by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (5/22/2013) Dodgers manager Don Mattingly would not reveal who his closer is to reporters. However, the skipper seems to be leaning toward Kenley Jansen over Brandon League in high-stress situations based on recent use, according to MLB.com.
"I know who I want to use. But I don't know if I want to anoint anybody," Mattingly said. "I'd really like to see the bullpen get its confidence back and some semblance of order and get the guys in the roles we designed. I know where I want it to go, it just hasn't gone there. They set the roles the way they are pitching. Now it's hard to say, 'That guy deserves that inning.'"
League has a 5.51 ERA through 16 appearances while Jansen has three losses and has allowed three homers in his last 5 1/3 innings of work.
Brandon League still hasn't lost closer role
by Joe Polito | CBSSports.com (5/20/2013) Dodgers relief pitcher Brandon League appears to be safe as the team’s closer for the time being, with fellow reliever Kenley Jansen doing little to surpass League and take his job.
As our Nando Di Fino put it during Monday’s broadcast of Fantasy Baseball Today, “one takes a step back, the other one takes two steps back.” Scott White said League has a bit longer of a leash now, but that he’d still rather own Jansen.
Brandon League can't hang to late lead
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (5/19/2013) Dodgers closer Brandon League blew his second save of the season Sunday afternoon against the Braves.
League came in for Kenley Jansen with two runners on in the eighth inning. The Braves took a 5-2 lead as they scored four runs in the eighth. League was charged with two runs and two hits in one inning of work. He walked one and struck out one in his 19-pitch appearance.
League has allowed 10 runs and 14 hits over his last 9 1/3 innings of work. He is 0-2 and converted 4 of 6 save chances over that span.
Brandon League back in save column
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (5/16/2013) After being bypassed for a save chance the day before, Dodgers closer Brandon League entered Wednesday's series finale against the Nationals in the ninth inning with a two-run lead. The right-hander gave up a leadoff single but was able to strand the runner to secure a 3-1 win.
League collected his ninth save, and his first since April 28, in the victory.
Has Brandon League been supplanted as closer?
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/15/2013) Dodgers manager Don Mattingly turned to Kenley Jansen over struggling closer Brandon League to record a one-out save Tuesday against the Nationals. After the game, Mattingly was asked if he has made a change at closer -- a day after backing League as the team's ninth-inning reliever.
"We’ll see," Mattingly said, per the Los Angeles Times. "I don’t know if I really have to set roles. We always talk about where we’re at in the lineup. I know we like to create controversies and all that. Honestly, I prefer having roles where everybody knows where they’re at. But tonight I felt like Kenley was the best shot of getting that guy out."
League has allowed at least one run in six of his last seven appearances, going 0-2 with one blown save, three saves and a 9.82 ERA in that span.
Brandon League has manager's support
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (5/13/2013) Dodgers manager Don Mattingly backed closer Brandon League on Monday before a game against Washington, the Los Angeles Times reports. League has blown one save in nine tries this season.
Of course, League has also given up eight earned runs over his last seven appearances for an 0-2 record. He's 3 for 4 in save situations over that span over 7 1/3 innings, but he's allowed 11 hits, walked three and hitters are batting .367 off him.
Brandon League's struggles continue
by Adam Moore | CBSSports.com (5/12/2013) Dodgers reliever Brandon League's struggles continued Sunday against the Marlins. League, who last pitched Tuesday night, came in the ninth inning with a 5-1 lead but surrendered three hits in the inning, including a two-run double by Adeiny Hechavarria. League was able to finish the inning without more damage but has allowed a run in each of his last three appearances.
He is 0-2 with a 13.64 ERA over that span, but manager Don Mattingly said earlier this week that he will remain the team's closer.
Dodgers consider ninth-inning options
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (5/9/2013) The Dodgers considered making a change in the ninth inning after Brandon League took his second straight loss on Tuesday, but the club is sticking with the right-hander as its closer, MLB.com reports.
"Obviously I can't say I haven't given thought to it," Mattingly said before Wednesday's game against Arizona. "The games that Brandon has given up runs have been games he wasn't necessarily closing. But Kenley is throwing the ball good. I've given thought to it."
