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Los Angeles Dodgers Fantasy Baseball Closer Information and Depth Chart

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Previous updates:

June 16, 2013
Los Angeles Dodgers – Brandon League picked up the save in the 11th inning last night after Kenley Jansen blew the save in the 9th.  Even with the blown save, Mattingly is not thinking about making another change back to League.  No hierarchy change.

June 12, 2013
Los Angeles Dodgers – On a tense night that saw five hit batsmen, two bench-clearing brawls, and Mark McGwire’s first ejection in almost 12 years, the Dodgers rallied to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth. Newly anointed closer Kenley Jansen came out for the save and struck out two in a perfect ninth. Meanwhile, Don Mattingly got to take out some of his frustration on Alan Trammell. No hierarchy change.

June 11, 2013
Los Angeles Dodgers – In his pregame comments on Tuesday, Don Mattingly announced that Kenley Jansen will replace Brandon League as the Dodgers’ closer. Mattingly was not yet sure how the rest of the Dodger bullpen would fall in line, so we’ll keep the status quo intact until he gives some further indication. Hierarchy change: Kenley Jansen to Closer, Brandon League to Set-Up.

June 11, 2013
Los Angeles Dodgers – After an effective eighth from Kenley Jansen, Brandon League was a comprehensive disaster, allowing four runs to earn the Dodgers their league-leading 13th blown save of the year. League has a 6.00 ERA and four blown saves; Jansen has 44 strikeouts in 32 innings and a WHIP of 1.00. Don Mattingly suggested that he was playing matchups by using League to close, but the best type of matchup for the Dodgers right now is the one that leaves him in the bullpen. Brandon League to Hot Seat.

June 5, 2013
Los Angeles Dodgers – Paco Rodriguez pitched a high-leverage seventh on Monday night; meanwhile, Ronald Belisario has been spanked in each of his last two outings, including a stint in the sixth last night. Hierarchy change: Paco Rodriguez to 2nd in line, replacing Ronald Belisario.

June 1, 2013
Los Angeles Dodgers -  Don Mattingly went to Kenley Jansen with runners on 1st and 2nd and nobody out in the 8th.  That left Brandon League for the 9th and he blew his second save in his last four chances.  Ronald Belisario ended up picking up the save in extra innings.  Ronald Belisario to 2nd in line, replacing Paco Rodriguez.

May 26, 2013
Los Angeles Dodgers – For the first time in 11 days, someone on the Dodgers got a save, and that someone was Brandon League.  Kenley Jansen, who Don Mattingly has continued to use in the highest-pressure situations, pitched in the 7th and 8th innings against the heart of the St. Louis lineup, striking out 4 in 1.1 innings of work.  With high-pressure situations occurring earlier rather than later for the Dodgers, League is probably the better bet for saves for the time being.  Hierarchy change: Brandon League to Closer, Kenley Jansen to Set-up.

May 19, 2013
Los Angeles Dodgers – With 1 out in the 8th and the Dodgers up 1, Don Mattingly went to Kenley Jansen.  Jansen immediately gave up a 2 run homer to Evan Gattis and ended up taking the loss.  Mattingly will continue to use his best reliever Jansen in high pressure situations.  For Kenley owners, hopefully these high-pressure situations will occur in the 9th inning more often than otherwise.  However, it appears Brandon League will still see save opportunities on nights when Jansen is used prior to the 9th.    Kenley Jansen to Hot Seat.

May 16, 2013
Los Angeles Dodgers – Don Mattingly said yesterday afternoon that he wasn’t ready to anoint Kenley Jansen as the new closer yet, and a few hours later, it was Jansen who emerged from the bullpen for a four-out hold in the 7th and 8th innings.  Brandon League got the save in the 9th.  There’s no hints yet as to whether this is a platoon — in which Jansen will have a serious edge — or whether League still has a good chance to hold the job.  League’s next outing will likely be key, as another good inning might give him a chance to fully reclaim the role for the time being.  No hierarchy change.

May 15, 2013
Los Angeles Dodgers - After 132 pitches got Clayton Kershaw only 26 outs, Don Mattingly turned to Kenley Jansen, not Brandon League, to finish off the 2-0 win. Although Mattingly recently declared League his closer “for now,” that tepid reassurance apparently came with an expiration date. The Dodger relievers might swap roles over the next few weeks, but Jansen — clearly the best pitcher in the pen — is likely to take full advantage of this opportunity. Hierarchy change: Kenley Jansen to Closer, Brandon League to Set-up, Paco Rodriguez to 2nd in line.

