Fantasy Baseball: MLB Daily Bullpen Usage and Depth Chart 5/6
Published: Apr 06, 2013
Closer Rating System: EliteâPlayers with the strongest hold on their role in bullpen; SolidâPlayers that could lose their job/teamâs with solid backup in place; ShakyâPlayers that could lose their job at any moment; CommitteeâPlayers that are sharing the role with one or more teammates.
*Individual player pitch counts have now been added to each player update starting April 9, 2013 to help fantasy owners determine when a given pitcher will be available to take the mound next. The format will listed as pitch count-strikes.
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American League Bullpen ReportBaltimore Orioles(CL) Solid Jim Johnson (R)âEarned his 11th save of the season Saturday after pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning forcing one ground ball out and two fly ball outs to get the job done. Johnson was able to bound back nicely from his last outing when he allowed an earned-run, so anyone who thought he would spiral into a slump was badly mistaken. 11 PC-8 ST (5/4/13)
(SU) Darren OâDay (R)âCollected his first save of the season Sunday after recording the final four outs of the game. Despite having a four-run lead, O'Day entered the ball game with the tying runs on base, so he was given a save in this situation, but don't think this means he will get more down the road. 22 PC-14 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Pedro Strop (R)âEarned his third hold of the season Sunday after recording the final two outs of the seventh inning. Strop allowed one walk in the appearance, but forced two ground ball outs to end the threat. 10 PC-5 ST (5/5/13)
Boston Red Sox
(CL) Shaky Andrew Bailey (R)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning Sunday in a non-save situation allowing one hit on 13 pitches thrown. With Joel Hanrahan on a rehab assignment, Bailey's time at the closer could be coming to an end, but the team has yet to release who will be their closer, so owners will have to wait patiently to see if he holds any value moving forward. 13 PC-8 ST (4/28/13)
(SU) Joel Hanrahan (R)--Recorded his fourth save of the season Thursday after pitching a scoreless ninth inning allowing just one hit on 14 pitches thrown. With Andrew Bailey unavailable due to a biceps injury, Hanrahan was able to jump right into the closer role and secure the with for the Red Sox, but once Bailey is back to full health expect Hanrahan to be back in the setup role. 14 PC- 9 ST (5/2/13)
(MR) Koji Uehara (R)âPitched a scoreless seventh inning Sunday allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one batter. Uehara has now pitched on consecutive days, so he will likely be unavailable to pitch on Monday. 17 PC-10 ST (5/5/13)Chicago White Sox(CL) Solid Addison Reed (R)âWas charged with his first blown-save of the season Sunday after allowing two runs on one hit and two walks in the ninth inning. This was the first true hiccup by Reed this season, so fantasy owners should not look too much into this outing as he should be able to rebound from this appearance. 24 PC-12 ST (5/5/13)
(SU) Matt Thornton (L)âEarned his ninth hold of the season Sunday after recording the first out of the seventh inning. Thornton allowed one hit in the appearance before striking out one batter, which was his second appearance in as many days. 7 PC-4 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Jesse Crain (R)âPicked up his eighth hold of the season Sunday after pitching a scoreless eighth inning. Crain allowed one hit in the appearance, but was able to work through the appearance by forcing two fly ball outs and one strikeout to get the job done without making it interesting. 15 PC-9 ST (5/5/13)
Cleveland Indians
(CL) Solid Chris Perez (R)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning Saturday in a non-save situation allowing one walk while striking out one batter. Perez has now pitched back-to-back days, but has only pitched two innings over the last week, so there is a good chance the Indians decide to use him in a save situation arises. 22 PC-12 ST (5/4/13)
(SU) Vinnie Pestano (R)âPitched one inning of relief in Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader allowing one run on one hit and two walks. The run allowed did not change the game at all, considering the Indians where up by so much, but it would have been nice to see a clean outing from him, since he last pitched on April 22. (4/28/13)
(MR) Bryan Shaw (R)âEarned his first hold of the season Saturday after pitching a scoreless seventh inning allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one batter. Shaw got himself into a jam, but worked through it, forcing one ground ball out and one fly ball out to secure the Indians lead. 18 PC-9 ST (5/4/13)Detroit Tigers(CL) Solid Jose Valverde (R)âCollected his third save in as many tries this season Friday night after pitching a scoreless ninth inning allowing one walk while striking out one batter. Since returning to the team Valverde has been dominant, flashing signs of his 2011 dominance, and should have no problem holding onto the job moving forward considering his competition. 19 PC-11 ST (5/3/13)
(SU) Joaquin Benoit (R)âPitched two innings of relief Thursday allowing one walk while striking out three batters. With the game moving into extra innings, the Tigers decided to stretch out Benoit, who usually only pitched one inning or less per outing, and it didn't turn out bad considering he only faced seven batters. 32 PC-20 ST (5/2/13)
(MR)  Al Alburquerque (R)--Pitched one inning of relief on Saturday night allowing one run on three hits while striking out two batters. The Tigers had a 16 run lead before Alburquerque entered the game, so it wasn't like this poor outing was going to cost them the game or anything. 21 PC-16 ST (5/4/13)
Injuredâ Octavio Dotel (Shoulder), Phil Coke (Groin)
Houston Astros
(CL) Shaky Jose Veras (R)âTook the loss and was charged with his second blown-save of the season Friday night after allowing two runs on one hit and one walk in the ninth inning. Veras had been pitching well as of late, but this is a big step backwards, and despite having the closer role, he isn't really worth owning outside of deep leagues. 21 PC-12 ST (5/3/13)
(SU) Rhiner Cruz (R)âPitched a scoreless eighth inning Tuesday night allowing two hits while striking out one batter. Cruz got himself into a jam, but worked through it to keep the Yankees lead within reach. 14 PC-10 ST (4/30/13)
(MR) Wesley Wright (L)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning on Sunday in a non-save situation allowing two hits on 15 pitches thrown. Wright has been one of the better relievers for the Astros this season, which isn't saying much, and if there was to be a change in the depth chart, Wright may be worth monitoring in NL-Only formats and deep mixed leagues. 15 PC-10 ST (5/5/13)
InjuredâJosh Fields  (Forearm)
Kansas City Royals
(CL) Solid Greg Holland (R)âPicked up the win on Sunday after pitching a scoreless 10th inning retiring all three batters he faced in order. Holland has settled down nicely since his early season struggles, and fantasy owners should have no worries as to whether or not he will hold onto the job moving forward. 14 PC-8 ST (5/5/13)
(SU) Kelvin Herrera (R)âPitched a scoreless eighth inning Tuesday night allowing one hit while striking out one batter. Herrera has now pitched back-to-back days, and three of the last four, so don't expect to see him pitch on Wednesday. 19 PC-12 ST (4/30/13)
(MR) Aaron Crow (R)âPitched one inning of relief on Sunday allowing a solo-home run to Alejandro De Aza in the seventh inning. The run allowed by Crow was the first by the Royals reliever this season, and the first since September 29 of 2012. 12 PC-10 ST (5/5/13)
Los Angeles Angels
