Wood back as Indians closer, but Chris Perez still has value

Kerry Wood returned to the Cleveland Indians' active roster over the weekend ... and after two middle-relief appearances, he's ready to reclaim his familiar role as closer. The move is great for fantasy owners who've waited over a month to get Wood into their lineups, but it's too soon to tell if he'll be able to close games effectively just yet.

The 32-year-old Wood missed the first month of the season with a strained muscle in his back. He gave up six runs in 1 2/3 innings at Class AA Akron during his rehab assignment and surrendered two more earned runs in one inning's worth of work over the weekend. Even worse, he's walked more batters than he's struck out. That's not a recipe for a successful closer.

Chris Perez converted five of seven save opportunities while Wood was out and pitched to a 2.61 ERA. In 10 1/3 innings, opponents are hitting just .220 against him, so fantasy owners shouldn't be too quick to jettison Perez. If Wood struggles -- or if he pitches well enough to spur interest in a trade -- Perez could ease back into the closer's role.

For fantasy owners those in search of that extra edge, Benchcoach.com has a look at today's top batter vs. pitcher matchups. Use these stats to make your selections in our free 56 Hit Streak game. And for those in leagues with daily transactions, these posts might also help you decide who gets the start and who sits on your bench.



(usatoday.com)