The NL Closer Report

The fantasy closer reports are moving to Fridays… As a result, it means two reports this week for both the American League and National League.

Strong Performers

Jonathan Broxton | Los Angeles Dodgers
The Comments: Like Andrew Bailey in Oakland, Broxton has yet to receive a save opportunity this season. Even so, he’s made five appearances in total, including three this week (Please tell me why Joe Torre is running him out there in three straight days in non-save opportunities?). Broxton has allowed just one hit and one walk on the year. He has eight Ks. Torre’s going to wear him out before the club really needs him.

Carlos Marmol | Chicago Cubs
The Comments: He’s still not what you’d call a strike-throwing machine, but Marmol’s control has been improved this season. As such, he’s been successful in all three save opportunities this year and he’s allowed just one hit in 4.1 innings of work. Marmol also has nine strikeouts.

Francisco Rodriguez | New York Mets
The Comments: A bad start by a club can have a real adverse effect on a closer. Rodriguez is yet another relief pitcher that has yet to have a save opportunity. Even so, he’s allowed just two hits and no walks over 4.0 innings of work. Rodriguez has also struck out five batters.

Francisco Cordero | Cincinnati Reds
The Comments: Ah, good ol’ Dusty Baker. Cordero has been the busiest closer so far this season with six appearances. He’s also already worked back-to-back-to-back games on two occasions this season. It’s good news for fantasy owners of Cordero, though, as he has four saves and one win. He’s also recorded seven saves and no walks in six innings.

Steady Performers

Heath Bell | San Diego Padres
The Comments: The anti-Cordero, Bell has appeared in just two games this season (His last appearance being April 10) and appears to be the forgotten man in the ‘pen. This, ladies and gentlemen, is not the way to build trade value.

Brian Wilson | San Francisco Giants
The Comments: Save opportunities have been hard to come by for Wilson, who has gone 2-for-2 but his last came on April 6. He’s made just two appearances in the last seven days and his control has suffered, as he’s walked three batters in 2.2 innings. On the plus side, he also struck out four and has yet to allow a run.

Billy Wagner | Atlanta Braves
The Comments: It’s been an up-and-down season already for Wagner, who has just one save in two tries. So far this week, though, he has yet to give up a hit in two innings of work. He’s also struck out four but has two walks.

Ryan Franklin | St. Louis Cardinals
The Comments: Franklin has an interesting stats line. He is 3-for-3 in saves and has given up four hits in as many innings. However, he has yet to allow a walk or a strikeout.

Octavio Dotel | Pittsburgh Pirates
The Comments: Dotel was roughed up by the Giants lineup during his lone appearances this week (two runs in one inning) but he still recorded the save and is a perfect 2-for-2 on the year. Dotel has struck out three batters in 4.0 innings.

Leo Nunez | Florida Marlins
The Comments: Nunez has recovered well after blowing a save in his first appearance of 2010. The right-hander hasn’t saved a game this week, but he’s given up just one hit on the year and has five Ks in as many innings.

Matt Capps | Washington Nationals
The Comments: Capps is a perfect 4-for-4 in save opportunities this season but he was roughed up by the Phillies in his last appearance. He still secured the save, but Capps gave up three hits, including a solo homer, in 1.2 innings of work. He’s one of the few bright spots on the team.

Matt Lindstrom | Houston Astros
The Comments: When your club is 1-8 on the year, it’s hard to record saves. Lindstrom has made just three appearances on the year and he hasn’t been overly sharp with four hits allowed in three innings. He has yet to allow a walk, though.

Ryan Madson | Philadelphia Phillies
The Comments: With Brad Lidge doing well in his minor-league rehab, Madson’s days as closer could be coming to an end in the near future. He’s done well, though, with two saves and six Ks in 4.1 innings of work. Madson has been a little too hittable with six base-knocks allowed.

Franklin Morales | Colorado Rockies
The Comments: Morales is 2-for-3 in save opportunities and he has yet to allow a walk but he’s struck out just one batter in 4.0 innings of work. Generally speaking, the bullpen has been very good for the Rockies.

Fallen on Hard Times

Chad Qualls | Arizona Diamondbacks
The Comments: Qualls has fallen on hard times. He’s blown two saves this week and has given up three runs in 2.0 innings of work. He’s allowed five hits and three walks. The club has no shortage of back-up options, including Aaron Heilman, Juan Gutierrez, and Bob Howry.

Trevor Hoffman | Milwaukee Brewers
The Comments: The 2010 season has been a struggle for the Saves King, who is just 3-for-5 in opportunities this season. He’s given up nine hits and just three Ks in five innings of work.