Balfour upset about losing job: After recording two blown saves and a lowly 11.81 ERA over his past seven games, Oakland relief pitcher Grant Balfour was removed from the team's closer position, MLB.com reports. Athletics manager Bob Melvin made the decision last week after a meeting with Balfour and inserted Brian Fuentes into the role. "I told him I wasn't happy," Balfour said Sunday. "I was [ticked] off. That's fine. Whatever. I'll just go on the field and do what I gotta do." (Updated 05/13/2012)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/25/12).
Fantasy Analysis
Melvin officially announced the decision after Fuentes posted his second save on Saturday night. Balfour, who began the season with five straight saves before losing his first lead, now owns a 4.41 ERA through 16 1/3 innings. "I had a couple bad games," Balfour said. "I feel like I pitched pretty good for the last year and a month, and a couple bad games and there goes that. It's kind of a bummer." Melvin said Balfour could regain the closer role at some point this season, but will now pitch in the seventh and eighth innings. Consider him a low-end Fantasy option while he's out of the ninth inning. (Updated 05/13/2012).
05/19/2012 19:17 Giants continue to feast on A's at home
Ryan Vogelsong allowed one hit in seven scoreless innings and played a key role in San Francisco's go-ahead rally as the Giants beat the Oakland Athletics for the 11th straight time at home, 4-0 on Saturday.
05/17/2012 18:27 A's overcome iffy call, nip Rangers in 10
Kila Ka'aihue had a tiebreaking single in the 10th inning, and the Oakland A's bounced back from a disputed call on a squeeze play that cost them the lead to beat the Texas Rangers 5-4 Thursday.
05/16/2012 12:56 Fantasy Relief: Let's be Frank about Francisco
Another week, another round of closer news. Are you on a never ending hunt for saves? Our Michael Hurcomb touches on some of the more volatile situations in his latest edition of Fantasy Relief.
05/13/2012 20:46 Verlander leads Tigers past A's
Justin Verlander struck out eight to win his fourth straight decision and the Detroit Tigers beat the ailing Oakland Athletics 3-1 on Sunday to salvage a series split.
Grant Balfour posted an ERA under 3.00 for the third time in the last four seasons in 2011 and will have a larger role out of the bullpen heading into 2012. With Andrew Bailey leaving Oakland via trade, the right-hander will step in as the new closer, beating out Brian Fuentes and Fautino De Los Santos for the job this spring. While he went just 2 for 7 in save chances a year ago, he has struck out 370 batters in 335 2/3 innings in his career in the majors and does not walk many. The 34-year-old obviously gets a big boost in value with the change in role. He's worth targeting as a low-end No. 2 reliever late in mixed-league drafts. (Updated 3/25/12)
Actual 
AccuScore Projections) Note: Points are rounded down.
= probable start