(CL) Shaky Ernesto Frieri (R)âWas used in a non-save situation on Saturday striking out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning. The stuff is definitely there, but Frieri has just four saves on the season, so his skill set has yet to translate into much fantasy success, but that should change once the Angels turn their season around. 15 PC-11 ST (5/4/13)
(SU) Sean Burnett (L)âPicked up his third hold of the season Friday after recording the final two outs of the sixth inning. He needed only 10 pitches to get the job done, forcing one ground ball out and one fly ball out, as he continues to be the best bridge between the Angels starters and Ernesto Frieri. 10 PC-5 ST (4/26/13)
(MR) Scott Downs (L)âPitched a scoreless seventh inning Sunday retiring all three batters he faced in order. Considering how inconsistent Downs has been this season, it is hard to recommend using him in holds leagues, but the Angles will turn their season around eventually, which will increase his fantasy value. 12 PC-6 ST (5/5/13)
Injured:  Ryan Madson (Elbow)Minnesota Twins(CL) Solid Glen Perkins (L)âCollected his seventh save of the season Sunday despite allowing a solo-home run to Carlos Santana in the ninth inning. Perkins has now allowed three runs over his last three appearances, which should draw some concern, but at least he was able to work through this appearance and seal the win for the Twins without surrendering any more runs. 20 PC-14 ST (5/5/13)
(SU) Jared Burton (R)âPicked up his sixth hold of the season Sunday after pitching a 1-2-3 eighth inning. Burton has been great so far this season, and if Glen Perkins' struggles continue, there is a chance Burton could see some save chances at some point this season. 13 PC-7 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Casey Fien (R)âTook the loss Friday after allowing one run on two hits between the ninth and 10th innings. With this appearance Fien falls to 1-2 on the season, and should be considered a fringe fantasy player for those in holds leagues. 20 PC-12 ST (5/3/13)New York Yankees(CL) Elite Mariano Rivera (R)âWas used in a non-save situation on Saturday, after Shawn Kelley was unable to record an out in the ninth inning. Rivera allowed one run on one hit and one walk but was able to hold onto the Yankees slim lead to secure a victory for Phil Hughes, who pitched eight scoreless innings. 17 PC-11 ST (5/4/13)
(SU) David Robertson (R)âPicked up his fifth hold of the season Wednesday after pitching a 1-2-3 eighth inning. Robertson limped off the mound after twisting his ankle on during his appearance, but is expected to be available on Friday. 12 PC-9 ST (5/1/13)
(MR) Boone Logan (R)âTook the loss Sunday after allowing one run on three hits in the eighth inning. The big blow came via a Josh Donaldson home run, which gave the Athletics the lead, which ended up forcing the Yankees to take a two-to-three series loss this weekend. 16 PC-10 ST (5/5/13)Oakland Athletics(CL) Solid Grant Balfour (R)âCollected his fifth save Sunday after pitching a scoreless ninth inning allowing one hit and one walk while striking out two batters. Balfour got himself into a jam, but was able to get the job done to take two of the three games in the Bronx. 24 PC-13 ST (5/5/13)
(SU) Ryan Cook (R)âEarned his fourth hold of the season Sunday after pitching a scoreless eighth inning allowing two hits while striking out one batter. Cooke needed only 13 pitches to work through the inning, forcing one ground ball out and one fly ball out to go along with his strikeout to get the job done. 13 PC-11 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Sean Doolittle (L)âPicked up the win Sunday after pitching a scoreless seventh inning retiring all three batters he faced in order. Doolittle has been one of the best left-handed relievers in the American League thus far, and is now 2-0 on the season. 10 PC_7 ST (5/5/13)Seattle Mariners(CL) Solid Tom Wilhelmsen (R)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning Friday night allowing one hit in a non-save situation. Wilhelmsen has been dynamite this season, limiting his pitch counts and base runners, as he continues to emerge as one of the best closers in the American League. 19 PC11 ST (5/3/13)
(SU) Carter Capps (R)âPitched 1.2 innings of relief Wednesday allowing one run on three hits while striking out two batters. Capps has struggled this season with his location, and in this contest that resulted in a Manny Muchado solo-home run in the eighth inning, but it did not become a deciding factor, considering the Mariners big lead. 29 PC-19 ST (5/1/13)
(MR) Charlie Furbush (L)âRecorded the final out of the eighth inning Wednesday forcing the only batter he faced to strike out on just four pitches thrown. Furbush hadn't pitched since last Friday, so the team decided to used him to force a lefty on lefty matchup, which he ended up winnings with ease. 4 PC-3 ST (5/1/13)InjuredâStephen Pryor (back)Tampa Bay Rays(CL) Solid Fernando Rodney (R)âRecorded his fourth save of the season Friday night after pitching a scoreless 10th inning. Rodney made it interesting, allowing two base runners, but he worked out of the jam to seal the victory for the Rays. 21 PC-16 ST (5/3/13)
(SU) Joel Peralta (R)âPitched a scoreless eighth inning Sunday allowing two hits on 15 pitches thrown. Peralta got himself into a jam, but was able to force two fly ball outs and strike out one batter to get through the appearance, continuing his hot start. 15 PC-13 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Jake McGee (L)âCollected his fourth hold of the season Sunday after striking out the only batter he faced in the seventh inning. McGee has struggled immensely this season, but he has the tools to be a fantasy asset for those in holds leagues, so hopefully he can keep going in the right direction. 5 PC-3 ST (5/5/13)
Texas Rangers
(CL) Elite Joe Nathan (R)âPicked up the win on Sunday after pitching a scoreless ninth inning in a non-save situation allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one batter. Nathan got himself into some trouble in a tied ballgame, but was able to work around the two base runners and seal the sweep for the Rangers. 23 PC-13 ST (5/5/13)
(SU) Tanner Scheppers (R)âPicked up his sixth hold of the season Saturday after pitching 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Scheppers has turned into a great setup man for Joe Nathan this season, and should now be universally owned in holds leagues, considering he has allowed just one earned-run all season. 11 PC-5 ST (5/4/13)
(MR) Jason Frasor (R)âForced the only batter he faced in the eighth inning to ground out on five pitches thrown in a tied ballgame. Frasor has pitched only 1.1 innings over the last five days, so expect him to be available out of the bullpen on Monday. 5 PC-3 ST (5/5/13)
Injuredâ Joakim Soria (Elbow)Toronto Blue Jays(CL) Solid Casey Janssen (R)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning Friday night in a non-save situation retiring all three batters he faced in order. Janssen needed only nine pitches to force three fly ball outs in this contests, and is now sitting on a 0.90 earned-run average through 10 innings of work this season. 9 PC-5 ST (5/3/13)
(SU) Steve Delabar (R)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning Sunday in a non-save situation retiring all three batters he faced in order. Delabar needed only 14 pitches to get through the appearance, which should have been easy, considering the Blue Jays had a eight-run lead, as he continues to be one of the most dominant middle relievers that no one knows about. 14 PC-10 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Esmil Rogers (R)âPitched a scoreless seventh inning Friday night retiring all three batters he faced in order. Rogers has now pitched three consecutive days and will likely be unavailable to pitch on Saturday, so plan accordingly. 10 PC-8 ST (5/3/13)
Injuredâ Sergio Santos (Triceps)Continue to Page 2 to view the National League Bullpen Report...
