by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (5/22/2013) Rockies reliever Rex Brothers stepped into the closer's role Wednesday against the Diamondbacks, with Rafael Betancourt nursing a groin injury. Brothers allowed a hit but earned his first save, throwing nine pitches in the 4-1 win.
Brothers lowered his ERA to 0.42, with 21 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings. He has a 1.13 WHIP and six holds working mostly in middle relief.
Time to add Rex Brothers
by Nando Di Fino | Senior Fantasy Writer (5/22/2013) With Rafael Betancourt possibly headed to the DL with a groin injury, the Rockies will likely turn to Rex Brothers to close out games in Betancourt's absence.
Brothers, 25, is 1-0 with a 0.44 ERA and 1.13 WHIP this season, striking out 21 batters in 20 1/3 innings. He has one career save, but his high striekout rate (11.4 K/9 in 145 career appearances) and decent ratios should be enough to get him the job.
The Rockies have surprised Fantasy players already this season -- sending Tyler Colvin to the minors and releasing Chris Nelson, for example -- so it's not a sure thing that Matt Belisle or Wilton Lopez won't get the interim job, but Brothers has been stellar this season, pitches regularly in the eighth and ninth inning, and hasn't given up a run since April 6.
Rex Brothers not giving up many runs
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/7/2013) Rockies reliever Rex Brothers has been stellar out of the Colorado bullpen this season. Through 16 appearances, Brothers has a 0.63 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings.
Brothers has allowed only one run and heads into Tuesday's game against the Yankees having tossed 11 straight scoreless innings. Brothers is also 1-0 with four holds. His only glaring weaknesss thus far has been his seven walks.
Rex Brothers a leading closer-in-waiting
by Al Melchior | Data Analyst (4/17/2013) The early season has gone smoothly for Rockies closer Rafael Betancourt, but he is a strong candidate to be one of this season's closer casualties, and setup man Rex Brothers stands to benefit.
Betancourt is in the final season of his four-year deal, and even if the Rockies don't deal him, his declining strikeout rate and penchant for allowing flyballs could lead to an extended slump and an eventual demotion.
Brothers is currently owned in only five percent of the leagues on CBSSports.com, but with owners always on the lookout for pitchers with potential save opportunities, he should be on more Fantasy rosters.
With a 1.23 ERA and eight strikeouts in seven innings, owners may start to take notice of Brothers, so beat the rush and stash him now in deeper leagues.
Brothers learns to relax
(2/14/2013) Rockies reliever Rex Brothers told the Denver Post on Thursday that his strong finish in 2012 -- a 1.52 ERA over his final 23 innings -- had a reason behind it: he started using his changeup more and practiced some relaxation techniques. "When I was on the mound, my eyes looked like I was falling asleep. It was just part of learning not to be so tense," Brothers said. "I realized I can still be effective without trying to throw the ball by everyone."
