Jose Valverde retired all three Braves he faced for his second save on Thursday. Valverde put the splitter back into his arsenal tonight, throwing three of them among his seven pitches. He ended up getting two popups, including one on the splitter (ironically, on the worst of them that he threw), and he then struck out Jason Heyward with a fastball to end it. If Valverde regains his splitter, he'll have a much better chance of surviving as the Mets' closer. The pitcher has been a non-factor for him for about 2 1/2 years now, though.

Jose Valverde made it interesting in Tuesday's win over the Braves, loading the bases before escaping without incident in the Mets' 4-0 win. Valverde was brought in to hold down a four-run lead but instead gave up two straight singles. After a fielder's choice, the right-hander then compounded his struggles with a throwing error that loaded the bases with one out. Gerald Laird proceeded to pop out and a Jason Heyward fly ball fell short of the seats, allowing Valverde to exhale. The shaky outing did little to cement his spot as the Mets' closer, but he's still got the gig for now.

The Mets plan to evaluate internal options, including Jose Valverde, to address their closer situation without Bobby Parnell. Parnell will undergo Tommy John surgery on Tuesday, ending his season. Jose Valverde, with 287 career saves and the veteran of a very young bullpen, is the Mets' initial option and appears to be the leading candidate for most of the team's save opportunities. As a result, Valverde should be picked up in all fantasy formats.

Mets manager Terry Collins confirmed Wednesday that Jose Valverde will fill in as the team's closer. Bobby Parnell is out with a torn medial collateral ligament and could be facing season-ending Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery. That gives Valverde significant fantasy value (for as long as he can hold the job). The 36-year-old right-hander had a rough 5.49 ERA in 19 1/3 innings last season for Detroit.

Jose Valverde is expected to serve as the Mets' closer with Bobby Parnell (elbow) sidelined. This could be more of a statement about the Mets' bullpen than anything else, but Valverde looks like the best option now that Parnell is headed to the disabled list. Though, to his credit, the 36-year-old looked solid in the spring and struck out three batters over 1 1/3 innings on Opening Day against the Nationals. He's a must-own in all fantasy formats for now, but we're still not convinced he has much left in the tank. The Mets could eventually look to Vic Black, Jeurys Familia, or Gonzalez Germen if it turns out that Parnell needs surgery. It's even possible that they could sign a free agent like Joel Hanrahan. In other words, don't look at Valverde as a long-term option for your fantasy team.

Jose Valverde struck out three batters over 1 1/3 scoreless innings Monday against the Nationals. His appearance came an inning before Bobby Parnell blew the first save of the 2014 MLB season. Valverde is next-in-line for ninth-inning opportunities behind Parnell, who has had trouble finding his fastball velocity. Stash the veteran right-hander in fantasy leagues.

Jose Valverde could see some save opportunities early in the season as Bobby Parnell returns from neck surgery. Parnell is the Mets' undisputed closer, but Mets manager Terry Collins has expressed some concern about using Parnell three straight days. Valverde, who made the team as a non-roster invitee, would be first in line for those saves. Otherwise, the 36-year-old will serve as the team's primary setup man.

Mets purchased the contract of RHP Jose Valverde from Triple-A Las Vegas. Valverde was a non-roster invitee this spring, but he appears to be the likely primary set-up man for Bobby Parnell now that Vic Black will begin the year in the minors. The veteran right-hander owns a 3.00 ERA and 7/1 K/BB ratio over nine innings this spring. We're skeptical, but the Mets are hoping that he still has something left in the tank.

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman believes Jose Valverde will make the Mets. Coming off a rough 5.59 ERA over 20 appearances with the Tigers last season, Valverde inked a minor league contract with the Mets last month. Papa Grande will receive a $1 million salary if he makes the team.

Jose Valverde surrendered two runs and three hits in his inning Tuesday versus the Cardinals. ESPNNewYork.com's Adam Rubin penciled Valverde into the pen in his updated Mets roster projection today, but there's still a ways to go before there will be a final decision on his status. He's now allowed three runs in four innings this spring.