National League Bullpen ReportArizona Diamondbacks(CL) Shaky J.J. Putz (R)âTook the loss on Tuesday night after blowing his fourth save of the season after allowing a game-winning home run to Pablo Sandoval in the ninth inning. Putz has been far from consistent this season, and with both David Hernandez and Heath Bell lurking, his days as the team's closer could be numbered if he continues down this road. 13 PC-9 ST (4/30/13)
(SU) David Hernandez (R)âPitched a scoreless eighth inning Sunday allowing one walk while striking out one batter. Hernandez is the likely candidate to take over the closer role if J.J. Putz was to continue slipping, so those who have the room to stash him, it would be wise to do so at this point. 20 PC-12 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Heath Bell (R)âPitched 1.2 innings of relief on Saturday night retiring all five batters he faced in order. Bell struck out two batters while forcing three ground ball outs in this appearance, which nice to see considering his last outing resulted in two runs allowed and a Diamondbacks loss. 18 PC-12 ST (5/4/13)
Atlanta Braves
(CL) Elite Craig Kimbrel (R)âWas charged with his second blown-save of the season Friday night after allowing one run on one hit in the ninth inning. The big blow came via a David Wright solo-home run, which sent the game in the extra innings and was Kimbrel third run allowed over his last three innings of relief. 17 PC-12 ST (5/3/13)
(SU) Eric OâFlaherty (R)âEarned his ninth hold of the season Sunday after recording the final out of the eighth inning. O'Flaherty allowed a walk to the first batter he faced in the appearance, but was able to get through the appearance by striking out the second batter he faced to get the job done. 12 PC-5 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Jordan Walden (R)âTook the loss on Friday after allowing two runs on one hit and one walk in the 10th inning. Walden has now pitched back-to-back days and will likely get the  day off on Saturday to clear his head, so those using him in holds leagues should plan accordingly. 29 PC-17 ST (5/3/13)
Injuredâ Jonny Venters (Elbow)
Chicago Cubs
(CL) Shaky Kevin Gregg (R)--Pitched a scoreless ninth inning on Friday in a non-save situation allowing one walk while striking out one batter. Gregg has emerged as the Cubs closer in the absence of Kyuji Fujikawa, and has yet to allow an earned-run through his first 6.1 innings of relief. 10 PC-4 ST (5/3/13)
(SU) Carlos Marmol (R)--Pitched a scoreless sixth inning on Sunday retiring all three batters he faced in order. Marmol has now pitched back-to-back days and will likely be unavailable on Monday when the Rangers come to town. 11 PC-7 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Shawn Camp (R)âPitched one inning of relief Sunday allowing two runs on one hit and two walks. After a good start to the season Camp has regressed immensely and should not even be considered in deep mixed leagues that count holds as a category. 20 PC-10 ST (5/5/13)
InjuredâKyuji Fujikawa (Forearm)Cincinnati Reds(CL) Elite Aroldis Chapman (L)âCollected his seventh save of the season Saturday after pitching a scoreless ninth inning, one day after failing to get out of the ninth frame. Chapman appeared to have put that rough outing behind him, but has now pitched-back-to-back days and will likely be unavailable on Sunday. 19 PC-10 ST (5/4/13)
(SU) Jonathan Broxton (R)âEarned his fourth hold of the season Saturday after pitching a 1-2-3 eighth inning needing only 12 pitches to retire the side. Broxton has now pitched back-to-back days and will likely be given the day off on Sunday, so owners in holds leagues should plan accordingly. 12 PC-7 ST (5/4/13)
(MR) Sean Marshall (L)--Earned his fourth hold of the season Sunday after pitching a scoreless eighth inning. Since returning from the disabled list, Marshall has allowed only one hit and one walk over four appearances, and has yet to allow an earned-run this season. 12 PC-7 ST (5/5/13)Colorado Rockies(CL) Solid Rafael Betancourt (R)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning on Wednesday in a non-save situation retiring all three batters he faced in order. Despite a big lead, the Rockies decided to go with Betancourt to seal the victory considering he hadn't pitched in a game since last Friday, so this was just a scheduled tune up. 21 PC-15 ST (5/1/13)
(SU) Rex Brothers (L)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning on Friday night in a non-save situation allowing one walk while striking out one batter. Brothers is off to a great start this season, and is currently sitting on a 0.63 earned-run average as the Rockies primary setup man. 21 PC-12 ST (5/3/13)
(MR) Wilton Lopez (R)âPitched two scoreless innings of relief on Saturday night allowing two hits and one walk on 26 pitches thrown. Lopez has now pitched three innings over the last two days and will likely be unavailable on Sunday. 26 PC-16 ST (5/4/13)Los Angeles Dodgers(CL) Shaky Brandon League (R)âTook the loss on Saturday night after allowing one run on two hits and two walks in 1.1 innings of relief. League has struggled as of late, and this appearances puts the icing on the cake, so don't be surprised if there is a change in the bullpen depth chart with another outing like this one. 26 PC-15 ST (5/4/13)
(SU) Kenley Jansen (R)âPitched a scoreless eighth inning Sunday night striking out the side on just 15 pitches thrown. Jansen's strikeouts have been down this season, but Sunday he proved to those holding onto him in the anticipation of him taking over the closer role that he is the best reliever in the Dodgers bullpen. 15 PC-11 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Ronald Belisario (R)âPitched two innings of relief on Saturday night allowing one run on two hits while striking out one batter. Belisario has now pitched back-to-back nights and will likely get the day off on Sunday. 25 PC-19 ST (5/4/13)Miami Marlins(CL) Shaky Steve Cishek (R)âRecorded his fourth save of the season Saturday after pitching a scoreless ninth inning allowing one hit while striking out two batters. Cishek has been shaky at best over his last few appearances, allowing four base runners in his last three innings of work, but escaped unharmed in this one to secure a rare victory for the Marlins. 24 PC-14 ST (5/4/13)
(SU) Mike Dunn (L)âEarned his fifth hold of the season after pitching a scoreless eighth inning retiring all three batters he faced in order. There isn't much to talk about in Miami these days, but Dunn has been great this season as the team's primary setup man and could be in line to receive save chances down the road with the early season struggles of Steve Cishek. 14 PC-9 ST (5/4/13)
(MR) Jon Rauch (R)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning Sunday in a non-save situation allowing only one hit on nine pitches thrown. After pitching three innings in last Monday's extra inning game, Rauch has only been used for two innings since, so he will likely be available to pitch when the Marlins travel to San Diego. 9 PC-6 ST (5/5/13)Milwaukee Brewers(CL) Solid Jim Henderson (R)âTook the loss on Saturday after allowing one run on two hits and one walk in the ninth inning. With this appearance Henderson falls to 2-1 on the season, with the earned-run allowed being just the second run he has allowed on the season thus far. 24 PC-14 ST (5/4/13)
