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Digging Deeper into Closers: NL Central Bullpen Report

Welcome to the RotoBaller.com Preseason Bullpen Report. This edition features the National League Central. RotoBaller answers your closers questions here, and you can ask us anything else at our Ask Us Anything section of RotoBaller.com.

NL Central Bullpen Report

Cincinnati Reds

Presumed Closer: Jonathan Broxton

% Chance to start the season as closer: 100%
% Chance to be the closer at All-Star break: 85%

Broxton has 111 career saves, but in many of those, he made his manager sweat a little bit first. He will give up hits and runs, but he can get the job done. He holds a career 1.24 ERA and has been very solid as of late. That doesn't mean he will get a long leash, and manager Dusty Baker will not be afraid to pull the plug because he has a fair amount of alternate options.

Others to know: There is a lot to monitor in Cincinnati. First off and most importantly is Aroldis Chapman's transition to the rotation-- there are questions about how long he will stay there, and there have been murmurs of an innings limit. Chapman has 135 career IP including a career-high 71 IP in 2012. Assuming he performs well, he will exceed his career high just a few months into the season. In 2012, Chapman had one of the best seasons a closer could possibly have (38 S, 1.51 ERA and 0.91 WHIP). In April, we will find out how well Chapman makes the transition and should it fail to go according to plan, expect him to be right back into the role of closer, regardless of how Broxton performs. The other guy to watch is Sean Marshall; he gives Dusty much-needed versatility and a left-handed option.

Carlos Mármol Pitching 2009Chicago Cubs

Presumed Closer: Carlos Marmol

% Chance to start the season as closer: 45%
% Chance to be the closer at All-Star break: 9%

Marmol's name has been involved in many trade talks recently. He hasn't been the most stable of closers over the past couple of years, including 10 blown saves in 2011 and only 20 saves in 2012. He was also rumored to be traded much earlier in the offseason. Given those facts, there's a chance Marmol isn't even on the Opening Day roster, and it's fairly certain that he won't be there come mid-season.

Others to know: Kyuji Fujikawa is the likely candidate for closing duties and I wouldn't be shocked if he begins the season there. He saved 202 games for the Hanshin Tigers from 2007 to 2012, so he is not unfamiliar with the 9th inning role. Shawn Camp is another option, but don't count on him getting the call unless things get very ugly for the Cubs.

Milwaukee Brewers

Presumed Closer: John Axford

% Chance to start the season as closer: 90%
% Chance to be the closer at All-Star break: 80%

Axford got lit up a bit last season. However, he was granted every opportunity to close out games, and he ultimately finished with 35 saves. There is nothing to suggest he will get pulled from his closing duties because the options are slim behind him.

Others to know: Veteran lefty Mike Gonzalez looks to be next in line to close, something he hasn't done on a consistent basis since his time in Atlanta. He does own a career 2.94 ERA and has 56 career saves, so keep an eye on Milwaukee as the season progresses.

Jason GrilliPittsburgh Pirates

Presumed Closer: Jason Grilli

% Chance to start the season as closer: 100%
% Chance to be the closer at All-Star break: 80%

There is no data to suggest Grilli can’t be a full time closer. He is coming off of a great season in which he recorded 32 holds and hit career highs in strikeouts, games played and WHIP. These are all decent signs that Grilli could succeed. My concern would be the psychological makeup-- the expectations and the title could rattle the former first-round draft pick.

Others to know: The Pirates new setup man Mark Melancon is next in line to close. Melancon did a decent job in 2011 closing out some of the very few games in which Houston managed a late lead. He struggled in the Red Sox bullpen in 2012, but he is back in the NL and waiting for the call.

St. Louis Cardinals

Presumed Closer: Jason Motte

% Chance to start the season as closer: 100%
% Chance to be the closer at All-Star break: 100%

Motte was quietly one of the best closers in 2012, racking up 42 saves. He has a career 2.87 ERA and few flaws in his game. He will begin the season as the Cardinals closer and barring injury, he will finish the season in that role as well.

Others to know: Mitchell Boggs is next in line if Motte were to get injured. If Motte were to struggle, Edward Mujica would likely step in as closer leaving Boggs in the setup role where he shined last year. This is a situation where Motte would have to struggle mightily or get injured for anything to change as he is as locked-in as one can get as a closer.

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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Tyler Soderstrom

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Jaylen Waddle

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LaNorris Sellers to Play Against Missouri?
Kyle Tucker

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Isaac Paredes

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Kaidon Salter Expected To Start for Colorado on Saturday
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Goes on 10-Day Injured List, Done for Season
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Ruled Out for Week 3 Due to Concussion
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Washington Commanders

Preston Smith Signs With Commanders
Trey Jemison III

Joins Knicks on Two-Way Contract
Kevin McCullar Jr.

