Andrew Bailey Saves First Game; Zielger Still Out

Andrew Bailey threw two perfect innings in relief to record his first save of the season. Bailey stayed in for the ninth as Brad Ziegler is still recovering from his bout with the flu.

Reports said that Brad Ziegler lost up to 8 pounds and should be ready to pitch by Monday. That being said, we expect the A's to give Ziegler another 5-7 days before sliding him into the closer role. It could be longer depending on Zieglers performances.

Andrew Bailey is available in over 60% of the leagues, but he's getting picked up quickly. He should get a few save chances and you never know, he could get the job. I doubt that he will take the job from Zielger, but he's worth a roster spot if you need saves.

Oakland A's Closer Report

In spring training the A's were set to have two closers and use them both often. However, things changed when Joey Devine sprained his pitching elbow and in my opinion that was a good thing for the A's. He is on the 60-Day DL and won't likely pitch again this year and if he does, it won't be as closer.

Brad Ziegler is a solid closer for the A's. His Dan Quisenberry submarine-style of pitching really works for a closer. Its an odd and rarely seen pitching style and hitters don't look forward to the change in the final inning of a game. That is a hard adjustment to make and is a big reason for Ziegler's success.

If you have Devine on your roster, cut him. He's not worth holding. So far this season Ziegler has been great. He has recorded 3 saves, a 2.57 ERA, and 6 K's in seven innings. Continue to expect production out of the A's closer and expect a 30+ save year for a healthy Brad Ziegler.