Closer Report - MLB Week 2

  • Wednesday, April 21, 2010 12:17 PM
  • Written By: AccuScore

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Week 2 of baseball is in the books and injuries and performance have led to changes in bullpens. It’s time for the Closer Report.

AL

Closer

Back-up to own

BAL

Jim Johnson**

Mike Gonzalez (DL), Mickolio

BOS

Jonathan Papelbon

Daniel Bard

CHW

Bobby Jenks

Matt Thornton

CLE

Chris Perez

Jensen Lewis, Kerry Wood (DL)

DET

Jose Valverde

Ryan Perry

KC

Joakim Soria

Juan Cruz

LAA

Fernando Rodney**

Brian Fuentes (DL)

MIN

Jon Rauch

Matt Guerrier

NYY

Mariano Rivera

Joba Chamberlain

OAK

Andrew Bailey

Brad Ziegler

SEA

David Aardsma

Brandon League

TB

Rafael Soriano

Grant Balfour

TEX

Neftali Feliz**

Frank Francisco

TOR

Kevin Gregg

Jason Frasor

**temporary closer

• Cito Gaston made a change this past week saying Jason Frasor would pitch the 8th inning with Kevin Gregg as the closer. Honestly I don’t really think this makes a difference for Toronto, but it makes all the difference in fantasy leagues. While Gregg has the potential to blow-up and lose the job down the line, he looks very good thus far. The big change appears to be a cutter that he is throwing nearly 18% of the time compared to just 2% of the time before this season. Gregg has yet to walk a batter and is generating more ground balls than in the past. He looks like a safe bet for 25+ saves.

• Brian Fuentes should be ready to come off the DL by Wednesday or Thursday. Rodney is still worth owning since he is the clear back-up, and Fuentes isn’t the safest closer now that the Angels have another bullpen option.

• The situation in Arizona does not look good. Chad Qualls has blown two of three save chances and has allowed runs in four of his six appearances. Juan Gutierrez got a chance on 4/16 (Qualls had pitched the 2 days prior) and was a disaster allowing 2 walks, a double, and a home run resulting in 4 runs. Qualls still gets the next chance, but if he continues to falter there aren’t a lot of other options currently on the roster. The Diamondbacks might need to make a move soon. Their entire bullpen is not performing.

• Jon Rauch continues to sail along with a MLB-leading 6 saves.

• The other unlikely leader in saves is Matt Capps, also with 6. Capps walked 5 batters and allowed 3 hits in his first 3 innings. Since then he’s gone 4.1 IP with 0 BB and 4 hits allowed. It won’t ever be pretty, but Capps will probably keep getting you saves as along as he stays healthy.

• Chris Perez blew up on 4/11 walking 3 and blowing a save followed by another poor outing (0 IP, 1 BB, 1 H). He has since made an adjustment and closed out his last two games without incident. Kerry Wood still needs to throw in a simulated game and then a rehab assignment so Perez will keep the job probably through the end of the month.

• There were no rogue saves the past 7 days in the majors, but a couple relievers are emerging to join Matt Thornton as dominant set-up I would possible own even in standard mixed leagues. Randy Williams (CWS) has 8 Ks in 6.1 IP and Edward Mujica (SD) has 11 K in 9.1 IP. Both come with some risk as Williams already has 7 BB and Mujica has allowed 2 HR. I would continue to watch both as they should be free agents in all but the deepest leagues.





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