(MR) John Axford (R)âPitched 0.1 innings of relief on Sunday allowing one run on two hits and two walks. After talks about Axford regaining the closer role, he was allowed four runs over two innings of relief, so it is highly unlikely that the team will consider making a switch anytime soon. 21 PC-8 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Michael Gonzalez (L)âPitched a scoreless seventh inning Sunday retiring all three batters he faced in order. Gonzalez looked sharp in this appearance, striking out two batters while forcing one ground ball out, and could start to see time in the setup role if John Axford's struggles continue. 13 PC-9 ST (5/5/13)New York Mets(CL) Shaky Bobby Parnell (R)âPicked up the win Friday night after recording the final two outs of the ninth inning in a tied ball game. With the latest news on Francisco being negative, it appears Parnell will have at least another month or so in the closer role, if not longer, so fantasy owners should not panic until we hear more on the health of his competition. 14 PC-9 ST (5/3/13)
(SU) Brandon Lyon (R)âPitched a scoreless seventh inning Sunday night allowing one hit while striking out one batter. He needed 20 pitches to get through the appearance, forcing two ground ball outs to go along with his one strikeout to get the job done. 20 PC-12 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) LaTroy Hawkins (R)--Pitched 1.2 innings of relief on Friday allowing one hit while striking out two batters. With Shaun Marcum on a strict pitch count, the Mets needed Hawkins in the fifth inning, which is a lot earlier than he is used to, but he was able to get the job done and not allow any runs. 13 PC-10 ST (5/3/13)
Injuredâ Frank Francisco (Elbow)Philadelphia Phillies(CL) Elite Jonathan Papelbon (R)âRecorded his fifth save of the season Friday night after pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Papelbon has now pitched back-to-back days, but has thrown just 20 pitches between those two contests, so there is no reason to think that he will be unavailable on Saturday. 13 PC-9 ST (5/3/13)
(SU) Mike Adams (R)âEarned his third hold of the season Friday pitching a scoreless eighth inning allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one batter. Adams has now pitched back-to-back days, but considering his low pitch counts in those contests, he should be available on Saturday. 13 PC-8 ST (5/3/13)
(MR) Antonio Bastardo (L)âEarned his fourth hold of the season Friday night after recording the final two outs of the seventh inning. Bastardo made it interesting by allowing two walks, but struck out two batters to get himself out of the jam, pitching for the first time since last Sunday. 24 PC-11 ST (5/3/13)Pittsburgh Pirates(CL) Elite Jason Grilli (R)âRecorded his 12th save of the season Friday night after pitching a scoreless ninth inning allowing one hit while striking out three batters. Grilli continued his dominance in the ninth inning this this contest, and now has five strikeouts over his last three innings of work. 18 PC-12 ST (5/3/13)
(SU) Mark Melancon (R)âEarned his 11th hold of the season Friday after pitching yet another scoreless eighth frame. Melancon allowed one hit while striking out two batters, lowering his earned-run average to 0.56 through 16 innings in his first season with the Pirates. 22 PC-17 ST (5/3/13)
(MR) Jose Contreras (R)--Pitched a scoreless seventh inning Sunday in his first appearance this season allowing one hit while striking out one batter. Contreras looked sharp in his season debut, but should only be owned in deep mixed leagues that count holds as a category. 14 PC-10 ST (5/5/13)San Diego Padres(CL) Solid Huston Street (R)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning Sunday in a non-save situation retiring all three batters he faced in order. He struck out two batters while forcing one ground ball out to seal the victory for the Padres. 16 PC-11 ST (5/5/13)
(SU) Luke Gregerson (R)âPitched a scoreless eighth inning Sunday retiring all three batters he faced in order. Gregerson struck out two batters while forcing one ground ball out needing only 12 pitches to get the job done. 12 PC-9 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Dale Thayer (R)âEarned his fifth hold of the season Friday night after pitching a 1-2-3 seventh inning. The combination of Thayer in the seventh, Gregerson in the eighth and Street in the ninth has turned into one of the better 1-2-3 punches in the National League as all three are off to good starts. 11 PC-7 ST (5/3/13)San Francisco Giants(CL) Elite Sergio Romo (R)âCollected his 12th save of the season Sunday night after a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Romo forced three fly ball outs in the appearance on 12 pitches thrown, and is now tied with Jason Grilli for the most saves in the National League. 12 PC-7 ST (5/5/13)
(SU) Santiago Casilla (R)âEarned the win Saturday night after pitching the final two innings of a tied ball game. Casilla has now pitched back-to-back nights, and two of the last three days, so don't expect him to be available when the Giants try to sweep the Dodgers on Sunday. 36 PC-21 ST (5/4/13)
(MR) Javier Lopez (L)â Was used to face one batter in the eighth inning, forcing a strikeout on six pitches thrown. Lopez has now been used in back-to-back  games, but both times being short stints, so he should be available Monday when the Giants open their series with the Phillies.
St. Louis Cardinals
(CL) Shaky Edward Mujica (R)âEarned his eighth save of the season Saturday after pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Mujica has now converted all eight of his save chances this season, and with the latest news on Jason Motte, he is in no danger of losing the closer role anytime soon. 17 PC-13 ST (5/4/13)
(SU) Trevor Rosenthal (R)--Collected his eighth hold of the season Friday after pitching 1.1 innings of relief, allowing one run (unearned) on two hits. Rosenthal has now pitched back-to-back days, but with Edward Mujica likely unavailable Friday, he could be in line to earn a spot-save if the Cardinals don't decide to use a different plan. 28 PC-20 ST (5/2/13)
(MR) Fernando Salas (R)--Picked up his second hold of the season Saturday after pitching 0.2 innings of relief allowing one run on two hits. He was asked to get the final two outs of the seventh inning, and did so, just not in orderly fashion. 11 PC-9 ST (5/4/13)
Injuredâ Jason Motte (Elbow)Washington Nationals(CL) Elite Rafael Soriano (R)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning Sunday in a non-save situation allowing one hit in the appearance. Soriano has now pitched back-to-back days, but with a scheduled day off on Monday Soriano will be ready to go for the Nationals in their next game on Tuesday. 19 PC-13 ST (5/5/13)
(SU) Drew Storen (R)âEarned his fifth hold of the season Sunday after pitching a 1-2-3 seventh inning needing only 14 pitches to get the job done. This was Storen's first appearance since Monday, so look for him to be used heavily over the next few days if needed. 14 PC-10 ST (5/5/13)
(SU) Tyler Clippard (R)âPicked a scoreless eighth inning on Sunday retiring all three batters he faced in order. He struck out one batter in the appearance while forcing two fly ball outs on just nine pitches thrown in his second consecutive day of service. 9 PC-6 ST (5/5/13)Matthew Beck is a Fantasy Sports Columnist for Rotoinfo.com. If you have any questions or comments feel free to e-mail him at matthewbeck@rotoinfo.com. Also follow him on Twitter @MatthewRBeck for up-to-date Q&A and fantasy information. And, to make setting your Fantasy Baseball lineup easy, be sure to And, to utilize RotoInfo.comâs new MLB Lineup Grids.
