Kyle Bear Clawed

Marlins right-hander Kyle Barraclough was dominant throughout the first half of the 2018 season. He wrestled closer duties away from Brad Ziegler by early June and he entered the All-Star break in mid-July with a shiny 1.28 ERA in 42 1/3 innings. A number of contending teams inquired about trading for him ahead of the July 31 deadline.

But the wheels have completely fallen off for Barraclough over the last week -- he’s allowed 12 earned runs over his last six appearances covering just 4 2/3 innings -- and Marlins manager Don Mattingly announced Tuesday afternoon that the 28-year-old right-hander won’t be getting any save chances for at least a little while. "We'll just work him back in, and hopefully the next inning he's in, he's not walking the tightrope and there is no room for error," Mattingly said of shifting Barraclough into a lower-leverage role. "Just get him back on track. He feels good."

On the topic of who might take over as the team’s closer, Mattingly said this: "We'll just try to piece it together. Probably the other side of the off-day [on Thursday] we'll have a better feel for some different combinations. It's not going to be one guy. It can be anybody. That's my early thinking on it."

Javy Guerra got a save on Monday night against the Cardinals and hard-throwing right-hander Tayron Guerrero has been sharp lately, but Drew Steckenrider is probably the guy to pick up in fantasy leagues. The 27-year-old right-hander owns a 2.98 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 84 2/3 innings since breaking into the major leagues in May 2017 and has been talked about as the closer of the future in Miami. If anyone’s going to run away with the job, it’s probably him.

Barraclough fantasy owners might want to simply move on, as there are less than eight weeks left in the regular season and it would appear he has essentially run out of gas. Also, it’s not like the Marlins are going to carry a ton of leads into the ninth inning down the stretch.

In Other NL East Closer News …

If it’s still an option by the time you read this, go pick up Ryan Madson.

Kelvin Herrera, who’s been filling in as the Nationals’ closer with Sean Doolittle nursing a stress reaction in his left foot, was removed from a ninth-inning appearance in the second half of Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Braves after experiencing tightness in his right shoulder. He will undergo an MRI on Wednesday morning and acknowledged to reporters that he is concerned about what the results will show, as he had trouble finishing his pitches on Tuesday night.

Madson doesn’t have great overall numbers this season -- a 4.32 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and 39/15 K/BB ratio in 41 2/3 innings -- but he’s allowed just one run over his last 11 appearances dating back to July 8 and he was terrific down the stretch last year in Washington. It’s clear he’s going to be the preferred ninth-inning option for manager Davey Martinez with Doolittle and Herrera both now injured, Brandon Kintzler pitching for the Cubs, and Shawn Kelley working for the A’s.

Doolittle hasn’t made much progress since landing on the disabled list July 7, so Madson could potentially run away with this gig. These are the sort of late-season waiver wire grabs that can win fantasy leagues.

Donaldson Set For Sprinting

Josh Donaldson was supposed to be a big trade chip for the Blue Jays at this year’s July 31 non-waiver deadline, but he suffered a left calf injury in late May and has been on the disabled list ever since. The focus has now shifted to whether the 32-year-old impending free agent third baseman can get back to full health before the August 31 waiver trade deadline so that the Jays might be able to flip him for prospects.

Donaldson has been jogging, hitting, throwing, and fielding groundballs since mid-July, per Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca, and is expected to advance to sprinting workouts within the next couple of days at the team’s spring training complex in Dunedin, Florida. That full-intensity running is the final hurdle for Donaldson before he is cleared to begin a minor league rehab assignment. Once he officially begins playing in rehab games, the Blue Jays can place him on waivers. He should get to a contending team at that point or maybe even pass through waivers unclaimed, as there is still over $7 million remaining on his salary for 2018. If he goes unclaimed, Toronto can deal him to any team and would likely get a substantial return of young talent.

Donaldson has appeared in just 36 games this season and hit just .234/.333/.423 when healthy, but he averaged a .946 OPS with 37 home runs and 100 RBI per year between 2015-2017.

