Brother, can you spare a save?

Usually, that's the question posed by Rotisserie owners toward the second half of their season. But this month, the Brewers, Cubs, Cardinals, Giants and Royals are suddenly in the market for any player that can shut the door with regularity.

Top 50 Relievers
Player TM
1 Brad Lidge HOU
2 Francisco Rodriguez LAA
3 Mariano Rivera NYY
4 Joe Nathan MIN
5 Francisco Cordero+ TEX
6 Billy Wagner PHI
7 Eddie Guardado+ SEA
8 Octavio Dotel+ OAK
9 B.J. Ryan+ BAL
10 Jason Isringhausen- STL
11 Jose Mesa+ PIT
12 Keith Foulke- BOS
13 Miguel Batista+ TOR
14 Trevor Hoffman+ SD
15 Troy Percival+ DET
16 Eric Gagne- LAD
17 Danny Graves+ CIN
18 Brandon Lyon+ ARI
19 Yhency Brazoban+ LAD
20 Danny Kolb- ATL
21 Guillermo Mota FLA
22 Chad Cordero WAS
23 Braden Looper+ NYM
24 Bob Wickman CLE
25 Danys Baez TB
26 Jeremy Affeldt- KC
27 Joe Borowski+ CHC
28 Jeff Fassero+ SF
29 LaTroy Hawkins CHC
30 Shingo Takatsu CHW
31 Greg Aquino ARI
32 Scot Shields LAA
33 Mike Adams- MIL
34 Chin-Hui Tsao COL
35 Ambiorix Burgos+ KC
36 Damaso Marte CHW
37 Julian Tavarez+ STL
38 Akinori Otsuka SD
39 Dustin Hermanson+ CHW
40 Juan Rincon MIN
41 Ugueth Urbina- DET
42 Matt Herges+ SF
43 Tim Worrell PHI
44 Roberto Novoa+ CHC
45 Tom Gordon NYY
46 Jorge Sosa ATL
47 Huston Street OAK
48 Brandon League TOR
49 Ray King STL
50 Derrick Turnbow MIL
+/- denotes movement

Injuries have had their way with bullpens in April, which means Fantasy owners have to be quick with the add/drop trigger finger.

The departure of Dan Kolb to Atlanta made Mike Adams a closer-to-be this past spring with the Brewers. But the Brewers are giving Derrick Turnbow a chance at some saves. Neither has the best command, but since the Brew crew is even considering changing closers means they don't have much confidence in Adams.

The Cardinals are in the hunt for Jason Isringhausen's (abdomen) replacement for the next two weeks. Julian Tavarez and Ray King are expected to gain the greatest benefit from Izzy's injury. The right-handed Tavarez got the save Wednesday, but manager Tony LaRussa indicated that matchups will likely dictate who goes closes. Considering King is one of their top left-handed relievers in the pen, Tavarez is our call to receive the most saves until mid-May. If you lose out on picking him up, grab King for a save or two sprinkled in.

It seems like the Cubs haven't been comfortable at the closer position since Rod Beck brought his nasty stuff in the ninth inning back in 1998. Since then, players like Terry Adams, Rick Aguilera, Antonio Alfonseca, Jeff Fassero and Tom Gordon have been inserted as the team's closer. Right now, the team awaits the return of oft-injured (and embattled) Joe Borowski (broken wrist), which is expected to happen in a week or so. LaTroy Hawkins has blown two saves -- and his shot at closing regularly -- so the team decided to give Chad Fox a chance in a committee situation. Fox subsequently went down with his fourth elbow injury of his career and is now considering retirement.

The Cubs will now look toward Hawkins, recent call-up Roberto Novoa and rookie Michael Wuertz to hold the fort down until Borowski returns. Manager Dusty Baker told the Chicago Tribune that Novoa could be a decent closer given time. "Eventually, we think he has the stomach and stuff to be a late-inning guy," said Baker.

San Francisco lost Armando Benitez potentially for the season with a torn hamstring and must now hand the ball to the left-handed Fassero and right-handed Matt Herges in save situations. General manager Brian Sabean told the San Francisco Chronicle that the chances of trading for a closer in the near future are "slim and none." Jim Brower and Scott Eyre could also be in the mix. Benitez is expected to miss at least four months.

