BREWERS: Old (Jeremy Jeffress), New (Tyler Thornburg)

This isn’t a lock, as Manager Craig Counsell did not say that TT is the new closer. "I'm sure nothing's set in stone, especially now," Thornburg said. "I'm sure the next 3-4 games it'll be a lot more telling than anything I could tell you now." Thornburg has a 12.45 K/9 mark, the 14th best in the major amongst arms with at least 30-innings thrown this season. I really dislike the 0.79 GB/FB ratio, but despite a lot of fly balls over the years he’s still the owner of a league average 1.01 HR/9 mark. Can’t see how he’s not given the first shot after the Brewers dealt away Jeffress and Will Smith.

Success scale (1-10): 7

DIAMONDBACKS: Old (Tyler Clippard), New (Jake Barrett)

Barrett will attempt to do what Brad Ziegler had done, close out teams in the 9th. The rookie has 39 strikeouts in 38.2 innings and his 3.03 walk rate per nine is passable. Truth though – not much stands out here. There’s a lot of average kinda stuff here. Not saying he doesn’t have a nice arm, it’s just that there’s no “wow” factor. There was none of that with Ziegler either, so sometimes it just doesn’t matter if you wow the scouts. Groomed to close, Jake should be successful.

Success scale (1-10): 7

INDIANS: Old (Cody Allen), New (Andrew Miller)

Miller, as I have said for years, might be the best lefty reliever in baseball. Miller saved 36 games last season and has nine this year as well. He’s never been better than this season as he has those nine saves, six victories, a 1.58 ERA, 15.18 K/9, 1.38 BB/9 and 0.79 WHIP. You really can’t be more dominant than he is. Period. "I'll be a bullpen pitcher," Miller said. "Other than that, I don't really know. Wherever Tito asks me to pitch, I'll pitch.” Miller has to be viewed as the closer, but it doesn’t sound like manager Terry Francona is going to totally abandon Cody Allen as a potential 9th inning option at times. “There are going to be times when maybe the upcoming inning has three lefties, which would seem to make sense to have Andrew pitch that inning. But we're going to leverage those guys the best we can, and they're all on board." Come on, it’s gonna be Miller.

Success scale (1-10): 10

NATIONALS: Old (Jonathan Papelbon), New (Mark Melancon)

Papelbon has been a failure of epic proportions of late, and though it seemed that the club had in house options in Shawn Kelley and Blake Treinen, they still brought in Melancon to work the 9th inning. Melancon had 33 saves in 2014 and 51 last season. He’s already up to 30 saves this season. Since the start of last season he has 81 saves against just five blown saves. The man can pitch. He never beats himself with the walk, doesn’t allow homers and simply gets outs. No reason to think he will be anything different than he has been the last three years simply cause he changed uniforms.

Success scale (1-10): 10

MARINERS: Old (Steve Cishek), New (Edwin Diaz)

Ugly all of a sudden for Mr. Cishek who over his last 10 outings has a 7.20 ERA and 1.40 WHIP while losing two games and also picking up two blown saves. "Probably take the gas off a little bit," manager Scott Servais said. "Try to get him into some better spots. Maybe not when the game is on the line all of the time." Translation – Cishek has been demoted. Rookie righty Edwin Diaz will take over the 9th inning for the Mariners. Diaz has just 24 outings at the big league level, but you, and I’m serious here, can’t be more dominant. No one ever has. In 25 innings Diaz has 49 strikeouts leading to a 17.64 K/9 mark. Filthy stuff. His 2.52 BB/9 rate is solid, and there’s a solid 1.50 GB/FB ratio that really stands out too. To think, he could get even better. No way that .458 BABIP sticks around with Diaz which means that Cishek isn’t likely to get his 9th inning gig back.

Success scale (1-10): 7

PIRATES: Old (Mark Melancon), New (Tony Watson)

Neftali Feliz has four wins, 22 holds, a 3.15 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 10.58 K/9 and a 4.27 K/BB ratio. Those are impressive numbers. He’s also right-handed. The Pirates will go in the 9th though with his bullpen mate Mr. Watson, who has been since the start of 2013 one of the better lefty setup men in baseball. Can he close? He only has five career saves and there are some who believe that closing ain’t easy (to me, it’s just three outs). His skills suggest he can have success. At the same time his 3.05 BB/9 rate is a four year high, his 1.37 GB/FB ratio is a three year low. Still, he's stable and successful. The only way it makes sense to me that he will fail is if he can’t handle the pressure of the 9th inning. Again, I think that is stupid, but guys have failed when given a more “important” role many times before.

Success scale (1-10): 7

RANGERS: Old (Sam Dyson), New (Sam Dyson)

Dyson is 22-for-24 in the 9th inning since being installed the Rangers closer after Shawn Tolleson imploded and was hurt. He’s going to stick in the 9th inning despite the move of Jeremy Jeffress coming to town. "Some similarities to Dyson and how he goes about it with the power sinker,” GM Jon Daniels said. “Has some experience now in the ninth, if needed. Hopefully that's not the case, but always good to have multiple guys who can go back there."

Success scale (1-10): 7

RED SOX: Old (Brad Ziegler), New (Craig Kimbrel)

Back from knee surgery extremely quickly, Kimbrel racked up a save Monday. He should continue to be 9th inning beast for the Sox.

Success scale (1-10): 10

ROYALS: Old (Wade Davis), New (Kelvin Herrera)

Wade Davis has an issue with his arm. It’s being called a low grade strain of his right flexor muscle. "The MRI showed his elbow was clean," manager Ned Yost said. Uh huh. Davis was placed on the DL previously with arm woes and I’m here to tell ya, even if the team won’t, that Davis returning to dominance this season is not a lock, it’s not even likely in my opinion. Davis cannot be trusted to return to the 9th inning this season. Period. Herrera will take over and I would be surprised if he didn’t run away with the job. Herrera has only seven career saves, but he’s dominated for years out of the Royals pen. This season he has a 1.54 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 11.19 K/9 and 1.35 BB/9. Truth? He’s pitched better than Davis this season.

Success scale (1-10): 9

YANKEES: Old (Aroldis Chapman), New (Dellin Betances)

Betances dominates, period. He should succeed in the 9th inning. Period. Since the start of the 2014 season: 13-8, 11 saves, 14.22 K/9, 3.16 BB/9, 1.68 ERA, 0.91 WHIP. That effort, spelled out, includes 356 strikeouts in 225.1 innings. Read that again. Last season Clayton Kershaw led baseball with 301 strikeouts in 232.2 innings. That means Betances has 55 more strikeouts, in 7.1 fewer innings since the start of 2014. Wow.

Success scale (1-10): 10

 

Ray Flowers can be heard Monday through Friday, 7 PM EDT and Friday on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 7 PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).