Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Monday that he's "not even considering" removing Joe Nathan from his closer role. Joba Chamberlain got the save chance Sunday (and blew it), but that was only because Nathan had pitched in two straight games. Nathan holds an ugly 7.04 ERA for the season, but he'll remain in the ninth inning indefinitely. "I'm not really thinking that far ahead. Right now, Joe is and has been the closer the whole year," Ausmus said. "The only times he hasn't closed have been games that I've felt it was best to give him a rest. If there's a bridge that needs to be crossed sometime down the road, I'll cross it. Right now, I'm not even considering it."

After taking over with a four-run lead, Joe Nathan gave up two runs and four hits in the ninth Saturday against the Red Sox. Had Joba Chamberlain not pitched the eighth, he probably would have taken over for Nathan at some point in the ninth tonight, likely after the third hit. As it was, Brad Ausmus figured Nathan was still the best option to finish it, and he managed to escape, getting Stephen Drew to fly out to end it. It was Nathan's fourth lousy appearances in the last five, but it still doesn't figure to cost him the closer's role, at least not yet. He will almost certainly need Sunday off now after pitching a scoreless inning Friday and throwing 32 pitches tonight. Chamberlain would also be working a third straight day tomorrow, but he could go anyway.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus indicated after Tuesday's game that he plans to stick with Joe Nathan as the team's closer. Nathan was rocked for four runs over two-thirds of an inning after entering in the ninth inning of a tie game. The closer has allowed eight runs over his last three appearances and 10 runs over his last six games to push his ERA all the way up to 6.86. "First of all, that one pitch (the full-counter to Gose) was pretty darn close, quite frankly," Ausmus said. "Joe's been very good for a very long time, and I expect him to be very good for the Tigers. And he expects himself to be very good. But even the best have rough times." While it appears Nathan will remain in the ninth inning for now, fantasy owners would be wise to scoop up Joba Chamberlain just in case.

Joe Nathan surrendered two runs and three hits in the ninth inning Thursday, but he still picked up a save against the A's. The inning started with a double and a groundout that advanced the runner. Yoenis Cespedes then hit a grounder to short that should have been turned into an out, but Andrew Romine backed up on the ball and then made a poor throw. This being 2014, it was ruled an RBI single, of course. After a strikeout for the second out of the inning, Josh Reddick doubled and Nick Punto worked a long walk. However, Jed Lowrie grounded out to end it. Nathan was coming off a blown save in Wednesday's game. He has more blown saves (four), homers allowed (four) and runs allowed (12) in 20 2/3 innings this year than he did in 64 2/3 innings last year. Still, we don't see any reason for panic. Joba Chamberlain is next in line for saves in the Detroit pen, but we don't think it will come to that.

Joe Nathan blew his fourth save and was slapped with his first loss of the season by allowing two runs without a recording an out in a 3-1 loss to the A's Wednesday. Brad Ausmus gave Anibal Sanchez the opportunity to finish off a shutout in a 1-0 game, but Coco Crisp's double on his 111th pitch prompted Nathan's involvement. The veteran stopper wouldn't be faulted for being sore with Nick Castellanos, who failed to come down with a John Jaso bloop that he should have had, sending Crisp to third. It's possible Castellanos could have doubled off Crisp if he completed the catch. Instead, Nathan hung a breaking ball to Josh Donaldson. Nathan has pitched in consecutive days, so Joba Chamberlain might get a chance if a closer is needed in Oakland on Thursday afternoon.

Joe Nathan picked up his 12th save and struck out a batter in a scoreless ninth inning as the Tigers defeated the A's on Tuesday. The 39-year-old right-hander hasn't allowed a run in 12 of his last 13 appearances, which has allowed him to chisel his ERA down to 3.66 after a rocky start to the year. Nathan ranks third in the American League in saves and has a lower WHIP (1.07) than Greg Holland, Jonathan Papelbon and Kenley Jansen.

Joe Nathan blew his third save of the season when he served up a two-run homer to former teammate David Murphy in Wednesday's loss to the Indians. Nathan allowed a one-out single to Michael Brantley before Murphy took him over the right-field wall. The veteran closer now holds a 4.08 ERA on the season and has already surrendered three longballs after giving up just two last season. However, he entered the day with a 10-inning scoreless streak, so it's hard to be too worried about him at this point.

Joe Nathan saved his fourth consecutive game on Friday, working a perfect inning to maintain a one-run lead over the Red Sox. He's been absolutely terrific since getting over an early season dead-arm period, and has been the rock that the Tigers desperately needed at the back of their bullpen. The 39-year-old right-hander now sports a 3.24 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 15/8 K/BB ratio through 16 2/3 frames on the year.

Joe Nathan nailed down his 10th save of the season with a scoreless inning in Wednesday's win over the Orioles. Nathan should have had a perfect inning, as he had Chris Davis struck out on a 2-2 pitch that was called a ball before eventually walking him. However, he then got Nelson Cruz to ground out weakly to end it. Nathan is unscored upon in his last nine appearances.

Joe Nathan converted his ninth save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning against the Orioles on Tuesday. Nathan worked around a one-out single in a low-pressure ninth inning as he had a three-run cushion with which to work. Tuesday's outing marks eight scoreless appearances in a row for the right-hander, rebounding nicely after a few bumpy outings in the beginning of the season.