by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (5/23/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli was back on the mound Thursday against the Cubs after getting a day off Wednesday. He set the Cubs down in order for his 19th save of the season.
Grilli induced a fly ball out on the first batter he faced, and then set down the next two on strikes to preserve a 4-2 win. Grilli needed just 14 pitches to end his outing and lower his ERA to 1.25.
Grilli has a league-leading 19 saves in 19 appearances, to go along with his sterling ERA. He has struck out 34 batters and walked just five in 21 2/3 innings.
Jason Grilli allows one run, still earns save
by Jeff Tobin | Fantasy Writer (5/22/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli has been lights out all season, but he showed Tuesday he is, in fact, mortal. Grilli allowed one run on two hits and a walk to the Cubs, however he still earned the save, in a 5-4 win.
Grilli struck out one batter en route to his 18th save of the season, giving him the most in the National League. The run was just the third he has allowed all season, and second in 9 2/3 innings in the month of May.
Grilli has a 1.31 ERA in 20 2/3 innings of work, with 11 hits, five walks and 32 strikeouts.
Jason Grilli records 17th save
by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com (5/19/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli recorded his 17th save with a clean inning Sunday against Houston.
Grilli appears poised to cruise into the All-Star game. He recorded his 31st strikeout in 19 2/3 innings Sunday and he owns an absurd 0.92 ERA with just nine hits and four walks allowed.
Jason Grilli not available Thursday
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (5/16/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli is not available Thursday against the Brewers.
Grilli has pitched two-consecutive games, and will not be used a third-straight day. Setup man Mark Melancon is in the same situation, so manager Clint Hurdle will have to turn to another pitcher if the team needs to close out the game. Grilli has been fantastic this season, with 16 saves and a 1.02 ERA.
Jason Grilli converts 16th save
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (5/15/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli entered Wednesday's contest against the Brewers in the ninth inning with a two-run lead. The right-hander needed 14 pitches to retire the side in order and secure a 3-1 win.
Grilli also struck out one while earning his 16th save.
Jason Grilli's availability in question Monday
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (5/13/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli's availability is in question for Monday's game against the Brewers.
Grilli quickly put on his street clothes and left the clubhouse in a hurry Monday, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Dejan Kovacevic. Clint Hurdle said there was "nothing [he] could share" about the situation. Hurdle confirmed that Grilli's availability would be in question for Monday's game.
Jason Grilli stays dominant with 15th save
by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com (5/12/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli earned his 15th save with a clean ninth inning Sunday against the Mets.
Grilli struck out two. He has 25 Ks and a 1.15 ERA. He needed eight pitches to dispatch the side and continues to dominate in his first full season as closer in Pittsburgh.
Jason Grilli picks up one-out save
by Adam Moore | CBSSports.com (5/10/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli notched his 14th save Friday night against the Mets. Grilli, who was pegged with his first loss Thursday, came on with two outs and two on in the ninth inning sporting a 7-3 lead.
He needed only three pitches to get Ruben Tejada to line out to end the game and secure the save.
Grilli is 14 for 14 in save chances.
Jason Grilli takes first loss
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (5/9/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli was brought in to pitch the bottom of the ninth with the score tied 2-2 Thursday. He surrendered a run on two hits while only recording one out against the Mets to take his first lost of the season.
Grilli is still a perfect 13 for 13 in save opportunities this year. Thursday's run was just the second scored on Grilli this season, giving him a 1.26 ERA in 14 1/3 innings to go with a 23:4 K:BB ratio.
Jason Grilli Ks two for 13th save
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (5/7/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli entered Tuesday's series opener against the Mariners in the ninth inning with a three-run lead. The right-hander needed 15 pitches to retire the side in order and secure the 4-1 win.
Grilli also struck out two while collecting his 13th save. He has a 0.64 ERA through 15 appearances with 23 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched.
Jason Grilli proving himself worthy of closer role
by Joe Polito | CBSSports.com (5/7/2013) With a league-leading 12 saves on the season, Jason Grilli has established himself as one of the best closers in baseball so far. He’s boasting a 0.69 ERA with 21 strikeouts compared to just four walks.