May 13, 2013
Los Angeles Dodgers – Brandon League entered Sunday’s game with the Dodgers up by four, and promptly allowed two runs to score before nailing down the final out.  His ERA climbed to 6.28 after the crummy outing, and he remains firmly on the Hot Seat.  One more bad outing, and Kenley Jansen could finally inherit the job.  No hierarchy change.

May 8, 2013
Los Angeles Dodgers – Brandon League had the night off after a 30-pitch outing on Wednesday, so Kenley Jansen got the save last night.  League’s job is not in jeopardy at the moment.  No hierarchy change.

February 24, 2013
Los Angeles Dodgers – Starting 2013 hierarchy: Closer- Brandon League, Set-up- Kenley Jansen, 2nd in line- Ronald Belisario.

September 22, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers – Kenlsey Jansen pitched the 7th inning in a tie game last night. Manager Don Matthingly said that he would like to ease Jansen back into the closer role. Brandon League picked up the save in extras and could see a couple more save opps before Jansen is back to closing. Hierarchy change: Kenley Jansen to Set-up, Ronald Belisario to 2nd in line.

September 13, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers – Ronald Belisario pitched the 8th inning with the Dodgers down a run last night. Although Don Mattingly has yet to commit to Brandon League as the interim closer, League’s experience seems to have given him the edge in the platoon. Hierarchy change: Brandon League to Closer, Ronald Belisario to Set-up.

September 9, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers – Brandon League on Saturday picked up his second save since joining the Dodgers, pitching a clean 9th inning. League, who altered his delivery after joining Los Angeles, has been pitching spectacularly lately, and is sharing opportunities with Ronald Belisario until Kenley Jansen returns in about two weeks. No hierarchy change.

September 1, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers – As predicted in yesterday’s vulture save watch, Brandon League picked up the save while Belisario was recovering from a 26 pitch outing the night before. No hierarchy change.

September 1, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers – Matt Guerrier returned from the 60-day DL on Friday, allowing one run and taking the loss after he entered a tie game in the 11th inning. Guerrier had not pitched since April 18. He will move back into the 7th-inning role that he held before his injury. Hierarchy change: Matt Guerrier to 2nd in line, replacing Jamey Wright.

August 30, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers – Ronald Belisario picked up the save on Wednesday, throwing 1.2 innings with the Dodgers up by two runs. After the game, the Dodgers revealed that Kenley Jansen is battling a heart condition that kept him out for a month last year. Seemingly out of nowhere, his season is in jeopardy. Belisario should close, but behind him, there are few sure things. Deadline acquisition Brandon League is the best bet to move in to the set-up role. Hierarchy change: Ronald Belisario to Closer, Brandon League to Set-up, Jamey Wright to 2nd in line.

July 21, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers – Javy Guerra finished off the 7th inning, and has worked his way back in to a late-innings role for the Dodgers. Josh Lindblom has struggled as of late, including on Friday, when he allowed three baserunners while only recording one out in the 6th inning. Hierarchy change: Javy Guerra to 2nd in line, replacing Josh Lindblom.

July 12, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers’ bullpen is solid, with Kenley Jansen still racking up strikeouts at an absurd rate. They’re unlikely to be factors in the bullpen market at the deadline. TRADE DEADLINE BUY/SELL: None.

June 5, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers – Ronald Belisario pitched the 8th inning in a tie game on Monday, eventually earning the win after the Dodgers broke through against Jonathon Papelbon. Belisario (1.26 ERA) continues his quick ascent in the Dodgers’ pen, as he is now the primary set-up man for Kenley Jansen. Hierarchy change: Ronald Belisario to Set-up, Josh Lindblom to 2nd in line.

June 4, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers – Ronald Belisario pitched another scoreless inning on Sunday, a day after pitching the 8th inning ahead of Kenley Jansen. Belisario, with a 1.35 ERA, has surpassed Javy Guerra on the Dodgers depth chart. Hierarchy change: Ronald Belisario to 2nd in line, replacing Javy Guerra.

May 10, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers – Javy Guerra’s demotion seems to have dropped him several spots down the Dodgers bullpen hierarchy; Josh Lindblom pitched the 8th inning in a close game last night. Hierarchy change: Josh Lindblom to Set-up, Javy Guerra to 2nd in line.

May 8, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers – Don Mattingly before Monday’s series opener said that he was removing Javy Guerra from the closer role. Kenley Jansen will close in his place, Mattingly said. Hierarchy change: Kenley Jansen to Closer, Javy Guerra to Set-up.