Most-added Pitchers
Player TM
1. John Patterson WAS
2. Jon Garland CHW
3. Kelvim Escobar LAA
4. Julian Tavarez STL
5. Brad Penny LAD

Merkin Valdez is a name waiting in the wings also for the Giants. Baseball America rated him as the No. 2 prospect in their organization before the season started and the Giants have him starting games currently at Double-A Norwich, but a return to the closer position later in the year is not completely out of the question. He has a 2.08 ERA in 17 1/3 innings with Norwich. As a reliever, he can reach 99 m.p.h. on the radar with his fastball. Grab him in larger keeper leagues with deep reserves.

After Jeremy Affeldt went on the 15-day disabled list -- again -- with a left groin strain, the Royals went with their former closer Mike MacDougal, who had a 27-save rookie season in 2003. But after consecutive games in which he allowed an earned run, manager Tony Pena decided turn to rookie Ambiorix Burgos as their game-stopper until Affeldt returns, which could be for a couple more weeks.

Most-dropped Pitchers
Player TM
1. Jaret Wright NYY
2. Armando Benitez SF
3. David Wells BOS
4. Jerome Williams SF
5. Curt Schilling BOS

Burgos was Baseball America's sixth-rated prospect in the Royals system before this season. He has the best fastball in their system although he has lacked great command. He is certainly worth grabbing in Rotisserie leagues for the handful of opportunities he gets as K.C.'s closer.

The windup

  • The Red Sox rotation took a couple hits over the past week betweene suspensions and injuries. Both Curt Schilling (ankle) and David Wells (foot) were placed on the DL. The Boston Globe notes that general manager Theo Epstein does not believe that Schilling re-injured his surgically repaired ankle, but that the injury was more consistent with that of a weak ankle. Tim Wakefield will pitch at Texas Friday, followed by Bronson Arroyo Saturday -- assuming he appeals his suspension -- and Matt Clement Sunday. The newest additions to the rotation will start next week off. John Halama starts at Detroit Monday. It's probable that former Devil Rays starter Jeremi Gonzalez will get the nod on Tuesday, but that rotation spot will likely go to Wade Miller (shoulder) on Sunday, May 8, against Seattle. Miller will make what should be his final rehab start Tuesday for Triple-A Pawtucket. As mentioned,
  • MLB suspended Arroyo for six games, as well as Tampa Bay's Dewon Brazelton for five games on Friday for intentionally throwing at batters during Sunday's game at Tampa. Devil Rays reliever Lance Carter was also suspended five games. Expect the group of players, along with the outfielders, to appeal these penalties. But this definitely makes these starting pitchers risky starts entering next week.
  • Rain forced Daniel Cabrera's spot in the Orioles' rotation to be skipped. He will go Tuesday against Toronto according to the Baltimore Sun. He will throw on the side a few times before his next start. "We need to work on a lot of things," said pitching coach Ray Miller. "His high (leg) kick is too slow and his low kick is too fast. He is (6 feet 7). That's a lot to get together."
  • An inner ear infection pushed Josh Fogg's next start to Monday at Houston according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. His 2.45 ERA has been quite impressive and now he is lined up for a two-start week at the Astros and Diamondbacks.

Injury notes

  • Kerry Wood (sore shoulder) received the thumbs-up for his Saturday start at Houston.
  • Inner ear infections must be the en vogue injury these days. Ben Sheets is also suffering from the dizzying affliction. He threw from flat ground Tuesday for the first time since being hospitalized last week. He is questionable for Saturday's start against Cincinnati. Wes Obermueller might get the nod in his place again.
  • Chien-Ming Wang will replace Jaret Wright (shoulder) for Saturday's start against Toronto. Wright is expected to miss four to six weeks. The Yankees will likely figure out what to do with his rotation spot on a week-to-week basis, but Tanyon Sturtze will likely claim the spot for good once he's healthy.
  • It could be late May or longer before we see Eric Gagne (elbow) back on the hill for the Dodgers. Instead of throwing from a mound like he was expected to do, he threw from flat ground Wednesday. That whooshing sound you hear is Yhency Brazoban's Fantasy stock sailing skyward.