Signs New Two-Way Deal With Knicks
Matt Ryan

Returns to Knicks on Exhibit 10 Contract
New York Knicks

Alex Len Signs Exhibit 9 Deal With Knicks
Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Expected to Take on Larger Offensive Role With Hawks
Thomas Sorber

Undergoes Surgery
Dominic Canzone

Has Five-Hit, Three-Homer Game Tuesday
Cal Raleigh

Sets Single-Season Home Run Record for a Switch-Hitter
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Diego Pavia Refutes Report of Seeking Seventh Collegiate Season
Christian Kirk

Expected to Return in Week 3
CFB

Diego Pavia Seeking Another Year of Eligibility
Tarik Skubal

on Track to Start Thursday
CFB

Kevorian Barnes Questionable Against SMU
Bo Bichette

has Short-Term Knee Injury, Could Return for Postseason
Tosan Evbuomwan

Joins Knicks
NBA

Kai Jones Links Up With EuroLeague Team
Bismack Biyombo

Returns to Spurs
Bones Hyland

Rejoins Timberwolves
Kobe Bufkin

Moves to Brooklyn
Trey Yesavage

Sets Franchise Strikeout Record On Monday
Yordan Alvarez

To Receive MRI For Sprained Left Ankle On Tuesday
Willson Contreras

Exits Early Monday With Right-Biceps Tightness
Yordan Alvarez

Exits With Ankle Sprain
Brock Bowers

Officially Active on Monday Night
Jauan Jennings

Day-to-Day With Ankle Injury
Logan O'Hoppe

Activated Off Seven-Day Injured List
CBJ

Denton Mateychuk Dealing With Groin Issue
Bo Horvat

Fine for Training Camp
Kirby Dach

on Track to Be Ready for Opening Night
Jose Altuve

Returns Against Rangers
J.J. McCarthy

Expected to Miss 2-4 Weeks With High-Ankle Sprain
J.J. McCarthy

Likely Out for Week 3 With High-Ankle Sprain
Jean Silva

Gets Finished For The First Time In His Career
Aaron Jones Sr.

Unlikely to Play in Week 3 Due to Hamstring Injury
Diego Lopes

Returns To The Win Column
Jayden Daniels

' Week 3 Status in Doubt
Rob Font

Outclassed In The Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
David Martinez

Wins His Second UFC Fight
Jared Gordon

Suffers Brutal TKO Loss At Noche UFC 3
Rafa Garcia

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Brian Thomas Jr.

Dealing with Wrist Injury
Dustin Stoltzfus

Drops A Decision At Noche UFC 3
Kelvin Gastelum

Gets Back In The Win Column
Diego Ferreira

Suffers Second-Round TKO
Alexander Hernandez

Extends His Win Streak With A Brutal TKO
Quang Le

Suffers First-Round Knockout
Santiago Luna

Shines In His UFC Debut
Christopher Bell

Earns his First Bristol Cup Series Victory
Alex Bowman

Falls Short of Advancing Through Cup Series Playoffs
Chase Briscoe

Collects his Third Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

Strong Top-Five Bristol Performance Advances him to the Playoffs
Corey Heim

Earns his First Career Cup Series Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Giannis Antetokounmpo

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Alperen Sengün

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Indiana's Lee Beebe Jr. Out for Season with Knee Injury
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Named EuroBasket MVP
Bryce Eldridge

Giants to Promote Bryce Eldridge
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Progressing in Recovery
Jonathan Kuminga

Receives New Offer From Warriors
Kenneth Walker III

Bounces Back with Big Week 2 Performance
Bijan Robinson

Rushes for 143 Yards in Week 2
Justin Fields

Currently in Concussion Protocol
Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Calling Around to Available Free-Agent Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least Three Months
Emil Heineman

Aiming to Take the "Next Step" This Season
Braeden Cootes

Good to Go for Camp
Ivan Fedotov

Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Fedotov From Flyers
Garrett Crochet

Punches Out 12 in Win
Cole Ragans

to Return on Wednesday
George Kirby

Strikes Out 14 in Win
Quentin Grimes

Still Not Close to a New Contract Agreement
Joel Embiid

"Looking Slender, Spry and in Positive Spirits"
Ty Gibbs

Has Arguably his Best Career Drive, but Only Finishes 10th
Chase Elliott

Despite Crashing Out at Bristol, Chase Elliott Advances to Round of 12
Austin Dillon

Misses Round of 12 After Extremely Mediocre Bristol Run
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Fails to Advance to Round of 12
Josh Berry

Finishes Last in All Three Round of 16 Races to Fail to Advance
CFB

Ryan Williams Explodes In Return To Field
CFB

Drew Allar Plays Mediocre Game In Blowout Win
CFB

LaNorris Sellers Exits Game In Blowout Loss
CFB

DJ Lagway Tosses Five Interceptions In Loss
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Plays Game Manager in Saturday's Win
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CJ Carr Remains Poised In Narrow Loss
CFB

John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
CFB

Arch Manning Struggles Against UTEP
CFB

Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Managers Roster Kyle Busch at Bristol?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Too Risky to Consider Rostering at Bristol?
Michael McDowell

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Chase Elliott

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NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12
Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Dealing With a "Tweak"
BUF

Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

Injured During Pre-Camp Skate
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
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CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
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Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Malcolm Brogdon

Heading to Knicks on One-Year Deal
Landry Shamet

Staying with the Knicks

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP