Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat - AL

April 22, 2010 @ 12:00:00

By Tim Heaney
Edited by Nicholas Minnix

Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat: AL | NL

Fantasy baseball closer depth charts: AL | NL

In fantasy baseball, the closer position remains volatile. Rarely does every closer hang on to the job for an entire season - injuries, poor performance and managerial decisions can cloud a team's bullpen picture.

Should you be concerned about a struggling stopper? Which relievers are climbing the depth chart? Are any injuries popping up? KFFL.com's Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat keeps you informed when you're looking for saves.

Key

Job security (JS) score	1 (unstable) to 5 (untouchable)
Health (H) score	1 (injury-prone) to 5 (durable)

 

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Closer: Brian Fuentes

Understudy: Fernando Rodney

Lurkers: Kevin Jepsen

Not such a happy return from the DL: In his first game since the 2010 opener, Fuentes surrendered a ninth-inning leadoff homer Wednesday to Miguel Cabrera (Detroit Tigers) to blow instantly a one-run lead; he then allowed two walks before coughing up a two-out RBI single that would eventually give him the loss.

Rodney and Jepsen weren't available Wednesday because of rest. Manager Mike Scioscia is sticking by Fuentes for now, but the way Rodney pitched in Fuentes' absence has to be in Scioscia's head. Hopefully, you've hung on to Rodney anyway.

Not off the DL on the right foot: Fuentes

Job security score: 3

Health score: 4

Mound meetings

• Dr. James Andrews (it's OK, keep reading) gave his second opinion to Baltimore Orioles stopper Mike Gonzalez (shoulder), agreeing with the original diagnosis: Gonzo doesn't need surgery. The lefty will begin a rehab program in Sarasota, Fla.; the O's hope he'll be ready for MLB action in about three weeks, but given Gonzalez's injury history, it's hard to count on that.

Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat: AL | NL

Fantasy baseball closer depth charts: AL | NL

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Tim Heaney

Since the Boston University alum joined KFFL in 2006, his work has been featured by USA Today/Sports Weekly and Yahoo! Sports, among numerous publications.

Tim competes in Tout Wars and LABR and appears every Wednesday on 1570 AM WNST in Baltimore, as well as frequently on Sirius XM Fantasy Sports Radio.

Follow him on Twitter.

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