Mattingly added that he could still move Kenley Jansen into the closer's role.
"I'm just still thinking about it," Mattingly said. "We still talk about it and go back and forth. It's like anything else -- all of a sudden we flip it and then we got a mess. Not that we're not in a mess already a little bit. But Brandon is actually throwing the ball OK. He's not walking a bunch of people. In save situations, he's been really good."
Brandon League on shaky ground
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (5/8/2013) To this point, the Dodgers haven't wavered in their support of Brandon League as the closer, but he can't expect to keep the role if he keeps pitching like he has been, especially since he has arguably the best setup man in the game in Kenley Jansen behind him.
League has allowed at least one earned run in seven of his last 10 appearances. Granted, Tuesday's outing was the first in which he gave up two, but he'll need to close out some one-run games eventually. If every appearance puts the Dodgers at risk of losing, manager Don Mattingly might have to consider making a change.
If I own League, I'm making sure I also own Jansen. If I need saves, I'm also making sure I own Jansen, potentially over both Junichi Tazawa and Heath Bell.
Brandon League takes second straight loss
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (5/8/2013) Dodgers closer Brandon League took his second straight loss on Tuesday night against the Diamondbacks. He entered in the ninth inning with the game tied and issued a leadoff walk.
After recording an out, the right-hander surrendered a two-run homer to Paul Goldschmidt.
League, who struck out two, was able to make it through the frame further unscathed but not before being tagged with his second loss. His ERA rose from 4.38 to 5.40 in the 5-3 loss.
Brandon League serves up walkoff homer
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (5/5/2013) Dodgers closer Brandon League was pegged with his first loss of the season during Saturday's contest at San Francisco.
League could not keep the game leveled in the 10th as he served up a solo home run to Guillermo Quiroz. The right-hander was charged with one run and two hits in 1 1/3 innings of work in a 10-9 defeat. He walked two and struck out one in 26 pitches, 15 strikes.
League has surrendered six runs in his last 9 1/3 innings of work, including two home runs. He has a 4.38 ERA, eight saves and five strikeouts through 12 appearances.
Brandon League secures eighth save
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/28/2013) Dodgers closer Brandon League made quick work of the Brewers for his eighth save of the season Sunday afternoon.
League entered the game with a two-run lead in the ninth inning. He need just eight pitches to retire the side in order and secure a 2-0 victory.
League lowered his ERA from 4.50 to 4.09 through 11 innings of work. He has allowed three runs and five hits while converting three of his last four save opportunities.
Brandon League escapes with save No. 7
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/27/2013) Dodgers closer Brandon League had another shaky outing but escaped with his seventh save of the season Friday night against the Brewers.
League entered the game in the ninth with a three-run lead. He surrendered a run, two hits and struck out one to close out a 7-5 victory. League has allowed a run in each of his last three outings. His ERA has gone from 3.38 to 4.50 over that span.
Brandon League keeping Kenley Jansen in picture
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (4/26/2013) Don't look now, but Dodgers closer Brandon League has allowed an earned run in four of his last six appearances. He's been the antithesis of reliable.
League entered the season as the most evident example of a closer whose setup man (Kenley Jansen) is the superior pitcher, so Fantasy owners anticipated a change at some point. So far, he has yet to put that idea to rest.
I agree with Nando Di Fino that a reliever who's already getting saves, such as Edward Mujica or Jose Valverde, deserves a roster spot over Jansen, particularly if you don't already own League, but Jansen is still as valuable as a setup man can get in Fantasy.
Brandon League gives up run, notches sixth save
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (4/25/2013) Dodgers reliever Brandon League gave up a run in the ninth, but held on for his sixth save.
League gave up a solo shot to Ike Davis but did not surrender any more hits. He struck out one batter.
Brandon League blows first save
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/24/2013) Dodgers closer Brandon League entered Wednesday's contest against the Mets in the ninth inning with a one-run lead. The right-hander gave up a leadoff double to Mike Baxter and after the runner was sacrificed to third, he surrendered the game-tying, RBI single to David Wright.
