Hanrahan elbow ailing

Pirates reliever Joel Hanrahan will undergo an MRI on Tuesday to check out his ailing throwing elbow. Hanrahan will also visit Dr. James Andrews, which is rarely a good sign. Hanrahan looks like he may miss opening day.

Fantasy Impact: Hanrahan appeared to have an outside chance to beat Octavio Dotel for the Pirates closing job. His chance appears to be shot.

Hanrahan loses grip on closer role

The Washington Nationals closer is no longer Joel Hanrahan. Manny Acta says he's going with a bullpen by committee for now, as there is not a clear-cut favorite for the position.

Fantasy Impact: There are really no clear closers-in-waiting in Washington, although some believe Garrett Mock is an eventual option. It's hard to feel good about Mock, however, as Acta pulled him from his setup role. The best advice is to consider Joe Beimel, Julian Tavarez and Kip Wells for closer now. Beimel will be the favorite to inherit the job once he comes off the DL, but Tavarez has more experience. Somehow, that always seems to matter.

Nationals trust Hanrahan

Joel Hanrahan received a vote of confidence from manager Manny Acta on Monday, who said Hanrahan is firmly entrenched as the team's closer despite saving just one game in three chances. Acta called up three middle relievers on Sunday, including saves candidate Garrett Mock, but stressed that Hanrahan still owns the job of closer.

Acta said, Hanrahan is not on a short leash.

"No, not at all," Acta said. "There's no such thing as a short leash for two blown saves. I think even the great Mariano Rivera has blown saves back-to-back in the past."

Joe Beimel is still considered the team's setup man, so the young guns will fall in line somewhere between the day's starter and the seventh inning.

Fantasy Impact: Hanrahan is not our idea of a stable closer, but if he's getting the nod from his manager, it's his role to lose. Consider him a low end option that won't get many chances due to the Nationals losing ways.