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Brandon League | Relief Pitcher

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Age / DOB:  (30) / 3/16/1983
Ht / Wt:  6'2' / 210
Bats / Throws: Right / Right
Contract: view contract details
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When asked prior to Tuesday's game who his closer is, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly replied, "I don't know. We'll see."
Kenley Jansen seemed to be close to overtaking Brandon League for the job, but he then allowed two runs in back-to-back games over the weekend. Mattingly indicated that he'd like to use League in the role, saying he'd "really like to see the bullpen get its confidence back and some semblance of order and get the guys in the roles we designed." Jansen has out-pitched League all season until the last few days and is probably the favorite for the job over the long run. The situation is a headache for fantasy owners. May 21 - 9:59 PM
Source: Dodgers.mlb.com

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Player News

Date:
Brandon League - R - Dodgers

Brandon League got the call in the ninth on Wednesday in a 3-1 game against the Nationals and pitched a scoreless inning for his ninth save.

After Kenley Jansen got four outs to set him up, League allowed a leadoff single in the ninth and then got three straight groundouts to end the game. He's now 9-for-10 in save opportunities this season. Manager Don Mattingly still might go to Jansen when the starting pitcher goes eight, though.
May 16 - 1:31 AM
Brandon League - R - Dodgers

Even though the Dodgers were up 2-0 after eight, Brandon League was bypassed in Tuesday's game, never even warming up in the bullpen.

The Dodgers had Kenley Jansen and Paco Rodriguez up in the ninth and went to Jansen after Adam LaRoche's two-out single knocked Clayton Kershaw from the game. Of course, this comes a day after Don Mattingly said League remains his closer. And League, for all of his recent troubles, is still 8-for-9 saving games this year. It's hard to blame Mattingly for having more faith in Jansen at the moment, but if that was the case, he shouldn't have opened his gob and said it was still League's job. Perhaps it still is, but Mattingly may wait for an easier chance to use him again.
May 15 - 12:46 AM
Brandon League - R - Dodgers

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Brandon League is still the team's closer "for now."

League has blown just one save in nine tries, but he's been scored upon in six of his last seven outings, pushing his ERA up to an ugly 6.28. Kenley Jansen, meanwhile, has put up a 2.29 ERA and boasts a 27/5 K/BB ratio over 19 2/3 innings. It's probably only a matter of time before he usurps the ninth inning role from League.
Related: Kenley Jansen
Source: Ken Gurnick on Twitter
May 13 - 7:23 PM
Brandon League - R - Dodgers

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday that he's considering mixing up the closer role, but don't want to mess up the bullpen, "not that we're not a mess already a little bit."

Brandon League has blown just one save in nine chances but has a 5.40 ERA and 1.28 WHIP, while Kenley Jansen boasts a 2.12 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. Jansen also has a 21/5 K/BB ratio compared to a 7/4 ratio for League. While it doesn't sound like the skipper is ready to make a change yet, one could come before long.
Related: Kenley Jansen
Source: Bill Shaikin on Twitter
May 8 - 7:38 PM
Brandon League - R - Dodgers

After entering a tie game, Brandon League gave up a two-run homer to Paul Goldschmidt to take a loss Tuesday against the Diamondbacks.

League has pitched twice in nine days, both times entering tie games and both times giving up homers and taking losses. Maybe that will get him pulled from the closer's role with the Dodgers currently reeling, though there's little reason to think that'd be a winning strategy for the team. After all, League has converted eight of his nine save chances this year. The Dodgers are likely better off letting him pitch with leads in the ninth -- should they ever have one again -- then having him work in tie games like this, something he'd have to do more of as a setup man. Still, if they do make a panic switch, it will likely be to Kenley Jansen.
Related: Kenley Jansen
May 8 - 1:51 AM
Brandon League - R - Dodgers

Brandon League took his first loss after giving up a walkoff homer to Guillermo Quiroz in his second inning of work Saturday against the Giants.

The Dodgers were asking League to pitch two innings for the first time this season, and he gave up his second homer in four appearances after not allowing any in his first 36 appearances with the club dating back to last summer's trade. Since League is still 8-for-9 saving games, his closer's role isn't in question.
May 5 - 1:29 AM
Brandon League - R - Dodgers

Brandon League picked up his eighth save in Sunday's win over the Brewers.

League had a blown save earlier this week, so he needed to bounce back. He didn't have any strikeouts but was able to finish off the Brewers to get Clayton Kershaw a win. With Kenley Jansen lurking in a setup role, League will need to continue to pitch well to keep his job.
Apr 28 - 7:12 PM
Brandon League - R - Dodgers

Brandon League blew his first save of 2013 in the Dodgers' extra-innings loss to the Mets on Wednesday.

