Chris Perez (RP)

Indians closer Chris Perez entered Monday's series opener against the Twins in the ninth inning with a one-run lead. He needed just 12 pitches to retire the side in order and secure the 5-4 win. Perez also struck out one while collecting his 12th save of the season.

Cleveland Indians RP Chris Perez worked a perfect 12-pitch ninth inning Monday, May 14, against ...

Indians closer Chris Perez took his first loss of the season on Tuesday night against the White Sox. He entered in the 10th inning with the game tied at 3-3 and gave up a base hit to the leadoff hitter. Alex Rios plated him with a triple two batters later and scored on a fielder's choice. Perez also struck out one in the 5-3 defeat.

Cleveland Indians RP Chris Perez allowed two earned runs and two hits in a non-save ...

Cleveland closer Chris Perez allowed a hit in the ninth inning on Sunday against the Rangers. That said, that was all he would allow as he earned his 11th save of the season. Perez struck out a batter and did not give up a run to lower his ERA to 2.84 on the year.

Indians closer Chris Perez was able to notch his 10th save of the season during Friday night's contest against the Rangers. Perez came on in the ninth inning of the 6-3 win and needed only 12 pitches to close out Texas. He retired three of the four batters he faced in the inning and is now 10 for 11 in save chances on the season.

Cleveland Indians RP Chris Perez worked a perfect 12-pitch ninth inning Friday, May 4, against ...

The Indians were sporting a four-run lead when Dan Wheeler took over in the ninth inning, however after a two-run home run to Adam Dunn with one out, the Indians brought in closer Chris Perez to shut the door. Perez walked the first batter he saw, Paul Konerko, however he struck out the next before getting the final out of the game on a groundout to shortstop. Perez picked up his ninth save of the...

Indians closer Chris Perez went one week in between his seventh and eighth saves. He got the job done on Wednesday when his number was called against the White Sox. He threw 15 pitches in the outing, closing the door on Chicago and preserving the 6-3 win.

Indians closer Chris Perez was able to notch his seventh save of the season during Tuesday night's contest against the Royals. Perez came on in the ninth inning and served up a leadoff double to Chris Getz. However, he was able to retire three of the next four batters he faced to pick up the save and preserve the win. Perez is now 7 for 8 in save chances this season.

Fantasy Info Central has the latest relief pitcher rankings.

The Fake Baseball explains that you cannot overreact to a really fast or really slow start. Some waiver wire/trade advice is also provided.

The method behind drafting and picking up closers is examined by USA Today.

Hot rookie Addison Reed? Cool vet Matt Thornton? Robin Ventura is driving fantasy baseball players nuts. Plus, clearing up things in KC, Boston, Toronto and more.

Thursday's opening slate of games offered some dominant starting pitching performances and some duds out of the bullpen. We don't like to jump to conclusions this early, but which of these opening results should have you most encouraged or worried?

It is important to note that while the mile per hour readings on Cleveland’s gun yesterday said both Perez and Pestano were down, the gun also read that each pitcher was down roughly the same amount. So even though Perez may still be injured, the injury did not force him to a lower velocity. Even with that disclaimer, Perez did post the lowest average mile per hour marks on his fastball and slider...

Bullpen report from around the MLB.

The starting pitchers are heroes. The hitters are zeroes. And some of the closers go even lower than that. The chase for saves is a 24-7-365 exercise. Runs have been difficult to come by in the early going — the scores on the sandlot look like scores from soccer's World Cup — but the bats tend to perk up when a closer toes the rubber. Consider the fireworks Thursday, with Chris Perez blowing up...

Need saves? Join the club. A brief analysis of a few teams' closing situations.

Carlos Marmol is on a bumpy road to recovering his fastball. Chris Perez and Ryan Madson, meanwhile, are mending quite well.