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Louis Varland No Longer the Clear Closer in Toronto?
Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Louis Varland came into the eighth inning of his team's 5-3, extra-inning win on Wednesday night. The Jays were trailing the Rays 1-0 at the time, so it wasn't set up for a typical save scenario. He was brought in to face the heart of Tampa Bay's lineup and was able to escape a scoreless inning with two hits and a walk, leaving the bases loaded. Toronto eventually rallied and won, but Varland didn't earn a win, hold, or save. He is still the most likely closer when the team has a lead late, but Wednesday's appearance shows the team will use him in high-leverage spots earlier in the game if the situation calls for it. The strategy could cost him some saves, but he remains the top option in Toronto's bullpen at this point and is worth holding in most standard-sized leagues.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
