PT TOMORROW: AL East—Time for a lefty closer in TAM?

Tampa Bay Rays

Is this finally it for Grant Balfour (RHP, TAM)? After five straight scoreless appearances (4.1 IP) in which he did not walk a batter, gave up only two hits and struck out four, Balfour imploded June 8. Balfour entered a scoreless game in the top of the ninth and, after striking out the first two batters, proceeded to yield 5 ER on four hits (two triples, one double) and two walks.

BaseballHQ.com bullpen analyst Doug Dennis took a look at the Tampa relief crew back on May 28 and concluded with a recommendation to roster Juan Carlos Ovideo (RHP, TAM), though since then only two of Oviedo’s four appearances have been clean. Meanwhile, the skills of periodic fill-in Joel Peralta (RHP, TAM) have been quite strong over the...

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