Analysts on Fantasy Baseball Today once again sung praise for Pirates’ pitching coach Ray Searage for contributing to Grilli’s perpetual ninth-inning success. Keeping in mind that these numbers only reflect 13 innings of work, Nando Di Fino and Al Melchior are still buying into Grilli’s early-season production.
Jason Grilli racking up saves
by Adam Moore | CBSSports.com (5/3/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli notched 12th save Friday night against the Nationals. Grilli came on in the ninth inning and was quickly able to strikeout Ryan Zimmerman for the first out.
He did allow a one-out single to Adam LaRoche but was able to fan Tyler Moore and Danny Espinosa looking to end the game.
Grilli is 12 for 12 in save chances and has racked up 21 strikeouts over his 13 innings or work. His 12 saves also lead the majors.
Jason Grilli picks up 11th save
by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com (5/1/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli worked around a hit to pick up his 11th save Wednesday against Milwaukee.
Grilli added a strikeout as well, his 18th against four walks in 12 innings. He has been lights out this year, as he hasn't blown a save opportunity and he has allowed just one run in 13 appearances.
Jason Grilli not a huge surprise
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (4/27/2013) If you're surprised by what Jason Grilli is doing, you probably shouldn't be. Sure, the NL-leading 10 saves pop off the page for a player who entered the season with five career saves, but Grilli is mostly the same pitcher he was a year ago. The only difference is the role the Pirates are utilizing him in.
Grilli's 13.9 K/9 rate is absurd, until you realize he had a 13.8 mark last year. Similarly, his 3.27 BB/9 is in line with last season. For the most part, Grilli is the same guy as last season, the Pirates just trust him in the ninth inning in close games.
Grilli's 0.82 ERA is propped up by unsustainable strand and home run rates, but overall, the picture here is rosy. He doesn't have the track record of many shutdown closers, but Grilli has been lights out in the bullpen for three straight years. Grilli is owned in 90 percent of CBSSports.com leagues, and that number should stay high.
Jason Grilli pads saves lead
by Adam Moore | CBSSports.com (4/27/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli notched his National-League leading 10th save Saturday against the Cardinals. Grilli came on in the ninth inning sporting a 5-2 lead but ran into a little bit of trouble.
After quickly getting Daniel Descalso to pop up, the right-hander allowed two of the next three batters he faced to reach base, including Carlos Beltran, who doubled home Shane Robinson, which was the first run Grilli had allowed.
However, Grilli was able to get Matt Holliday to ground out to shortstop to end the game and secure the win. He is 10 for 10 in save chances.
Jason Grilli up to nine saves
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/24/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli collected his ninth save on Wednesday night against the Phillies. He came on in the ninth inning with a two-run lead and hit a batter with one out. The right-hander was able to strand the runner, however, to secure a 5-3 win.
Grilli also struck out one. He has 16 strikeouts in 10 innings pitched and has yet to allow a run.
Jason Grilli Ks two for eighth save
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/23/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli entered Tuesday's contest against the Phillies in the ninth inning with a two-run lead. The right-hander needed 18 pitches to retire the side in order and secure a 2-0 win.
Grilli also struck out two while collecting his eighth save.
Jason Grilli strikes out side in save
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/20/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning against the Braves Saturday, earning his sixth save. He has 11 strikeouts in seven scoreless innings.
Jason Grilli collects fifth save
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/13/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli entered Saturday's contest against the Reds in the ninth inning with a two-run lead. He was able to work his way around a two-out walk to make it through the frame unscathed and secure a 3-1 win.
Grilli also struck out one while collecting his fifth save.
The right-hander has gone a perfect 5 for 5 in save chances and has not allowed a run in 5 2/3 innings pitched.
Jason Grilli picks up fourth save
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/12/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli needed 24 pitches to walk away with the save Friday night against the Reds, surrendering one hit and one walk but striking out Brandon Phillips to end the game.
Grilli hasn't allowed a run in 4 2/3 innings, looking every bit the part of closer in the early days of the season.
Jason Grilli 3 for 3 in save chances
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/10/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli recorded his third save of the season on Tuesday night against the Diamondbacks.
He entered in the ninth inning with a one-run lead and worked his way around a two-out single to secure a 6-5 win.
