Central intelligence
It's been an eventful week, or month, for the closers of the American League Central. Here's a look at how this critical position shapes up around the division:
Cleveland's Cody Allen has eclipsed 20 saves for three consecutive seasons, but it remains unclear how manager Terry Francona intends to use Allen and newly acquired lefthander Andrew Miller. Since Miller came aboard Aug. 1, each reliever has converted one save opportunity, and Francona hasn't clarified how he will use his pair of closers.
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Kelvin Herrera has calmed Kansas City's fears about Wade Davis' flexor injury by earning three August saves entering Saturday, but Herrera also has entered a couple of tie games and taken the loss in both. Fortunately for the Royals, Davis should return before the end of the month.
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The Tigers' Francisco Rodriguez, who leads active relievers in saves, entered Saturday having racked up 32 saves in 35 chances this year. But he's 34, too, and had allowed runs to score in three of his past four appearances, triggering an annual event in Detroit: worrying about the bullpen.
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Back-to-back blown saves in Kansas City ballooned White Sox righthander David Robertson's ERA to 4.18, unheard of for a closer, and triggered whispers in Chicago that he might be available in a waiver trade this month.