Fantasy Baseball: Closer Report for Week 5

You Can Count Your Saves Now. They're Going to Be There.

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

Cubs - Carlos Marmol (6)

Red Sox - Jonathan Papelbon (7)

Marlins - Leo Nunez (7) - Nunez had a poor outing on Friday night, but still recorded the save. He is now 2nd in the Majors with 9, and still has a sub-3 ERA and sub-1 WHIP despite that poor outing.

Braves - Craig Kimbrel (7) - Kimbrel had a rough week, getting a blown save and a loss on back to back nights. Even with Jonny Venters in the back of the pen, I think he's going to have to blow a couple more before he stops getting the majority of chances.

Tigers - Jose Valverde (7) - Your team has to give you save chances to allow you to get saves.

Brewers - John Axford (7) - Axford appears to be settling down, allowing just 1 hit in his last 4 appearances and striking out 3.

Diamondbacks - J.J. Putz (6)

Angels - Jordan Walden (7) - Walden has a lock on the closer's job in Anaheim, and could really start to vault up these rankings if the Angels get him more save opportunities.

Twins - Matt Capps (5) - I'm not sure when Joe Nathan is going to get the job back, if he ever is.

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

Indians - Chris Perez (6) - Do we think that Cleveland is going to keep winning like this? It seems unlikely, but it has been a month now. I want to see his next outing though, as he gave up a run and 2 hits in his outing Sunday.

Nationals - Drew Storen (7) - Storen has a lock on the job now, and has pitched well all season. He's not going to keep up a 0.60 ERA all year, but he should still level out below 3.00.

Reds - Francisco Cordero (6) - Cordero is limiting his walks, which has helped to feed his 0.83 WHIP. If he can continue this, he's going to give a great season to his owners.

Pirates - Joel Hanrahan (6)

Rays - Kyle Farnsworth (6)

Orioles - Kevin Gregg (7) - Gregg could hurt you with WHIP, but he is the clear closer in Baltimore now.

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

Athletics - Brian Fuentes (7) - If you're looking for reminders as to why Fuentes did not hold onto the closer's job in Anaheim, take a look at the lines from the 27th and 29th's games. He's going to get saves, but it could kill your WHIP or ERA to do it.

Mets - Francisco Rodriguez (6) - Something to remember as the season progresses - K-Rod has an option on his contract which will vest if he finishes 55 games this year. The Mets can't possibly want that to happen, so he could be used less frequently as the season progresses.

Phillies - Ryan Madson (6)

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

Dodgers - Jonathan Broxton (6)- Vicente Padilla recorded a save this week, and Broxton keeps having poor showings. There was speculation this week from management that he might be removed from the role, and I doubt highly he's going to be holding the job for long.

Blue Jays - Jon Rauch (6) - Rauch got a save on the 29th, 3 days after Francisco returned from the DL. I think they're going to let Rauch keep doing the job until he fails, but I'd own Frank Francisco if you're nervous about him.

White Sox - Sergio Santos (6) - Santos got both save chances this week, and recorded them both (even if he allowed 2 hits in one of them). If he gets the next save chance and converts it, I think we'll be able to say for sure he's got the job.

Saves are Coming, but Just Don't Expect Anything Else of Value

Astros - Brandon Lyon (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.

Cardinals - Fernando Salas (7) - Apparently the foreseeable future was less than a week for Mitchell Boggs. Fernando Salas got saves on the 28th and 30th, and looks like he's got the current hold on the job. Salas has 10 strikeouts through 9 1/3 innings pitched, and if he can lock down the next couple of save chances, we could be looking at the permanent closer.

Rangers - Darren Oliver (7) - The Rangers only had 1 save chance this week, and Oliver recorded it. He also pitched in a tie game the following night and gave up 3 runs (1 earned). So he could get the next chance, but we won't know until this week.