With closer Jake McGee on the IL due to an oblique strain, it was originally believed that Tyler Rogers would slide into the closer role for the time being. Rogers did receive the first save chance but wound up allowing three earned runs and blowing the save. For the team’s next save chance, Dominic Leone picked up his second save of the season, with Rogers working the eighth inning. Leone has been fantastic this year with a 1.72 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. The team may want to keep Rogers in his eighth-inning set-up role so Leone is the preferred add at this time.
Notes
- Ian Kennedy has been quite the roller coaster since joining the Phillies, but he’s allowed just one earned run over his past four games and has the easiest remaining schedule left. They get the Orioles and Pirates this week while finishing the season in Miami.
- Gregory Soto is likely to miss the remainder of the season after fracturing a finger on his pitching hand on a comebacker last week. Michael Fulmer should finish the year as the Tigers’ closer, and there should be some winnable games left with series against the Twins and the Royals.
- Andrew Kittredge was placed on the IL with neck tightness, re-opening the door to the closer role in Tampa. It’s anyone’s guess as to who might emerge, but Pete Fairbanks makes the most sense as of now, with Nick Anderson still working his way back into MLB action. The dark horse candidates would be veteran David Robertson, or J.T. Chargois.
- Garrett Richards picked up the last Red Sox save this past week, despite Adam Ottavino not pitching the previous day. With Matt Barnes now back with the team and Hansel Robles pitching well, this bullpen is probably worth staying away from at the moment.
| Rank | Pitcher | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Josh HaderT1 | - |
| 2 | Liam Hendriks | - |
| 3 | Ryan Pressly | - |
| 4 | Raisel Iglesias | - |
| 5 | Kenley JansenT2 | - |
| 6 | Edwin Díaz | - |
| 7 | Aroldis Chapman | - |
| 8 | Emmanuel Clase | - |
| 9 | Jordan Romano | - |
| 10 | Will SmithT3 | - |
| 11 | Giovanny Gallegos | +2 |
| 12 | Scott Barlow | +2 |
| 13 | Mychal Givens | +3 |
| 14 | Ian Kennedy | +8 |
| 15 | Mark MelanconT4 | -3 |
| 16 | Joe Barlow | +1 |
| 17 | Drew Steckenrider | -2 |
| 18 | Andrew Chafin | - |
| 19 | Michael Fulmer | +UR |
| 20 | Alex Colomé | +4 |
| 21 | Dominic Leone | +UR |
| 22 | Pete Fairbanks | +UR |
| 23 | Dylan FloroT5 | - |
| 24 | Kyle Finnegan | -3 |
| 25 | Rowan Wick | - |
| 26 | Carlos Estévez | - |
| 27 | Chris Stratton | +2 |
| 28 | Tyler Clippard | - |
| 29 | Tyler Wells | +UR |
| 30 | Adam Ottavino | -3 |
Stash List
| Rank | Pitcher | Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Paul Sewald/Diego Castillo | Seattle | The three-man committee for save chances in Seattle continues. |
| 2. | Nick Anderson | Tampa Bay | Anderson could see some save chances with Kittredge out. |
| 3. | Matt Barnes | Boston | Ottavino’s role is still in flux, and Barnes is back on the roster. |
| 4. | Héctor Neris | Philadelphia | Neris has been awesome over his last 30+ IP, while Kennedy has struggled. |
| 5. | Tyler Rogers | San Francisco | Could share closer role with Leone, but SF may prefer to keep him in his setup role. |
| 6. | Sergio Romo | Oakland | Romo continues to have his issues, but is still in the save mix with Chafin. |
| 7. | Michael Lorenzen | Cincinnati | Givens looks like the 1A closer in Cincy, but Lorenzen is the next man up. |
| 8. | Kyle Funkhouser | Detroit | Fulmer is the new closer with Soto out, but Funkhouser could mix in. |
| 9. | Anthony Bender | Miami | Struggled a bit in August, but he still has more overall upside than Floro. |
| 10. | Tanner Rainey | Washington | Super long shot, but looked like his old self on Sunday while Finnegan struggles. |
Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire (Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)