Here is a look at the closer report for week 4. It contains all of the most recent closer news, plus the current closers and the current handcuffs.
Fantasy baseball owners have to be happy with Arizona Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch that he is a patient man. Also it helps that everyone has in the D-Bakcs bullpen has been getting bombed as well so Chad Qualls was able to keep his job as closer for the time being. He responded by picking up two clean saves in his last two outings so it keeps him in the role for another week at least.
While walks by a starting pitcher can be a killer, if they allow a big inning, it can usually be smoothed out over the course of a five or six inning start. As a closer however, walks are going to lead to big innings and an eventual loss of job. Here is a look at some of the current closers with high walk rates just a few weeks into the fantasy baseball season.
Matt Capps was walked six in 12 innings, leaving him with a WHIP of 1.50. Jonathan Papelbon has struggled with his control in Boston, walking eight against seven strikeouts in 10 innings, giving him a 1.50 WHIP as well. Chris Perez may find it difficult to keep Kerry Wood from taking back the closer role unless he improves his control, with six walks allowed in 6 2/3 innings. Bobby Jenks, whom it seems is always on the verge of losing his job every season, has given six free passes in eight innings and has a WHIP of 1.75.
What do Cla Meredith, Darren Oliver, Tim Wood, Jeremy Affeldt, Ryan Perry, Burke Badenhop all have in common with Billy Wagner and Jonathan Broxton? Each of them have one save through the first three weeks of the season. If you are looking for someone to target in trade in the closer role, Wagner and Broxton should be at the top of your list. Saves can run in streaks and each of them could easily rack up three or four in a week. Any other owner that discounts their value because they only have one save so far this year is someone you should be talking to.
| Team | Closer | Handcuff |
| BAL | Jim Johnson | Cla Meredith, Mike Gonzalez (DL) |
| BOS | Jonathan Papelbon | Daniel Bard |
| CHW | Bobby Jenks | Matt Thornton |
| CLE | Chris Perez | Jensen Lewis, Kerry Wood (DL) |
| 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 | Franklin Morales | Rafael Betancourt, Huston Street (DL) |
| FLA | Leo Nunez | Burke Badenhop |
| HOU | Matt Lindstrom | Brandon Lyon |
| LAD | Jonathan Broxton | Ramon Tronosco |
| MIL | Trevor Hoffman | LaTroy Hawkins |
| NYM | Francisco Rodriguez | Pedro Feliciano |
| PHI | Ryan Madson | Danys Baez, Brad Lidge (DL) |
| PIT | Octavio Dotel | Brendan Donnelly |
| STL | Ryan Franklin | Jason Motte |
| SD | Heath Bell | Luke Gregerson |
| SF | Brian Wilson | Sergio Romo |
| WAS | Matt Capps | Tyler Clippard |