Brian Fuentes picked up his second save of the month while giving up a run in the ninth Saturday against the Tigers.

Fuentes has given up a run in both of his save chances, but he's converted them both anyway. Grant Balfour is still the top option to close in Oakland, but since the A's will want to be careful with him, Fuentes could continue to get some opportunities.

According to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, Brian Fuentes is "expected to be" the A's closer this season.

Fuentes has been battling Grant Balfour for the job this spring. Though neither reliever has been all that sharp in the Cactus League, Fuentes does carry more experience in the role. The veteran lefty probably won't carry a ton of fantasy value, but any pitcher in line for save opportunities deserves to be owned and made active.

Brian Fuentes and Grant Balfour both pitched scoreless innings in relief Friday against the Mariners.

Neither Fuentes nor Balfour has managed to set himself apart so far. Fuentes is sporting a 9.00 ERA this spring, while Balfour is at 9.64. The A's are expected to announce a closer before much longer. Fuentes' experience could work in his favor here.

Athletics reinstated LHP Brian Fuentes from the bereavement list.

Fuentes will return to a 3.96 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 60 games this season. He holds a 1.80 ERA over 19 post-All-Star break outings.

Athletics placed LHP Brian Fuentes on the bereavement list.

Players are required to stay on the bereavement list for a minimum of three days, so Fuentes is eligible to return Saturday. The Athletics have called up Jerry Blevins to replace him in the bullpen.

The A's are "taking calls on" relievers Brian Fuentes, Michael Wuertz and Craig Breslow.

In addition to blowing three saves while posting a 4.62 ERA and 29/17 K/BB ratio in 39 innings of work this season, Fuentes has posted a bizarre reverse split, with lefties hitting .314 off of him and righties batting just .224. He's also due roughly $7 million between now and the end of next season. His market should be less than robust.

Brian Fuentes picked up a save Sunday by slamming the door on the Giants.

Andrew Bailey earned saves on both Friday and Saturday, so he was likely unavailable for this one. But make no mistake -- Bailey is the clear closer here. He has converted four straight saves successfully and Fuentes was simply filling in today.

Brian Fuentes got knocked around for three runs on three hits in an inning of work on Thursday.

A little more than two weeks after ripping A's manager Bob Geren, Fuentes displayed his stuff for new skipper Bob Melvin. Unfortunately, his stuff once again was not working. The former interim closer has most losses (seven) on a team mired in a 10-game losing streak, and the worst ERA (4.88) on a team with the AL's best ERA. With the weapons the A's have in their bullpen, don't be surprised if the 35-year-old Fuentes starts losing late-inning relief opportunities.

Brian Fuentes picked up his first save since May 8 with a scoreless ninth inning Saturday against the Orioles.

Fuentes was working for the first time since complaining about manager Bob Geren following a fourth straight loss Monday. Using Fuentes in the ninth was probably the right move tonight, as the Orioles were due to send up nothing but right-handers in the eighth inning. Grant Balfour was the better choice then, and Fuentes proved just fine in working a hitless ninth.

Brian Fuentes ripped A's manager Bob Geren after the club's Monday evening loss to the Angels.

Fuentes, who has been acting as Oakland's closer through the first two months of the regular season, was thrown into a tie game Monday night and allowed Anaheim's go-ahead run. "There's just no communication," he told reporters afterward. "Two games, on the road, bring the closer in a tied game, with no previous discussions of doing so. I don't think anybody really knows which direction he's headed." Andrew Bailey will be back within a week to reclaim ninth inning duties. Grant Balfour may be worth grabbing for now.

Brian Fuentes was handed a loss in a fourth straight appearance and fell to 1-7 on the season after walking one of the two hitters he faced Monday against the Angels.

Fuentes entered a tie game in the eighth and walked Erick Aybar before getting a groundout. After he left with a man on first and one out, Michael Wuertz came in and allowed the go-ahead run to score. Fuentes is now on pace for 24 losses this year, so it looks like Mike Maroth might be off the hook.

Brian Fuentes took the loss Sunday against the Giants after yielding the game-winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning.

Fuentes now has six losses on the season and three since Wednesday. His ERA is up to 4.71 and Andrew Bailey is nearing a return. We wouldn't move on from Fuentes yet, but owners should be preparing to explore other options for saves.

Brian Fuentes took his fifth loss Saturday after giving up a run in the 10th against the Giants.

A single, a sac bunt, an intentional walk and another single left Fuentes 1-5 on the season. He's still a candidate for saves in Oakland's pen with Andrew Bailey out, but Grant Balfour looks like the team's better option right now.

Brian Fuentes hasn't pitched since May 8.

The A's simply haven't had a save opportunity for the 35-year-old lefty. Fuentes should be able to rack up a couple more chances before Andrew Bailey returns. He'll be worth owning through the end of May.

After entering a tie game, Brian Fuentes gave up three runs in one-third of an inning to take a loss Tuesday against the Indians.

Fuentes entered tonight's game with a .173 average against, only to give up hits to four of the six batters he faced tonight. While Fuentes is 7-for-9 saving games, he's already taken three losses. He's not going to be worth holding on to in fantasy leagues after Andrew Bailey returns.

Brian Fuentes got the final four outs against the Mariners Sunday to earn his sixth save.

Fuentes has been solid while subbing for Andrew Bailey, but the incumbent will still get his job back. Fuentes effectiveness is just buying the A's more time. Owners should simply hold Fuentes until Bailey proves his health.

One night after giving up six runs, Brian Fuentes pitched a scoreless ninth Saturday to protect the Athletics' 5-1 lead.

It wasn't a save situation, but the A's let Fuentes pitch anyway. Since he threw 37 pitches Friday and 22 tonight, odds are that he's going to get Sunday off. However, Grant Balfour could also be unavailable after throwing 31 pitches tonight. That might mean Craig Breslow will be in line for a save chance.

After blowing a save by allowing a solo homer in the ninth, Brian Fuentes gave up five runs -- four earned -- in the 10th Friday to take a loss to the Tigers.

It was pretty surprising to see Fuentes sent back out against the right-handed-heavy Detroit lineup. In his defense, things could have gone a whole lot better for him. The bottom of the 10th started with a Daric Barton error, and the A's opted to have him intentionally walk Jhonny Peralta before any runs scored and then later Miguel Cabrera after two runs were already in. The inning exploded from there, and the Tigers ended up taking an 8-1 lead. Fuentes should remain the clear favorite for saves in Oakland with Andrew Bailey out, though we're guessing it'd be Grant Balfour who gets the call if there's a ninth-inning lead Saturday.

Brian Fuentes picked up his fifth save of the season in Wednesday's 7-4 defeat of the White Sox.

Fuentes hit a rough patch in his regular season debut and blew a game for the A's, but he's now converted five straight save opportunities and remains the favorite for chances in Oakland until Andrew Bailey returns. He is sporting a 2.70 ERA and 0.75 WHIP.

Brian Fuentes was unavailable for Tuesday's game due to a blister.

Grant Balfour was used in a save situation Tuesday, but he gave up a two-run walk-off home run to Yunel Escobar. Fuentes has actually been unavailable for a few days, but Athletics manager Bob Geren is hopeful that the left-hander will be ready to go Wednesday.