Here is a look at the closer report for week 8. It contains all of the most recent closer news, plus the current closers and the current handcuffs.
It is a guessing game in Baltimore who will get the next save opportunity with Alfredo Simon day-to-day with a hamstring injury and Koji Uehara likely headed to the disabled list. Cla Meredith with one save this season and a 5.79 ERA and 1.43 WHIP or situational lefty Will Ohman (14 2/3 scoreless innings, 1.23 WHIP) are the leaders for save chances this week.
Charlie Manuel has shown he is not afraid to let multiple guys close in Philadelphia as both Jose Contreras and lefty J.C. Romero picked up saves last week based on matchups. Injured closer Brad Lidge is still at least two weeks away from returning so Contreras and Romero are still good plays until then.
John Axford picked up a save for Milwaukee on Sunday with interim closer Carlos Villanueva unavailable. Former closer Trevor Hoffman worked the eighth and did not allow a run. Villanueva is the guy to own for now with Hoffman eventually working his way back into that role if he has a few more clean outings.
If you are looking for a possible save candidate at the end of the season, keep an eye on Sergio Santos of the Chicago White Sox. If the team continues to play sub .500 baseball and trades away Jenks and or Thornton, Santos could see some saves late in the season. The former position player turned pitcher has been tough to hit this season, holding hitters to a .163 average and currently boasts a 0.55 ERA and a .98 WHIP.
| Team | Closer | Handcuff |
| BAL | Alfredo Simon | Cla Meredith, Mike Gonzalez (DL) |
| BOS | Jonathan Papelbon | Daniel Bard |
| CHW | Bobby Jenks | Matt Thornton, J.J. Putz |
| CLE | Kerry Wood | Chris Perez |
| DET | Jose Valverde | Ryan Perry |
| KC | Joakim Soria | Josh Rupe |
| LAA | Brian Fuentes | Fernando Rodney |
| MIN | Jon Rauch | Matt Guerrier |
| NYY | Mariano Rivera | Joba Chamberlain |
| OAK | Andrew Bailey | Brad Ziegler |
| SEA | David Aardsma | Brandon League |
| TB | Rafael Soriano | Grant Balfour |
| TEX | Neftali Feliz | Frank Francisco |
| TOR | Kevin Gregg | Jason Frasor |
| AZ | Chad Qualls | Juan Gutierrez |
| ATL | Billy Wagner | Takashi Saito |
| CHI | Carlos Marmol | John Grabow |
| CIN | Francisco Cordero | Arthur Rhodes |
| COL | Manny Corpas | Rafael Betancourt, Huston Street (DL) |
| FLA | Leo Nunez | Burke Badenhop |
| HOU | Matt Lindstrom | Brandon Lyon |
| LAD | Jonathan Broxton | Ramon Tronosco |
| MIL | Carlos Villanueva | Trevor Hoffman, John Axford |
| NYM | Francisco Rodriguez | Pedro Feliciano |
| PHI | Jose Contreras | J.C. Romero, (Brad Lidge DL) |
| PIT | Octavio Dotel | Evan Meek |
| STL | Ryan Franklin | Jason Motte |
| SD | Heath Bell | Luke Gregerson |
| SF | Brian Wilson | Sergio Romo |
| WAS | Matt Capps | Tyler Clippard, Drew Storen |