American League Bullpen ReportBaltimore Orioles(CL) Solid Jim Johnson (R)âEarned his 11th save of the season Saturday after pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning forcing one ground ball out and two fly ball outs to get the job done. Johnson was able to bound back nicely from his last outing when he allowed an earned-run, so anyone who thought he would spiral into a slump was badly mistaken. 11 PC-8 ST (5/4/13)
(SU) Darren OâDay (R)âCollected his first save of the season Sunday after recording the final four outs of the game. Despite having a four-run lead, O'Day entered the ball game with the tying runs on base, so he was given a save in this situation, but don't think this means he will get more down the road. 22 PC-14 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Pedro Strop (R)âEarned his third hold of the season Sunday after recording the final two outs of the seventh inning. Strop allowed one walk in the appearance, but forced two ground ball outs to end the threat. 10 PC-5 ST (5/5/13)
Boston Red Sox
(CL) Shaky Andrew Bailey (R)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning Sunday in a non-save situation allowing one hit on 13 pitches thrown. With Joel Hanrahan on a rehab assignment, Bailey's time at the closer could be coming to an end, but the team has yet to release who will be their closer, so owners will have to wait patiently to see if he holds any value moving forward. 13 PC-8 ST (4/28/13)
(SU) Joel Hanrahan (R)--Recorded his fourth save of the season Thursday after pitching a scoreless ninth inning allowing just one hit on 14 pitches thrown. With Andrew Bailey unavailable due to a biceps injury, Hanrahan was able to jump right into the closer role and secure the with for the Red Sox, but once Bailey is back to full health expect Hanrahan to be back in the setup role. 14 PC- 9 ST (5/2/13)
(MR) Koji Uehara (R)âPitched a scoreless seventh inning Sunday allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one batter. Uehara has now pitched on consecutive days, so he will likely be unavailable to pitch on Monday. 17 PC-10 ST (5/5/13)Chicago White Sox(CL) Solid Addison Reed (R)âWas charged with his first blown-save of the season Sunday after allowing two runs on one hit and two walks in the ninth inning. This was the first true hiccup by Reed this season, so fantasy owners should not look too much into this outing as he should be able to rebound from this appearance. 24 PC-12 ST (5/5/13)
(SU) Matt Thornton (L)âEarned his ninth hold of the season Sunday after recording the first out of the seventh inning. Thornton allowed one hit in the appearance before striking out one batter, which was his second appearance in as many days. 7 PC-4 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Jesse Crain (R)âPicked up his eighth hold of the season Sunday after pitching a scoreless eighth inning. Crain allowed one hit in the appearance, but was able to work through the appearance by forcing two fly ball outs and one strikeout to get the job done without making it interesting. 15 PC-9 ST (5/5/13)
Cleveland Indians
(CL) Solid Chris Perez (R)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning Saturday in a non-save situation allowing one walk while striking out one batter. Perez has now pitched back-to-back days, but has only pitched two innings over the last week, so there is a good chance the Indians decide to use him in a save situation arises. 22 PC-12 ST (5/4/13)
(SU) Vinnie Pestano (R)âPitched one inning of relief in Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader allowing one run on one hit and two walks. The run allowed did not change the game at all, considering the Indians where up by so much, but it would have been nice to see a clean outing from him, since he last pitched on April 22. (4/28/13)
(MR) Bryan Shaw (R)âEarned his first hold of the season Saturday after pitching a scoreless seventh inning allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one batter. Shaw got himself into a jam, but worked through it, forcing one ground ball out and one fly ball out to secure the Indians lead. 18 PC-9 ST (5/4/13)Detroit Tigers(CL) Solid Jose Valverde (R)âCollected his third save in as many tries this season Friday night after pitching a scoreless ninth inning allowing one walk while striking out one batter. Since returning to the team Valverde has been dominant, flashing signs of his 2011 dominance, and should have no problem holding onto the job moving forward considering his competition. 19 PC-11 ST (5/3/13)
(SU) Joaquin Benoit (R)âPitched two innings of relief Thursday allowing one walk while striking out three batters. With the game moving into extra innings, the Tigers decided to stretch out Benoit, who usually only pitched one inning or less per outing, and it didn't turn out bad considering he only faced seven batters. 32 PC-20 ST (5/2/13)
(MR)  Al Alburquerque (R)--Pitched one inning of relief on Saturday night allowing one run on three hits while striking out two batters. The Tigers had a 16 run lead before Alburquerque entered the game, so it wasn't like this poor outing was going to cost them the game or anything. 21 PC-16 ST (5/4/13)
Injuredâ Octavio Dotel (Shoulder), Phil Coke (Groin)
Houston Astros
(CL) Shaky Jose Veras (R)âTook the loss and was charged with his second blown-save of the season Friday night after allowing two runs on one hit and one walk in the ninth inning. Veras had been pitching well as of late, but this is a big step backwards, and despite having the closer role, he isn't really worth owning outside of deep leagues. 21 PC-12 ST (5/3/13)
(SU) Rhiner Cruz (R)âPitched a scoreless eighth inning Tuesday night allowing two hits while striking out one batter. Cruz got himself into a jam, but worked through it to keep the Yankees lead within reach. 14 PC-10 ST (4/30/13)
(MR) Wesley Wright (L)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning on Sunday in a non-save situation allowing two hits on 15 pitches thrown. Wright has been one of the better relievers for the Astros this season, which isn't saying much, and if there was to be a change in the depth chart, Wright may be worth monitoring in NL-Only formats and deep mixed leagues. 15 PC-10 ST (5/5/13)
InjuredâJosh Fields  (Forearm)
Kansas City Royals
(CL) Solid Greg Holland (R)âPicked up the win on Sunday after pitching a scoreless 10th inning retiring all three batters he faced in order. Holland has settled down nicely since his early season struggles, and fantasy owners should have no worries as to whether or not he will hold onto the job moving forward. 14 PC-8 ST (5/5/13)
(SU) Kelvin Herrera (R)âPitched a scoreless eighth inning Tuesday night allowing one hit while striking out one batter. Herrera has now pitched back-to-back days, and three of the last four, so don't expect to see him pitch on Wednesday. 19 PC-12 ST (4/30/13)
(MR) Aaron Crow (R)âPitched one inning of relief on Sunday allowing a solo-home run to Alejandro De Aza in the seventh inning. The run allowed by Crow was the first by the Royals reliever this season, and the first since September 29 of 2012. 12 PC-10 ST (5/5/13)
Los Angeles Angels
(CL) Shaky Ernesto Frieri (R)âWas used in a non-save situation on Saturday striking out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning. The stuff is definitely there, but Frieri has just four saves on the season, so his skill set has yet to translate into much fantasy success, but that should change once the Angels turn their season around. 15 PC-11 ST (5/4/13)
