Jose Valverde picked up his first save with a perfect ninth Tuesday against the Rays.

Valverde will just have to start a new save streak after blowing his first chance on Opening Day. He was feeling under the weather over the weekend, which is probably why he didn't get into the crazy game Sunday that the Tigers won in 12 innings.

Tigers exercised RHP Jose Valverde contract option for 2012.

It was a foregone conclusion. Valverde often makes things interesting, but after he went 49-for-49 in save chances for the Tigers this season, they had little choice but to bring the closer back in 2012. He'll make $9 million next year before becoming a free agent next offseason.

According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, the Tigers are expected to pick up Jose Valverde's $9 million option for 2012.

No surprise here. There's an argument to be made that the Tigers could get more bang for their buck if they decline and try their luck in a saturated market for closer-types, but it appears Valverde will be rewarded for going a perfect 49-for-49 in save opportunities during the regular season. It's certainly not an outrageous sum, so hard to get too worked up about it.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland confirmed that Jose Valverde and Joaquin Benoit are unavailable for Game 5 of the ALCS against the Rangers on Thursday.

Valverde and Benoit have both pitched three straight days. Facing elimination, the Tigers are hoping that Justin Verlander and Phil Coke can get them to Game 6 on Saturday.

Jose Valverde served up the go-ahead RBI single and then a three-run homer in the extra innings loss to the Rangers Wednesday in Game 4 of the ALCS.

He pitched a spotless 10th innings, but Tigers manager Jim Leyland pressed his luck in sending Papa Grande back out for another frame, as his closer had already pitched four innings over the last three days. Valverde has converted all three save chances this postseason but has struggled in non-save opportunities.

Jose Valverde pitched a perfect ninth inning to close out the win for the Tigers in Thursday's Game 5 ALCS win over the Yankees.

Papa Grande said after the Tigers' Game 2 win that the series wasn't going to make it back to New York. It did, but at least Valverde did his part with an easy ninth inning to close out the one-run win, getting Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano to fly before A-Rod swung through a heater to end it. The rotund closer has now successfully converted all 51 of his save chances this year in the regular season and playoffs.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said closer Jose Valverde is available Tuesday night.

Valverde has thrown 53 pitches over the past two days, but Detroit is entering an elimination game Tuesday at Comerica Park against the Yankees and Leyland wants his stopper available. Valverde was 49-for-49 in save opportunities in the regular season with a 2.24 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP, all while averaging nearly one strikeout per inning. He has allowed two earned runs on two hits and four walks over two appearances against the Yankees thus far in the ALDS. It's worth noting that the 33-year-old compiled career highs in both games and innings pitched this year.

Jose Valverde told reporters after Sunday's Game 2 victory in New York that the ALDS "is over."

"Oh yeah," said the Tiger closer, after helping his club even the five-game series. "It's over already. Verlander has it [Monday]. Next day, have the celebration in Detroit -- 100 percent. The Yankees have a good team, but I think that's it for them." Valverde made the remarks in a joking manner, but that won't matter to the Yankees or their fans.

Jose Valverde tossed a shutout frame on Wednesday to earn his 49th and final save of the regular season.

It has been a thoroughly dominating campaign for Valverde: 49-for-49 in save opportunities, a 2.24 ERA, and a 1.19 WHIP, all while averaging nearly one strikeout per inning. The Tigers certainly kept him busy, especially during the last two months, when he compiled 22 saves in 28 appearances. Along these lines, it's worth noting that the 33-year-old compiled career highs in both games and innings pitched.

Jose Valverde earned his 46th save of the season in Sunday's 3-0 defeat of the Athletics.

Valverde retired all three batters he faced -- one by strikeout, one by groundout and one by flyout. The 33-year-old right-hander boasts a 2.41 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 62/33 K/BB ratio through 67 1/3 innings this season.

Jose Valverde notched his 43rd save in Sunday's win over the Twins.

Valverde made things interesting, allowing an RBI ground out before leaving the tying runner stranded at second base to end the game. The excitable closer has yet to blow a save this season.

Jose Valverde moved to 40-for-40 in save chances with a scoreless ninth Wednesday against the Royals.

Valverde allowed a hit and a walk in this one, but he remained perfect after retiring Alcides Escobar to end the game. He has a 2.58 ERA for the season.

Jose Valverde is a perfect 39-for-39 in save opportunities this season for the Tigers.

Valverde has registered an underwhelming 1.30 WHIP and 52/31 K/BB ratio through 58 1/3 innings this season, but there's no doubt that he's getting the job done for first-place Detroit. The right-hander should remain an elite fantasy option at closer down the stretch.

Both Jose Valverde and Joaquin Benoit are unavailable to pitch Tuesday.

Each have appeared in two straight games, and evidently Tigers manager Jim Leyland wants to give them a night off. Leyland said he would mix and match for a potential save chance.

Jose Valverde stayed perfect in save chances Thursday, notching his 33rd in a clean frame against the Indians.

Valverde struck out Travis Hafner looking to lead off the inning before retiring Carlos Santana on a popup and Kosuke Fukudome on a groundout. The veteran can make it interesting at times, as his good-but-not-great 1.27 WHIP would suggest, but he's yet to slip up in the ninth inning this season.

Jose Valverde has switched agencies and is now represented by Proformance.

Valverde was previously a Praver/Shapiro client. The veteran closer has a 2.92 ERA this season and is 32-for-32 in save opportunities, despite his secondary numbers continuing a downward trend. The Tigers can either exercise his $9 million club option for next season or decline and offer him arbitration. He currently projects as a Type A free agent.

Jose Valverde finished the first half a perfect 24-of-24 in save conversions.

Outside of one implosion on the first day of July against the Dodgers, he hasn't allowed a run in an appearance since late-May. It hasn't been all good news, however. His BB/9 rate of 5.2 in the first half would be the highest of his career if it stood and his SO/9 has fallen for five straight seasons. Valverde's 1.37 WHIP also doesn't inspire confidence. He's avoided danger thus far but will have to clean up his control issues to stave off a second-half decline.

Max Scherzer kept the Royals down Thursday, limiting them to one run on six hits over 6 1/3 innings in the 3-1 win.

An Eric Hosmer double was the only extra-base hit Scherzer allowed. He's now alternated good and bad outings the last four times out, holding the Royals and Blue Jays in check but getting beat up a couple National League squads in the Dodgers and Giants. Scherzer will carry a 10-4 record but a disappointing 4.69 ERA and 1.44 WHIP into the break.

Jose Valverde took the loss in a non-save situation on Friday, allowing three runs in the ninth inning of Detroit's 4-3 setback against the Giants.

Valverde couldn't get the job done after entering a 1-1 ballgame, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one. He had not taken a loss or blown a save in 14 consecutive outings coming into this evening. For the season, he is now 2-3 with a 3.09 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and zero blown saves.

Jose Valverde has surrendered just one hit in his past eight relief appearances.

Valverde does have six walks in that span, but he's been able to perform well in damage control and can boast a 2.70 ERA through 30 innings this season. The right-hander is also 16-for-16 in save chances.