Grilli, who also struck out one, has converted all three of his save chances.
Jason Grilli perfect for second save
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/9/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli entered Monday's series opener against the Diamondbacks in the ninth inning with a two-run lead. The right-hander needed just nine pitches to retire the side in order and secure the 5-3 win.
Grilli also struck out one while earning his second save.
Jason Grilli makes second appearance
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/7/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli made his second appearance of the season during Sunday's series finale against the Dodgers.
Grilli, who entered the game with one out in the eighth inning, walked Justin Sellers and allowed a single to Mark Ellis before he got out of the jam. He did not issue a walk or record a strikeout in 16 pitches. Grilli has yet to allow a run through two appearances.
Jason Grilli Ks two for first save
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/3/2013) Pirates closer Jason Grilli recorded his first save of the season on Wednesday night against the Cubs. He entered in the ninth inning with a three-run lead and needed just nine pitches to retire the side in order.
Grilli also struck out two while securing the 3-0 win.
Jason Grilli faces big-leaguers in finale
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (3/30/2013) The Pirates took the opportunity Saturday to get their entire pitching staff involved in game action, in an exhibition involving their Double-A affiliate. Closer Jason Grilli took the mound first for the Curve, throwing a scoreless inning against the team's starting lineup, while striking out two and walking one.
Grilli finished the spring with a 4.50 ERA in six innings. He is coming off another solid season in relief with a 2.91 ERA in 58 2/3 innings. This will be his first season as a full-time closer.
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (3/27/2013) It would have sounded crazy coming into spring training, but with the injuries to Jason Motte, Casey Janssen, Grant Balfour and Chris Perez, not to mention the struggles for Joel Hanrahan, Jason Grilli has five career saves at age 36 and suddenly looks like one of the safer closers to target in the middle-to-late rounds.
OK, so Janssen, Balfour and Perez will probably be ready for opening day, but none of them were entirely safe before their injuries. Plus, Bruce Rondon has disappointed, and Brandon League and Carlos Marmol are almost expected to lose their jobs at some point. Put it all together, and Grilli's lack of experience seems like the lesser of several evils.
Hey, he had 90 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings last year, so clearly has the stuff for the role. And it's not like the Pirates have a real backup plan.
Grilli pitches for Italy
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (3/5/2013) Pittsburgh closer Jason Grilli took the mound for Team Italy on Tuesday afternoon in an exhibition against Oakland before the World Baseball Classic begins. Grilli tossed a scoreless frame with one hit and one walk allowed. He had made three appearances in Grapefruit League games prior to leaving for Team Italy and had allowed two earned runs over three innings with three Ks.
Grilli pitches scoreless inning
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (3/3/2013) Pittsburgh projected closer Jason Grilli picked up a hold during Grapefruit League action on Sunday against the Astros. Grilli threw an inning in the fourth for the Pirates and struck out a batter in a perfect frame.
Grilli sharp in Grapefruit debut
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (2/24/2013) Pittsburgh projected closer Jason Grilli got some work on Sunday in Grapefruit League action against the Braves. Grilli pitched the fifth inning and eventually pulled the winning decision as he allowed just a walk in the frame. He struck out two batters for the Pirates and looked sharp during his time on the mound.
Grilli ready for new role
(2/8/2013) With the Pirates trading Joel Hanrahan during the offseason, Jason Grilli will step into the closer's role this season, one of few jobs he has had in his 10-year career. Grilli has a 2.76 ERA over the past two seasons for Pittsburgh and told MLB.com Friday that he looks forward to the new challenge. "It's been a bumpy ride," Grilli said. "I've had the attitude: Give me a broom and I'll sweep. I did my job and took pride in whatever was asked of me. But I always felt capable of so much."
Grilli to move into closer's role
by Al Melchior | Data Analyst (12/26/2012) In a long-anticipated move, the Pirates sent closer Joel Hanrahan to the Red Sox in a six-player swap on Wednesday, and according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington says that Jason Grilli will take over the ninth-inning role vacated by Hanrahan. The Pirates re-signed Grilli to a two-year, $6.75 million deal earlier this month. In 2012, Grilli notched 32 holds along with 90 strikeouts and a 2.91 ERA over 58 2/3 innings.
