Fantasy Baseball: Closer Report for Week 6

These Guys Are Practically Money, but Something's Not Quite Right

Rangers - Neftali Feliz (6) - Feliz returned from the disabled list on Friday night, and recorded a save on Saturday.  I want to see him do it again, but he should be back up near the top of this list shortly. 

Cubs - Carlos Marmol (6)

Red Sox - Jonathan Papelbon (6)

Marlins - Leo Nunez (6) 

Braves - Craig Kimbrel (6) 

Tigers - Jose Valverde (6) - 2 of his 4 outings this week were a bit ugly, including a loss on May 2nd. Again, save chances are required to get saves though.

Brewers - John Axford (6) - It seems to be pretty standard that if I think a player is settling down and getting back into a groove, he goes out and gives up 2 earned runs in a non-save situation in his next outing. Which is exactly what Axford did on Wednesday. 

Diamondbacks - J.J. Putz (6)

Angels - Jordan Walden (6) - Walden had his first blown save of the season on Wednesday, but did pitch a scoreless inning on Friday night. I'm not worried about him. 

Twins - Matt Capps (6) 

They're Going to Get You Saves, And Not Destroy You in Other Categories

Indians - Chris Perez (6) - 4 save opportunities, 4 saves. Also 4 hits, 2 earned runs and only 1 strikeout in 4 innings pitched. 

Nationals - Drew Storen (6) - Burnett got a save this week, but it was a situation where he was called upon to get out a single left handed batter. Storen came out and got the next save opportunity, which he converted. 

Mets - Francisco Rodriguez (6) - 3 saves in as many days, and 5 appearances overall this week. Also no runs allowed, but 9 baserunners in just 5 innings pitched. 

Reds - Francisco Cordero (6) 

Pirates -  Joel Hanrahan (7) - Another pitcher where your team has to give you chances for you to get saves.

Rays - Kyle Farnsworth (6)

Orioles - Kevin Gregg (6) 

There's A Lot to Like Here, but You're Playing with Fire

Athletics - Brian Fuentes (6) - Balfour got a save on Wednesday, but Fuentes had pitched each of the previous 3 games. He recorded the saves on Friday and Sunday, and appears to remain the closer until Andrew Bailey returns. 

Phillies - Ryan Madson (6) - Madson only got 1 save opportunity this week, but he converted it with a hit and a strikeout. Contreras could be returning soon, but I'm not sold that Madson loses his job when that happens.

They Don't Have a Vice Grip on the Job, but There's a Lot of Upside Here

Blue Jays - Frank Francisco (6) - Francisco got the save chances on Wednesday and Friday, and Rauch pitched in the 8th inning on Friday. I'd say Francisco has the job until he gives the Jays a reason to take it from him.

White Sox - Sergio Santos (6) 

He's Going to Get Saves This Week, But He May Not Next Week

Mariners - Brandon League (6) - Aardsma is still on his rehab assignment, so League will continue to get the opportunities until then. There's talk that Aardsma may have had a set back as well, which would be good for owners of League.

Dodgers -  Vicente Padilla (7) - With Jonathan Broxton placed on the disabled list, manager Don Mattingly announced that Padilla would close while Broxton is out. But there are still other options in Kenley Jansen and Hong-Chih Kuo back there as well.

Astros - Mark Melancon (6) - Brandon Lyon was placed on the disabled list last week, and will likely get the job back immediately when he returns from the disabled list. Until then, Melancon already recorded 1 save, and looks like the guy until Lyon does return.

Cardinals -  Eduardo Sanchez  / Fernando Salas(6) - Sanchez got 2 saves last week, and was used in the 9th inning in a 3rd game. It appeared that Sanchez had the job, as he was called on to pitch Sunday in the 9th. But he wasn't able to get the job done, and Fernando Salas was called on to get the final out. Avoid this one at all costs, except in extremely deep leagues.