League would make it through the frame further unscathed but not before being tagged with his first blown save. He is 5 for 6 in save chances with a 3.38 ERA in eight appearances.
Save chances sporadic for Brandon League
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/21/2013) Dodgers pitcher Brandon League allowed a single but kept the Orioles scoreless in the ninth inning to collect his fifth save of the season during Los Angeles' 7-4 win Sunday. League failed to record a strikeout for the third consecutive game but still managed to secure his first save since April 13.
Brandon League perfect for save No. 4
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (4/14/2013) Dodgers closer Brandon League allowed two runs and nearly blew a save his last time out, but bounced back nicely Saturday against the Diamondbacks.
League tossed a perfect ninth in the game, preserving a 7-5 win. He faced the minimum in the inning, retiring two batters on groundballs and one on a flyball. He is perfect in four save opportunities, with a 1.80 ERA in five innings of work. League has two strikeouts and one walk.
Brandon League escapes with third save
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/11/2013) Dodgers closer Brandon League entered Wednesday's contest against the Padres in the ninth inning with a three-run lead.
The right-hander retired the leadoff batter before giving up a double to Nick Hundley. He was able to record the second out but San Diego put together back-to-back hits, with one scoring a run.
League appeared to escape the frame when Chris Denorfia swung and missed at a third strike, but the ball got past the catcher, allowing another run to score.
Finally, League was able to get Yonder Alonso to pop out to end the game and secure a 4-3 win.
The 30-year-old has converted all three of his save chances.
Brandon League closes out Pirates
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/7/2013) Dodgers closer Brandon League entered Saturday's game against the Pirates in the ninth inning with a one-run lead. The right-hander worked his way around a two-out walk to make it through the frame unscathed and secure the 1-0 win.
League has converted both of his save chances this year while not allowing a run in three innings.
Brandon League picks up first save
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (4/6/2013) Dodgers closer Brandon League saved his first game of the season Friday, working a perfect ninth inning in a 3-0 win over the Pirates.
League struck out one batter and picked one out each via flyball and groundball. He has pitched two scoreless innings this season, and has yet to allow a baserunner.
Brandon League makes scoreless debut
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/4/2013) Dodgers closer Brandon League made his season debut Wednesday night against the Giants. He entered in the ninth inning with his team trailing by two and worked a scoreless frame.
League, who converted 15 of 21 save chances last season, threw just seven pitches in the appearance.
Brandon League locks down first spring save
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (3/29/2013) Dodgers closer Brandon League locked down his first spring save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning against the Angels Thursday. It was League's fourth straight scoreless appearance, lowering his spring ERA to 7.36.
Brandon League closes the door on the White Sox
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (3/24/2013) Dodgers closer Brandon League made his sixth Cactus League appearance Saturday night as he closed the door on the White Sox. League tossed a perfect ninth inning as he struck out two and picked up the save in a 10-2 win. League has not allowed a run in three of his last four appearances.
Brandon League hit hard in birthday outing
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (3/16/2013) Dodgers closer Brandon League was hit hard Saturday afternoon against the Rangers.
League, who was celebrating his 30th birthday, came in for Clayton Kershaw in the sixth and allowed a solo home run to David Murphy. He also allowed three more runs before he was pulled for J.P. Howell with one out in the frame.
He allowed four runs on four hits in two-thirds of an inning. He walked two and was pegged with his first Cactus League loss of the year. His spring ERA ballooned to 16.20.
"What a birthday outing, huh?" League said after the game.
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (3/9/2013) Dodgers closer Brandon League made his third Cactus League appearance in Saturday's contest against the Mariner. League came on for Kenley Jansen in the sixth inning as he pitched a scoreless inning, allowing just two hits in a 3-2 victory. He also struck out one and did not issue a walk.
League serves up long ball
(2/26/2013) Dodgers closer Brandon League made his Cactus League debut on Tuesday against the Giants. He worked one inning, allowing one run on one hit. His lone damage came in the form of a Brett Pill solo homer. League also struck out one while throwing eight pitches, seven for strikes.