(SU) Sean Burnett (L)âPicked up his third hold of the season Friday after recording the final two outs of the sixth inning. He needed only 10 pitches to get the job done, forcing one ground ball out and one fly ball out, as he continues to be the best bridge between the Angels starters and Ernesto Frieri. 10 PC-5 ST (4/26/13)
(MR) Scott Downs (L)âPitched a scoreless seventh inning Sunday retiring all three batters he faced in order. Considering how inconsistent Downs has been this season, it is hard to recommend using him in holds leagues, but the Angles will turn their season around eventually, which will increase his fantasy value. 12 PC-6 ST (5/5/13)
Injured:  Ryan Madson (Elbow)Minnesota Twins(CL) Solid Glen Perkins (L)âCollected his seventh save of the season Sunday despite allowing a solo-home run to Carlos Santana in the ninth inning. Perkins has now allowed three runs over his last three appearances, which should draw some concern, but at least he was able to work through this appearance and seal the win for the Twins without surrendering any more runs. 20 PC-14 ST (5/5/13)
(SU) Jared Burton (R)âPicked up his sixth hold of the season Sunday after pitching a 1-2-3 eighth inning. Burton has been great so far this season, and if Glen Perkins' struggles continue, there is a chance Burton could see some save chances at some point this season. 13 PC-7 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Casey Fien (R)âTook the loss Friday after allowing one run on two hits between the ninth and 10th innings. With this appearance Fien falls to 1-2 on the season, and should be considered a fringe fantasy player for those in holds leagues. 20 PC-12 ST (5/3/13)New York Yankees(CL) Elite Mariano Rivera (R)âWas used in a non-save situation on Saturday, after Shawn Kelley was unable to record an out in the ninth inning. Rivera allowed one run on one hit and one walk but was able to hold onto the Yankees slim lead to secure a victory for Phil Hughes, who pitched eight scoreless innings. 17 PC-11 ST (5/4/13)
(SU) David Robertson (R)âPicked up his fifth hold of the season Wednesday after pitching a 1-2-3 eighth inning. Robertson limped off the mound after twisting his ankle on during his appearance, but is expected to be available on Friday. 12 PC-9 ST (5/1/13)
(MR) Boone Logan (R)âTook the loss Sunday after allowing one run on three hits in the eighth inning. The big blow came via a Josh Donaldson home run, which gave the Athletics the lead, which ended up forcing the Yankees to take a two-to-three series loss this weekend. 16 PC-10 ST (5/5/13)Oakland Athletics(CL) Solid Grant Balfour (R)âCollected his fifth save Sunday after pitching a scoreless ninth inning allowing one hit and one walk while striking out two batters. Balfour got himself into a jam, but was able to get the job done to take two of the three games in the Bronx. 24 PC-13 ST (5/5/13)
(SU) Ryan Cook (R)âEarned his fourth hold of the season Sunday after pitching a scoreless eighth inning allowing two hits while striking out one batter. Cooke needed only 13 pitches to work through the inning, forcing one ground ball out and one fly ball out to go along with his strikeout to get the job done. 13 PC-11 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Sean Doolittle (L)âPicked up the win Sunday after pitching a scoreless seventh inning retiring all three batters he faced in order. Doolittle has been one of the best left-handed relievers in the American League thus far, and is now 2-0 on the season. 10 PC_7 ST (5/5/13)Seattle Mariners(CL) Solid Tom Wilhelmsen (R)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning Friday night allowing one hit in a non-save situation. Wilhelmsen has been dynamite this season, limiting his pitch counts and base runners, as he continues to emerge as one of the best closers in the American League. 19 PC11 ST (5/3/13)
(SU) Carter Capps (R)âPitched 1.2 innings of relief Wednesday allowing one run on three hits while striking out two batters. Capps has struggled this season with his location, and in this contest that resulted in a Manny Muchado solo-home run in the eighth inning, but it did not become a deciding factor, considering the Mariners big lead. 29 PC-19 ST (5/1/13)
(MR) Charlie Furbush (L)âRecorded the final out of the eighth inning Wednesday forcing the only batter he faced to strike out on just four pitches thrown. Furbush hadn't pitched since last Friday, so the team decided to used him to force a lefty on lefty matchup, which he ended up winnings with ease. 4 PC-3 ST (5/1/13)InjuredâStephen Pryor (back)Tampa Bay Rays(CL) Solid Fernando Rodney (R)âRecorded his fourth save of the season Friday night after pitching a scoreless 10th inning. Rodney made it interesting, allowing two base runners, but he worked out of the jam to seal the victory for the Rays. 21 PC-16 ST (5/3/13)
(SU) Joel Peralta (R)âPitched a scoreless eighth inning Sunday allowing two hits on 15 pitches thrown. Peralta got himself into a jam, but was able to force two fly ball outs and strike out one batter to get through the appearance, continuing his hot start. 15 PC-13 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Jake McGee (L)âCollected his fourth hold of the season Sunday after striking out the only batter he faced in the seventh inning. McGee has struggled immensely this season, but he has the tools to be a fantasy asset for those in holds leagues, so hopefully he can keep going in the right direction. 5 PC-3 ST (5/5/13)
Texas Rangers
(CL) Elite Joe Nathan (R)âPicked up the win on Sunday after pitching a scoreless ninth inning in a non-save situation allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one batter. Nathan got himself into some trouble in a tied ballgame, but was able to work around the two base runners and seal the sweep for the Rangers. 23 PC-13 ST (5/5/13)
(SU) Tanner Scheppers (R)âPicked up his sixth hold of the season Saturday after pitching 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Scheppers has turned into a great setup man for Joe Nathan this season, and should now be universally owned in holds leagues, considering he has allowed just one earned-run all season. 11 PC-5 ST (5/4/13)
(MR) Jason Frasor (R)âForced the only batter he faced in the eighth inning to ground out on five pitches thrown in a tied ballgame. Frasor has pitched only 1.1 innings over the last five days, so expect him to be available out of the bullpen on Monday. 5 PC-3 ST (5/5/13)
Injuredâ Joakim Soria (Elbow)Toronto Blue Jays(CL) Solid Casey Janssen (R)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning Friday night in a non-save situation retiring all three batters he faced in order. Janssen needed only nine pitches to force three fly ball outs in this contests, and is now sitting on a 0.90 earned-run average through 10 innings of work this season. 9 PC-5 ST (5/3/13)
(SU) Steve Delabar (R)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning Sunday in a non-save situation retiring all three batters he faced in order. Delabar needed only 14 pitches to get through the appearance, which should have been easy, considering the Blue Jays had a eight-run lead, as he continues to be one of the most dominant middle relievers that no one knows about. 14 PC-10 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Esmil Rogers (R)âPitched a scoreless seventh inning Friday night retiring all three batters he faced in order. Rogers has now pitched three consecutive days and will likely be unavailable to pitch on Saturday, so plan accordingly. 10 PC-8 ST (5/3/13)
Injuredâ Sergio Santos (Triceps)Continue to Page 2 to view the National League Bullpen Report...
