Closer Report

The carousel of injuries continues. The names to date are making up the core of the middle tier of fantasy relievers. It's a volatile game that we fantasy players pay when we pay for saves and get burned by injury. We must move on to bigger and well healthier options. Besides this year being the year of the blown save/elbow injury, the top set-up guys that we have been stashing haven't really been up to snuff. Guys that I have personally been pimping have been giving up runs, but its early so don't freak out. Stability is coming. So enjoy the week to come and here are some tidbits and rankings for the upcoming week.

• Well the beard is fine. The person who owns it, isn't. Brian Wilson has structural damage in his pitching elbow that will ultimately require surgery. Sergio Romo, Santiago Casilla, Jeremy Affeldt and Javier Lopez all could see save chances in Bruce Bochy's world (which I am starting to get weary of). I think it will be a closer by situation rather than by committee. All guys listed are rosterable at this point until things salt themselves out.
• The situation in Miami is looking pretty bleak also, Heath Bell a fantasy stalwart has looked rudimentary at best. His velocity and location are off from career numbers and he has responded with 3 blown saves so far in this early season. Edward Mujica and Steve Chisek are names to monitor here, though I think Bell will have a an extremely long leash.
• The news in and around Houston is that they are officially shopping closer Brett Myers. Injured closer teams such as the Red Sox and maybe even SF could make some sense.
• Joe Nathan has looked meh so far this year and has seen several off days turn into save situations for Mike Adams and Alexei Ogando. Definitely a situation to monitor as both guys should be owned, but if they aren't go check.
• The Nationals have seemed to be actually doing what they said they would and flip flop the closer situation. Hank-Rod seems to be the better long term option to me but the wily vet Brad Lidge is still hanging around. Rodriguez's only downfall is his propensity to get wild and a team that looks pretty decent so far can't rely on that wildness if they really want to compete.

6. JJ Putz (+3)

7. Sergio Santos

8. Joel Hanrahan

9. Jason Motte (+1)

10. Rafael Betancourt (+1)

11. Brandon League (+4)

12. Huston Street (+2)

13. Sean Marshall

14. Frank Francisco (+2)

15. Heath Bell (-4)

16. Javy Guerra (+4)

17. Carlos Marmol (+2)

18. Hector Santiago (+3)

19. Joe Nathan (-2)

20. Chris Perez (+2)

21. Jim Johnson (+1)

22. Jordan Walden (-4)

23. Fernando Rodney (+1)

24. Grant Balfour (+2)

25. Jonathon Broxton (-1)

26. Brett Myers (+4)

27. Matt Capps (+1)

28. Alfredo Aceves (-1)

29. Henry Rodriguez/Brad Lidge

30. Sergio Romo/Santiago Casilla (New)

DL - Drew Storen, Andrew Bailey

Out For Year - Ryan Madsen, Brian Wilson, Joakim Soria

HOLD TIERS:

(Plus signs means they are rising)

Tier 1:

Jonny Venters ATL

Mike Adams TEX

David Robertson NYY

Sergio Romo SF

Eric O'Flaherty ATL

Tyler Clippard WAS

Francisco Rodriguez MIL

Greg Holland KC

Vinnie Pestano CLE

Aroldis Chapman CIN+

Tier 2:

Glen Perkins MIN

Marc Rzeczypnski STL

Alexei Ogando TEX +

Joaquin Benoit DET

Kenley Jansen LAD

David Hernandez ARI

Edward Mujica MIA +

Antonio Bastardo PHI

Addison Reed CHW+

Tier 3:

Matt Guerrier LAD

Rafael Soriano NYY

Steve Chisek MIA +

Joe Smith CLE

Jesse Crain CHW

Andrew Cashner SD

Brian Shaw ARI

Francisco Cordero TOR

Jon Rauch NYM

Matt Thornton CHW