May 7, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers – Javy Guerra blew another save on Sunday, and for the first time, manager Don Mattingly expressed wavering confidence in the righty, saying that he’d have to keep looking at the closer role. Guerra will likely get one more shot to close before being benched, though he remains firmly on the Hot Seat and is a good bet to lose his job with one more blown save. No hierarchy change.

April 30, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers — As predicted in Sunday’s Vulture Save Watch, Kenley Jansen collected the save for the Dodgers, striking out the side with two walks. Don Mattingly stressed after the game that he intends to keep Javy Guerra in the closer role, however. No hierarchy change.

April 29, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers – Josh Lindblom pitched the 8th last night and has been used recently in close game situations in the later innings. Scott Elbert started the 9th because there were two lefties up and it looks like he will be used more as a situational lefty. Ultimately Javy Guerra came on and gave up the go ahead runs. Mattingly may have been trying help his closer out by having Elbert start against the lefties which is a sign that he might be losing faith in Guerra. No closer change yet but it will be interesting to see who gets called on for the next save opportunity. Hierarchy change: Josh Lindblom to 2nd in line, replacing Scott Elbert.

April 28, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers – Kenley Jansen got the save last night. Manager Don Mattingly said after the game on Wednesday that Guerra was still his guy so he might have just been giving him a day off after taking a line drive off his jaw his last time out. Guerra is already on the hot seat but hasn’t lost his job yet. No hierarchy change.

April 26, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers – Javy Guerra blew the save last night and took the loss for the second consecutive game. Guerra has gone 0-2 and only 2/4 in save opportunities in his last 5 games. Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless 8th and could take Guerra’s job if he continues to pitch poorly. Javy Guerra to Hot Seat.

April 25, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers – Matt Guerrier was placed on the DL Tuesday with elbow tendinitis. Scott Elbert pitched the 7th in a tie game and will likely move back into that role. Hierarchy change: Scott Elbert to 2nd in line, replacing Matt Guerrier.

April 14, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers – Kenley Jansen came in for the save with the Dodgers up 2 in the 9th but was unable to convert the save opportunity. Javy Guerra is still clearly the closer and was just getting a day off after pitching three consecutive days. No hierarchy change.

April 6, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers- Matt Guerrier pitched the 7th inning in a two-run game last night. With Guerrier and the also-talented Mike MacDougal eating up the middle innings for the Dodgers, Scott Elbert might be reduced to a LOOGY role. Hierarchy change: Matt Guerrier to 2nd in line, replacing Scott Elbert.

April 1, 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers- Javy Guerra will start as the closer based on last year, but he’ll be looking over his shoulder at fireballer Kenley Jansen, who is a strong candidate to close soon. Scott Elbert picked up the odd save chances for the Dodgers last year, and with no major additions, he could assume the role if Guerra and Jansen go down. Starting 2012 hierarchy: Closer- Javy Guerra, Set-up- Kenley Jansen, 2nd in line- Scott Elbert.

Sept. 15, 2011
Los Angeles Dodgers- With Javy Guerra getting the night off, it was Kenley Jansen, not Mike MacDougal, who picked up the save in last night’s Dodgers victory. Guerra should resume closing tonight, though he’s been knocked around as of late. Hierarchy change: Kenley Jansen to Set-up, Mike MacDougal to 2nd in line. Javy Guerra to Hot Seat.

Sept. 9, 2011
Los Angeles Dodgers- Kenley Jansen pitched the 7th inning last night, while Mike MacDougal pitched the 8th. It was Jansen, not MacDougal, who picked up a scavenger save when Guerra had a recent night off, but over the past two weeks, MacDougal has pitched later in games than Jansen. Hierarchy change: MacDougal to Set-up, Jansen to 2nd in line.

Sept. 2, 2011
Los Angeles Dodgers- Since returning from the DL, Kenley Jansen has been thrust back in to his late-inning role. With Javy Guerra on the bench after pitching two straight days, Jansen was called upon for the save last night. Hierarchy change: Jansen to Set-up, MacDougal to 2nd in line.

Aug. 23, 2011
Los Angeles Dodgers- Scott Elbert was used rather early in last night’s game while the Dodgers were losing. Their 8th inning role has been muddled, but Elbert’s early outing coupled with Mike MacDougal and his stellar 2.18 ERA suggest that MacDougal is the go-to guy now, should Guerra go down. Hierarchy change: MacDougal to Set-Up, Elbert to 2nd in line.