National League Bullpen ReportArizona Diamondbacks(CL) Shaky J.J. Putz (R)âTook the loss on Tuesday night after blowing his fourth save of the season after allowing a game-winning home run to Pablo Sandoval in the ninth inning. Putz has been far from consistent this season, and with both David Hernandez and Heath Bell lurking, his days as the team's closer could be numbered if he continues down this road. 13 PC-9 ST (4/30/13)
(SU) David Hernandez (R)âPitched a scoreless eighth inning Sunday allowing one walk while striking out one batter. Hernandez is the likely candidate to take over the closer role if J.J. Putz was to continue slipping, so those who have the room to stash him, it would be wise to do so at this point. 20 PC-12 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Heath Bell (R)âPitched 1.2 innings of relief on Saturday night retiring all five batters he faced in order. Bell struck out two batters while forcing three ground ball outs in this appearance, which nice to see considering his last outing resulted in two runs allowed and a Diamondbacks loss. 18 PC-12 ST (5/4/13)
Atlanta Braves
(CL) Elite Craig Kimbrel (R)âWas charged with his second blown-save of the season Friday night after allowing one run on one hit in the ninth inning. The big blow came via a David Wright solo-home run, which sent the game in the extra innings and was Kimbrel third run allowed over his last three innings of relief. 17 PC-12 ST (5/3/13)
(SU) Eric OâFlaherty (R)âEarned his ninth hold of the season Sunday after recording the final out of the eighth inning. O'Flaherty allowed a walk to the first batter he faced in the appearance, but was able to get through the appearance by striking out the second batter he faced to get the job done. 12 PC-5 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Jordan Walden (R)âTook the loss on Friday after allowing two runs on one hit and one walk in the 10th inning. Walden has now pitched back-to-back days and will likely get the  day off on Saturday to clear his head, so those using him in holds leagues should plan accordingly. 29 PC-17 ST (5/3/13)
Injuredâ Jonny Venters (Elbow)
Chicago Cubs
(CL) Shaky Kevin Gregg (R)--Pitched a scoreless ninth inning on Friday in a non-save situation allowing one walk while striking out one batter. Gregg has emerged as the Cubs closer in the absence of Kyuji Fujikawa, and has yet to allow an earned-run through his first 6.1 innings of relief. 10 PC-4 ST (5/3/13)
(SU) Carlos Marmol (R)--Pitched a scoreless sixth inning on Sunday retiring all three batters he faced in order. Marmol has now pitched back-to-back days and will likely be unavailable on Monday when the Rangers come to town. 11 PC-7 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Shawn Camp (R)âPitched one inning of relief Sunday allowing two runs on one hit and two walks. After a good start to the season Camp has regressed immensely and should not even be considered in deep mixed leagues that count holds as a category. 20 PC-10 ST (5/5/13)
InjuredâKyuji Fujikawa (Forearm)Cincinnati Reds(CL) Elite Aroldis Chapman (L)âCollected his seventh save of the season Saturday after pitching a scoreless ninth inning, one day after failing to get out of the ninth frame. Chapman appeared to have put that rough outing behind him, but has now pitched-back-to-back days and will likely be unavailable on Sunday. 19 PC-10 ST (5/4/13)
(SU) Jonathan Broxton (R)âEarned his fourth hold of the season Saturday after pitching a 1-2-3 eighth inning needing only 12 pitches to retire the side. Broxton has now pitched back-to-back days and will likely be given the day off on Sunday, so owners in holds leagues should plan accordingly. 12 PC-7 ST (5/4/13)
(MR) Sean Marshall (L)--Earned his fourth hold of the season Sunday after pitching a scoreless eighth inning. Since returning from the disabled list, Marshall has allowed only one hit and one walk over four appearances, and has yet to allow an earned-run this season. 12 PC-7 ST (5/5/13)Colorado Rockies(CL) Solid Rafael Betancourt (R)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning on Wednesday in a non-save situation retiring all three batters he faced in order. Despite a big lead, the Rockies decided to go with Betancourt to seal the victory considering he hadn't pitched in a game since last Friday, so this was just a scheduled tune up. 21 PC-15 ST (5/1/13)
(SU) Rex Brothers (L)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning on Friday night in a non-save situation allowing one walk while striking out one batter. Brothers is off to a great start this season, and is currently sitting on a 0.63 earned-run average as the Rockies primary setup man. 21 PC-12 ST (5/3/13)
(MR) Wilton Lopez (R)âPitched two scoreless innings of relief on Saturday night allowing two hits and one walk on 26 pitches thrown. Lopez has now pitched three innings over the last two days and will likely be unavailable on Sunday. 26 PC-16 ST (5/4/13)Los Angeles Dodgers(CL) Shaky Brandon League (R)âTook the loss on Saturday night after allowing one run on two hits and two walks in 1.1 innings of relief. League has struggled as of late, and this appearances puts the icing on the cake, so don't be surprised if there is a change in the bullpen depth chart with another outing like this one. 26 PC-15 ST (5/4/13)
(SU) Kenley Jansen (R)âPitched a scoreless eighth inning Sunday night striking out the side on just 15 pitches thrown. Jansen's strikeouts have been down this season, but Sunday he proved to those holding onto him in the anticipation of him taking over the closer role that he is the best reliever in the Dodgers bullpen. 15 PC-11 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Ronald Belisario (R)âPitched two innings of relief on Saturday night allowing one run on two hits while striking out one batter. Belisario has now pitched back-to-back nights and will likely get the day off on Sunday. 25 PC-19 ST (5/4/13)Miami Marlins(CL) Shaky Steve Cishek (R)âRecorded his fourth save of the season Saturday after pitching a scoreless ninth inning allowing one hit while striking out two batters. Cishek has been shaky at best over his last few appearances, allowing four base runners in his last three innings of work, but escaped unharmed in this one to secure a rare victory for the Marlins. 24 PC-14 ST (5/4/13)
(SU) Mike Dunn (L)âEarned his fifth hold of the season after pitching a scoreless eighth inning retiring all three batters he faced in order. There isn't much to talk about in Miami these days, but Dunn has been great this season as the team's primary setup man and could be in line to receive save chances down the road with the early season struggles of Steve Cishek. 14 PC-9 ST (5/4/13)
(MR) Jon Rauch (R)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning Sunday in a non-save situation allowing only one hit on nine pitches thrown. After pitching three innings in last Monday's extra inning game, Rauch has only been used for two innings since, so he will likely be available to pitch when the Marlins travel to San Diego. 9 PC-6 ST (5/5/13)Milwaukee Brewers(CL) Solid Jim Henderson (R)âTook the loss on Saturday after allowing one run on two hits and one walk in the ninth inning. With this appearance Henderson falls to 2-1 on the season, with the earned-run allowed being just the second run he has allowed on the season thus far. 24 PC-14 ST (5/4/13)
