throwing in the 9th, I suspect that will continue with Robles still being the nominal closer but Buttrey snagging the occasional save.

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In the moment Jose Alvarado owners yearned for, a save chance, things did not go as planned in New York. Alvarado last recorded a save on April seventh against the Giants on the road. He’s also registered five holds and two losses in 12 outings since. After Diego Castillo retired the Yankees in order in the eighth with two strikeouts, Alvarado entered to face Luke Voit, a known southpaw killer. Voit hit his 11th home run, and second off a lefty, leading off the inning. Alvarado allowed a single to Gary Sanchez, another hitter who fares better versus lefties, before striking out Kendrys Morales. But, a Gleyber Torres double put the go ahead run at second base. Struggling a bit with command, Alvarado uncorked a wild pitch after intentionally walking Clint Frazier scoring the tying run. Read the rest of this entry »

Even for a 10-game slate, Thursday wasn’t a very eventful day for closers or for relievers in general. The most interesting development may have been the Twins’ promotion of 32-year-old righty Austin Adams. That created the possibility of dueling Austin Adamses in their series against the Mariners. On Thursday night, neither Adams made an appearance in the Twins’ 11-6 victory.

The Twins’ summoning of Adams actually was an important development, as he replaced Trevor Hildenberger on the team’s active roster. Hildenberger was demoted to Triple-A Rochester late on Wednesday, shortly after retiring only one of four batters he faced in the ninth inning against the Angels. He had an effective first month of the season, and despite struggles in early May, Rocco Baldelli used him in some high leverage situations. However, Hildenberger had allowed seven runs over his last three appearances covering 2.1 innings.
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• Blake Parker was used to get the last out of the 8th inning last night with Trevor Hildenberger coming on for the the 9th. However, after giving up three runs Mike Morin came in for the final two outs to get his first save of the year. While the committee is still strong in Minnesota, Mike Morin isn’t a part of it. Parker is still in the lead with Taylor Rogers and Trevor May behind him. Every time the Twins get a save I basically repeat the previous line, but that’s how it will go until something changes!

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Kyle Hendricks couldn’t quite finish out his gem of a start on Tuesday night against the Reds. When he walked Nick Senzel to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning, Joe Maddon turned to Kyle Ryan to keep the Cubs in front, 3-1. Ryan retired Joey Votto, but with right-handed Eugenio Suarez coming up next, Maddon called on Steve Cishek once again for the save. Ryan departed despite having held righties to a .233 wOBA this season and even though left-handed Jesse Winker was due up after Suarez.

Cishek is clearly Maddon’s top choice for save situations, and he cemented his position at the top of the Cubs’ bullpen hierarchy by getting both Suarez and Winker out.
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What a difference a year can make for the Oakland bullpen. Last year, the A’s relievers fueled the teams push to the playoffs with a career year by Blake Treinen anchoring the staff. However, last night, Lou Trivino blew the lead giving up two hits and two walks culminated by a Daniel Vogelbach three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Prior to this meltdown, Trivino turned in seven scoreless appearances his prior eight games. Joakim Soria entered the ninth in a tied game to strikeout the side. But, he admittedly ran out of gas in the bottom of the 10th resulting in a walk to Vogelbach, then replaced by pinch runner Dee Gordon who stole second base. A double by Domingo Santana tied the game before an Omar Narvaez single ended in a Mariners walk-off win. Read the rest of this entry »