RELIEVERS: Hunting for Second Half Changes

This week, we simply search through a handful of chicken coops, er pens--DET, MIN, OAK, CHC, MIA and NYM—hunting for a change at closer during the second half.

First up is the Tigers, with closer Jose Valverde (RHP, DET) returning on Sunday for a save after missing some games with a sore wrist. Valverde has saved 15 of 18 so far (through Sunday) and six of his last seven. So what makes Valverde a closer of interest? Here are his skills versus his penmates:

YTD            IP    Dom  Cmd HR/9  xERA  BPV   LI
===========   ====  ==== ==== ====  ====  ===  ====
Valverde       32    5.9  1.2  0.6  5.18  -11  1.15
Dotel          24   13.7  5.3  0.7  2.32  202  0.87
Benoit         37   11.7  3.4  0.7  3.07  132  1.19

Yikes!  Valverde has...

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