MLB Injury Report

The Seattle Mariners are lucky that they are only one game out of the A.L. West division lead, and a game above .500, given that both J.J. Putz and Erik Bedard have already seen stints on the disabled list, only a month into the 2008 season.

Fantasy owners are probably not so fortunate, given the early round status of both pitchers. However, there is good news on the horizon, as both players should be active and pitching by Sunday.

Putz was actually activated Tuesday afternoon in time for the M's game against the Baltimore Orioles, which they won, with his help no less. Putz picked up the save and reportedly hit 97 mph on the gun, needing four batters to record the save after giving up a double to Aubrey Huff to open up the inning. Two strikeouts later, the soul patch was in full effect. Or something like that. Get Putz active in all leagues.

For your fantasy assistance, Always Be Closing will occasionally stop in and take a look at some relief gigs that are worth monitoring, should the current closer falter. Finding saves is a cheap and dirty business. And there are always a few jobs that are murky, especially early in the season. Thinking ahead never hurt anyone.

Milwaukee Brewers -- Currently, Eric Gagne, he of the longest save streak in MLB history and Mitchell Report implications, is the closer. His name is funny for blown saves because it has so many "choke" implications in it. But it's not funny if you're Ned Yost or a fantasy owner dealing with the ERA inflation. The reality is, Gagne has lost something, whether it's an outside boost or an inside-the-head thing; if you witnessed his meltdown against the Cubs, it's obvious. Derrick Turnbow might not be the answer though, because one would think the Brewers wouldn't pay Gagne if they already had him and felt he could close. David Riske is the guy I'd take a cheap run at -- last season in Kansas City he had nearly a 2:1 K:BB ratio and he very quietly hasn't had an ERA over 4.00 since 2003.