League entered the ninth inning with a 3-2 lead, but a leadoff double by Mike Baxter was followed two batters later by David Wright's two-out single. Blown save notwithstanding, League is still a passable closer despite the fact that a better option exists on his own team in Kenley Jansen. With the money the Dodgers are paying him, League won't be removed from the ninth-inning role due to one rough outing.
Apr 24 - 11:21 PM
Brandon League - R - Dodgers

Brandon League tallied his fifth save of the season Sunday in the Dodgers' 7-4 win over the Orioles.

League allowed a single to Orioles outfielder Nolan Reimold but tossed an otherwise perfect ninth inning. He boasts a 2.57 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in seven total frames this season and should be a solid fantasy closer all year. Kenley Jansen remains in a setup role.
Apr 21 - 5:06 PM
Brandon League - R - Dodgers

Brandon League recorded his third save Wednesday despite allowing two runs -- one earned -- in the ninth against the Padres.

The Dodgers have to know that Kenley Jansen is their best reliever. Still, League is the closer and that's not such a bad thing. He's a perfect 9-for-9 in save opportunities since joining the team last year.
Apr 11 - 1:48 AM
Brandon League - R - Dodgers

According to a source familiar with the deal, Brandon League's three-year contract with the Dodgers could reach upwards of $33.5 million after incentives and a potential player option for 2016.

League will earn base salaries of $4.5 million in 2013, $7.5 million in 2014 and $7.5 million in 2015, plus a $3 million signing bonus. However, if League finishes 55 games in 2015, the deal triggers a $7.5 million player option for 2016. If he finishes 55 games in 2015 and 100 games over 2014-2015, that option becomes $8.5 million, and if he finishes 55 games in 2015 and 150 games between 2013-2015 it becomes $9 million. There's also $500,000 in potential incentives that can be earned along the way.
Source: Los Angeles Times
Tue, Nov 6, 2012 01:28:00 PM
Brandon League - R - Dodgers

Dodgers signed RHP Brandon League to a three-year, $22.5 million contract with a vesting option for 2016.

His $7.5 million option for 2016 will vest if he finishes 55 games in 2015. Not only are the Dodgers overpaying League, but general manager Ned Colletti says they're viewing him as their closer over Kenley Jansen. It's surprising given that Jansen has clearly been a better pitcher over the last two-and-a-half seasons, but perhaps the Dodgers remain concerned about Jansen's heart issue. League converted all six save chances for the Dodgers down the stretch this year while posting a 2.30 ERA and striking out a batter per inning. He'll certainly carry fantasy value.
Related: Kenley Jansen
Source: Tim Dierkes on Twitter
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 08:53:00 PM
Brandon League - R - Dodgers

Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports that Brandon League has re-signed with the Dodgers.

Hernandez doesn't have the financials at this time, but he says it's a three-year deal. League pitched well for the Dodgers down the stretch, posting a 2.30 ERA over 28 appearances while striking out a batter per inning. He would be used in a setup role ahead of Kenley Jansen.
Source: Dylan Hernandez on Twitter
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 07:57:00 PM
Brandon League - R - Dodgers

According to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times, the Dodgers are talking to Brandon League's representatives about a three-year contract.

League converted all six of his save opportunities with the Dodgers after coming over at the trade deadline and is eligible for free agency for the first time this winter. Ideally, League will be used to set-up for Kenley Jansen. He made $5 million in 2012, his final year of arbitration.
Source: Los Angeles Times
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 01:44:00 PM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1A.J. Ellis
2Ramon Hernandez
3Tim Federowicz
1B1Adrian Gonzalez
2Scott Van Slyke
2B1Mark Ellis
2Nick Punto
SS1Hanley Ramirez
2Dee Gordon
3B1Luis Cruz
2Juan Uribe
LF1Carl Crawford
2Jerry Hairston Jr.
3Skip Schumaker
CF1Matt Kemp
RF1Andre Ethier
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1Clayton Kershaw
2Zack Greinke
3Josh Beckett
4Chad Billingsley
5Hyun-Jin Ryu
6Chris Capuano
7Ted Lilly
8Stephen Fife
9Matthew Magill
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Brandon League
2Kenley Jansen
3Matt Guerrier
4J.P. Howell
5Ronald Belisario
6Scott Elbert
7Paco Rodriguez
8Shawn Tolleson
9Javy Guerra