(MR) John Axford (R)âPitched 0.1 innings of relief on Sunday allowing one run on two hits and two walks. After talks about Axford regaining the closer role, he was allowed four runs over two innings of relief, so it is highly unlikely that the team will consider making a switch anytime soon. 21 PC-8 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Michael Gonzalez (L)âPitched a scoreless seventh inning Sunday retiring all three batters he faced in order. Gonzalez looked sharp in this appearance, striking out two batters while forcing one ground ball out, and could start to see time in the setup role if John Axford's struggles continue. 13 PC-9 ST (5/5/13)New York Mets(CL) Shaky Bobby Parnell (R)âPicked up the win Friday night after recording the final two outs of the ninth inning in a tied ball game. With the latest news on Francisco being negative, it appears Parnell will have at least another month or so in the closer role, if not longer, so fantasy owners should not panic until we hear more on the health of his competition. 14 PC-9 ST (5/3/13)
(SU) Brandon Lyon (R)âPitched a scoreless seventh inning Sunday night allowing one hit while striking out one batter. He needed 20 pitches to get through the appearance, forcing two ground ball outs to go along with his one strikeout to get the job done. 20 PC-12 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) LaTroy Hawkins (R)--Pitched 1.2 innings of relief on Friday allowing one hit while striking out two batters. With Shaun Marcum on a strict pitch count, the Mets needed Hawkins in the fifth inning, which is a lot earlier than he is used to, but he was able to get the job done and not allow any runs. 13 PC-10 ST (5/3/13)
Injuredâ Frank Francisco (Elbow)Philadelphia Phillies(CL) Elite Jonathan Papelbon (R)âRecorded his fifth save of the season Friday night after pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Papelbon has now pitched back-to-back days, but has thrown just 20 pitches between those two contests, so there is no reason to think that he will be unavailable on Saturday. 13 PC-9 ST (5/3/13)
(SU) Mike Adams (R)âEarned his third hold of the season Friday pitching a scoreless eighth inning allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one batter. Adams has now pitched back-to-back days, but considering his low pitch counts in those contests, he should be available on Saturday. 13 PC-8 ST (5/3/13)
(MR) Antonio Bastardo (L)âEarned his fourth hold of the season Friday night after recording the final two outs of the seventh inning. Bastardo made it interesting by allowing two walks, but struck out two batters to get himself out of the jam, pitching for the first time since last Sunday. 24 PC-11 ST (5/3/13)Pittsburgh Pirates(CL) Elite Jason Grilli (R)âRecorded his 12th save of the season Friday night after pitching a scoreless ninth inning allowing one hit while striking out three batters. Grilli continued his dominance in the ninth inning this this contest, and now has five strikeouts over his last three innings of work. 18 PC-12 ST (5/3/13)
(SU) Mark Melancon (R)âEarned his 11th hold of the season Friday after pitching yet another scoreless eighth frame. Melancon allowed one hit while striking out two batters, lowering his earned-run average to 0.56 through 16 innings in his first season with the Pirates. 22 PC-17 ST (5/3/13)
(MR) Jose Contreras (R)--Pitched a scoreless seventh inning Sunday in his first appearance this season allowing one hit while striking out one batter. Contreras looked sharp in his season debut, but should only be owned in deep mixed leagues that count holds as a category. 14 PC-10 ST (5/5/13)San Diego Padres(CL) Solid Huston Street (R)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning Sunday in a non-save situation retiring all three batters he faced in order. He struck out two batters while forcing one ground ball out to seal the victory for the Padres. 16 PC-11 ST (5/5/13)
(SU) Luke Gregerson (R)âPitched a scoreless eighth inning Sunday retiring all three batters he faced in order. Gregerson struck out two batters while forcing one ground ball out needing only 12 pitches to get the job done. 12 PC-9 ST (5/5/13)
(MR) Dale Thayer (R)âEarned his fifth hold of the season Friday night after pitching a 1-2-3 seventh inning. The combination of Thayer in the seventh, Gregerson in the eighth and Street in the ninth has turned into one of the better 1-2-3 punches in the National League as all three are off to good starts. 11 PC-7 ST (5/3/13)San Francisco Giants(CL) Elite Sergio Romo (R)âCollected his 12th save of the season Sunday night after a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Romo forced three fly ball outs in the appearance on 12 pitches thrown, and is now tied with Jason Grilli for the most saves in the National League. 12 PC-7 ST (5/5/13)
(SU) Santiago Casilla (R)âEarned the win Saturday night after pitching the final two innings of a tied ball game. Casilla has now pitched back-to-back nights, and two of the last three days, so don't expect him to be available when the Giants try to sweep the Dodgers on Sunday. 36 PC-21 ST (5/4/13)
(MR) Javier Lopez (L)â Was used to face one batter in the eighth inning, forcing a strikeout on six pitches thrown. Lopez has now been used in back-to-back  games, but both times being short stints, so he should be available Monday when the Giants open their series with the Phillies.
St. Louis Cardinals
(CL) Shaky Edward Mujica (R)âEarned his eighth save of the season Saturday after pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Mujica has now converted all eight of his save chances this season, and with the latest news on Jason Motte, he is in no danger of losing the closer role anytime soon. 17 PC-13 ST (5/4/13)
(SU) Trevor Rosenthal (R)--Collected his eighth hold of the season Friday after pitching 1.1 innings of relief, allowing one run (unearned) on two hits. Rosenthal has now pitched back-to-back days, but with Edward Mujica likely unavailable Friday, he could be in line to earn a spot-save if the Cardinals don't decide to use a different plan. 28 PC-20 ST (5/2/13)
(MR) Fernando Salas (R)--Picked up his second hold of the season Saturday after pitching 0.2 innings of relief allowing one run on two hits. He was asked to get the final two outs of the seventh inning, and did so, just not in orderly fashion. 11 PC-9 ST (5/4/13)
Injuredâ Jason Motte (Elbow)Washington Nationals(CL) Elite Rafael Soriano (R)âPitched a scoreless ninth inning Sunday in a non-save situation allowing one hit in the appearance. Soriano has now pitched back-to-back days, but with a scheduled day off on Monday Soriano will be ready to go for the Nationals in their next game on Tuesday. 19 PC-13 ST (5/5/13)
(SU) Drew Storen (R)âEarned his fifth hold of the season Sunday after pitching a 1-2-3 seventh inning needing only 14 pitches to get the job done. This was Storen's first appearance since Monday, so look for him to be used heavily over the next few days if needed. 14 PC-10 ST (5/5/13)
(SU) Tyler Clippard (R)âPicked a scoreless eighth inning on Sunday retiring all three batters he faced in order. He struck out one batter in the appearance while forcing two fly ball outs on just nine pitches thrown in his second consecutive day of service. 9 PC-6 ST (5/5/13)Matthew Beck is a Fantasy Sports Columnist for Rotoinfo.com. If you have any questions or comments feel free to e-mail him at matthewbeck@rotoinfo.com. Also follow him on Twitter @MatthewRBeck for up-to-date Q&A and fantasy information. And, to make setting your Fantasy Baseball lineup easy, be sure to And, to utilize RotoInfo.comâs new MLB Lineup Grids. Player News
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