National League Quick Hits: Nationals signed reliever Greg Holland to a one-year contract … Matt Carpenter clubbed a go-ahead home run, his National League-leading 30th home run of the season, in the eighth inning of the Cardinals' comeback victory over the Marlins on Tuesday …  Charlie Blackmon picked up his 1000th career hit, going 2-for-4 with a pair of singles and a run scored in the Rockies’ lopsided loss to the Pirates on Tuesday … Manuel Margot went 3-for-5 with a homer, a triple, and five RBI in the Padres’ win over the Brewers on Tuesday … Steven Matz (arm) will miss more than one start … Josh Bell (oblique) could be activated off the disabled list Wednesday … A.J. Minter nailed down his ninth save Tuesday against the Nationals … The Reds will finally promote Robert Stephenson to make his season debut in a start Wednesday against the Mets … Braves placed starter Max Fried on the 10-day disabled list with a left groin strain … Ben Zobrist made an early exit from Tuesday's game against the Royals due to tightness in his left hip … Sean Newcomb fanned six while tossing six innings of one-run ball Tuesday, taking a no-decision in the Braves' win over the Nationals … Jameson Taillon allowed two runs on 10 hits in a complete-game victory over the Rockies on Tuesday … Hyun-Jin Ryu (groin) worked five innings of one-run ball Tuesday in a rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City … Sal Romano allowed just two hits and one run over six-plus innings in the Reds’ victory over the Mets on Tuesday … Brewers placed reliever Matt Albers on the 10-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain … Chase d’Arnaud is day-to-day with a left knee contusion … Pirates placed utilityman Sean Rodriguez on the 10-day disabled list with a left abdominal strain … Dodgers placed reliever Daniel Hudson on the 10-day disabled list with right forearm tightness … Diamondbacks designated infielder Deven Marrero for assignment … Brewers claimed right-hander Ariel Hernandez off waivers from the Dodgers; optioned him to Triple-A Colorado Springs … Pirates claimed left-hander Buddy Boshers off waivers from the Astros; optioned him to Triple-A Indianapolis.

American League Quick Hits: Blue Jays placed infielder Brandon Drury on the 10-day disabled list with a fractured left hand … Chris Sale (shoulder) is slated to return to the Red Sox rotation Sunday in Baltimore … J.D. Martinez belted his league-leading 34th home run and drove in four runs Tuesday in Toronto … Jacoby Ellsbury underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a torn labrum in his left hip and is expected to need about six months to recover … Rougned Odor had a two-run homer and a two-run double as the Rangers topped the Mariners on Tuesday … Mike Fiers will make his A's debut on Wednesday in Oakland against the visiting Dodgers … Tyler White hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning Tuesday as the Astros beat the Giants … Aaron Sanchez (finger) is set to begin a rehab assignment Thursday in the Gulf Coast League … Willy Adames hit a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth to give the Rays a win over the Orioles on Tuesday … Marcus Stroman was pulled from his start Tuesday against the Red Sox due to a right middle finger blister … Rafael Devers (hamstring) will be activated off the disabled list on Wednesday … Daniel Robertson had surgery to repair a ligament tear in his left thumb Tuesday and isn't expected back this season … Tyler Glasnow fanned nine while pitching four innings and allowing one run Tuesday against the Orioles … Fernando Rodney nailed down his 25th save of the season in the Twins' victory over the Indians on Tuesday … Robinson Cano went 1-for-4 with a single and a run scored Tuesday in his second rehab game at Triple-A Tacoma … Shohei Ohtani (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday … Lourdes Gurriel (knee, ankle) took groundballs and hit in the cage on Tuesday … Adalberto Mejia was removed from his start Tuesday night against the Indians due to a left wrist strain … Delino DeShields (head) began running on a treadmill Tuesday … Angels placed starter Nick Tropeano on the 10-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation … Twins placed reliever Matt Belisle on the 10-day disabled list with right knee chondromalacia … Craig Gentry (rib) will begin a minor league rehab assignment Tuesday with Double-A Bowie … Rangers claimed left-hander Zac Curtis off waivers from the Phillies; optioned him to Triple-A Round Rock.