Washington Nationals call up reliever Drew Storen
With Tyler Clippard(notes) on pace to pitch over 110 innings and Brian Bruney(notes) on pace to walk over 110 batters (not really, but close), the Washington Nationals have called-up Drew Storen(notes) to aid the relief corps. Bruney was designated for assignment.
It shouldn't take long for Storen to find himself pitching in high-leverage situations for Washington. This from MLB.com's Bill Ladson:
[Jim] Riggleman is hoping that Storen will be one of the late-inning relievers. The Nationals have had a tough time finding a reliever who could help setup man Tyler Clippard and closer Matt Capps(notes). … "We are going to use him as needed," Riggleman said. "I wouldn't use him in long stints. It will kind of find itself where those innings will be."
Storen, 22, was the tenth overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft and he's been considered the Nats' closer of the future ever since. The right-hander was a dominant reliever in his two seasons at Stanford (12-4, 15 SV, 116 Ks in 99.0 IP), then he was nearly unhittable at three stops in Washington's minor league system in 2009 (11 SV, 0.78 WHIP, 49 Ks, 8 BB in 37.0 IP). This year, he's divided his time between Double-A and Triple-A, and he's been terrific at both levels (1.12 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 15 Ks in 16.0 IP).
Nonetheless, you're not adding Storen immediately in standard public-style mixed leagues. He's just on the watch list. Storen has a chance to finish the year as the Nats' closer, sure, but he doesn't have the job just yet. He's of interest in N.L.-only and/or dynasty formats right now — and he's certainly in play in leagues that use holds as a category — but that's as far as it goes. Capps has been annoyingly good. Until that changes (or Capps is dealt), Storen will only have low-dosage ratio value in fantasy leagues.
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