The best and worst closers in baseball

Ninth inning, game on the line, the other team’s top hitters coming to the plate. Which bullpen would you trust to hold the lead?

TEAM (Primary closer); THE PITCH

1. PHILADELPHIA (Ryan Madson): MLB-low 2 blown saves despite 2 injured closers

2. SAN DIEGO (Heath Bell) Bullpen 2.64 ERA best in majors

3. DETROIT (Jose Valverde) Converting AL-best 78% of save chances

4. TAMPA BAY (Kyle Farnsworth) Farnsworth’s 0.79 WHIP best among regular closers

5. CLEVELAND (Chris Perez) Perez’s only blown save was 2 months ago

6. SAN FRANCISCO (Brian Wilson). 17 bullpen wins leads MLB

7. YANKEES (Mariano Rivera): Enter Sandman – with 1.71 ERA, 1.03 WHIP.

8. PITTSBURGH (Joel Hanrahan) Hanrahan allowed 2 runs in 19 saves chances

9. ARIZONA (J. Putz): After going 16-for-16, Putz has blown 3 of 5 save chances

10. COLORADO (Huston Street) Street 19 for 21, rest of bullpen 2 of 9 in save chances

11. SEATTLE (Brandon League) League has allowed 5 hits, no runs since May 13

12. BOSTON (Jonathan Papelbon): Despite career-high 4.18 ERA, Pap has 1 blown save

13. METS (Francisco Rodriguez): Blew MLB-record 6 straight 7th-inning leads at home

14. ST. LOUIS (Fernando Salas): Blew 7 saves in 1st month, just five since

15. CHI. SOX (Sergio Santos): Have tried five closers this season

16. KANSAS CITY (Joakim Soria): Bullpen leads AL with 14 wins but has blown 9 of 21 save chances

17. CINCINNATI (Francisco Codero): Reds bullpen has walked an MLB high 118

18. OAKLAND: (Brian Fuentes) Fuentes an MLB bullpen-worst 1-7

19. ATLANTA (Craig Kimbrel): Kimbrel tied for MLB lead with 5 blown saves.

20. DODGERS (committee) 20 save opportunities fewest in NL; bullpen ERA 4.72

21. TEXAS (Neftali Feliz) Bullpen has 15 losses, third-worst ERA in AL

22. MILWAUKEE (John Axford): 15 bullpen losses tied for MLB lead

23. FLORIDA (Leo Nunez) Nunez’s has 19 saves; pen has MLB-high 15 losses

24. ANGELS (Jordan Walden): 11 blown saves most in AL

25. TORONTO (Rauch/Francisco): Twin closers have 4.79 ERA combined

26. WASHINGTON (Drew Storen): Nats have blown 13 of 33 save chances

27. BALTIMORE (Kevin Gregg): Save percentage of 59% third-worst in AL

28. CUBS (Carlos Marmol): Only Houston has a worse save percentage in NL

29. MINNESOTA (Matt Capps): Opponents hitting .271 against Twins pen

30. HOUSTON (Brandon Lyon): Bullpen has 14 losses, 14 blown saves