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.

Joe Nathan needed just 13 pitches to slam the door on the Astros in the ninth inning on Monday, preserving a 2-0 victory for the Tigers.

Nathan secured his sixth save of the season for his efforts. He did allow a leadoff walk to Dexter Fowler, but he was gunned down attempting to steal second base. The veteran right-hander now sports a 4.63 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 12/6 K/BB ratio through his first 11 2/3 frames.

Joe Nathan pitched a perfect ninth inning against the White Sox for his fifth save of the season Tuesday.

Protecting a one-run lead, Nathan retired Alejandro De Aza, Tyler Flowers and pinch hitter Paul Konerko to preserve the victory. It was Nathan's fifth save in seven chances, and he has converted four straight opportunities since suffering his second blown save on April 9.

Joe Nathan worked a hitless ninth inning on Thursday for his fourth save of the year.

Nathan has allowed one run in five innings since complaining of a dead arm earlier this month. He's also converted his last three save chances after blowing two of the first three.

Joe Nathan said his arm felt "a lot livelier" while recording a save during a perfect inning Thursday.

Nathan admitted last week that he was going through a "dead arm" phase, but it sounds like it could be behind him. "Today was more how I felt, being able to finish," Nathan said Thursday. "My velocity is what it's going to be, but moreso I was locating where I wanted to. But it did feel like it was a lot livelier. There's different 91s, different 92s, but today, at least finishing pitches, it felt like it was jumping out of my hand better."

Joe Nathan imploded Wednesday against the Dodgers, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks.

Entering a 6-3 game, Nathan coughed up a leadoff homer to Adrian Gonzalez and then walked Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp consecutively. Juan Uribe moved both up with a single that loaded the bases with no outs. Nathan struck out pinch-hitter Yasiel Puig, and then induced a Scott Van Slyke fielder's choice ground out to third that plated Ethier. Dee Gordon's single tied the affair and Nathan mercilessly watched as Carl Crawford's bloop fly ended up in Rajai Davis' glove. The 39-year-old told the media he had "dead arm" before Wednesday's game, commenting: "It's not even newsworthy." Perhaps he's unaware that the alternate explanation for his struggles is far worse -- the end always comes unexpectedly. It's too early to say, obviously, but Nathan owns a 12.27 ERA and 2.73 WHIP over his first four outings. Because of baseball's antiquated way of awarding wins, fantasy owners can at least take solace in his 2-0 record, including the victory tonight.

Joe Nathan suffered his first blown save as a Tiger Wednesday, allowing a run on a hit and two walks.

Nathan looked a little off from the get-go in this appearance. Trying to protect a 1-0 lead, he gave up a one-out single and then issued back-to-back walks before an Alex Gordon sac fly tied the game. Nathan then committed a balk but was able to escape further damage before the Tigers eventually won in the 10th. He showed last season that he can get by with diminished velocity, but Nathan will have to have better command than he did in this one.

Joe Nathan gave up four runs in one-third of an inning Sunday to take a loss in relief.

Nathan's velocity hasn't been the greatest this spring, but that's typical for him; he usually dials it up a bit once the season gets started. Despite that, he had allowed just two hits in six scoreless innings prior to today. We're unconcerned.

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that Joe Nathan's two-year contract with the Tigers is worth around $20 million.

Nathan declined his $9.5 million option with the Rangers after the season in hopes of finding a multi-year deal in free agency. Not only did he find it with Detroit, but he's also getting more money per year. It's well deserved after he posted a 2.09 ERA over the past two seasons.

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports that the Tigers will give a two-year deal to Joe Nathan.

Exact terms aren't yet available. It's not often that you see a two-year deal for a 39-year-old closer, but Nathan has been in near-vintage form after making his way back from Tommy John surgery. He'll remain one of the top fantasy closers on a talented team in Detroit.

According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi, the Tigers are close to signing closer Joe Nathan.

No word on the terms involved. The Tigers have been a logical fit all along, but the Doug Fister deal cleared the appropriate salary to get a deal done. Nathan has posted a 2.09 ERA over the past two seasons while going 80-for-86 in save chances, so he should be an upgrade in the closer role for Detroit.

Joe Nathan said during an appearance on MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM on Monday that he sees the Tigers, Angels, and Yankees as possible fits.

All three teams are logical designations, but nothing appears to be imminent. Nathan turned down his part of a mutual option with the Rangers following the season and hopes to land a multi-year contract on the open market.

Andy McCullough of the Newark Star-Ledger reports that the Yankees have "had contact" with Joe Nathan.

The club has refused to anoint David Robertson as their new ninth inning man following the retirement of Mariano Rivera, as they want to see what's available via free agency first. They've also been in contact with Grant Balfour's reps. Nathan is also drawing heavy interest from the Tigers.

FOX Sports' Jon Morosi reports that "mutual interest has developed already" between the Tigers and Joe Nathan.

After Nathan declined his 2014 option earlier this month, the speculation that he could sign with the Tigers was immediate. It makes a ton of sense for both sides, as the Tigers are World Series contenders but are looking for some stability at the back-end of the bullpen. Nathan is coming off a season where he put up a 1.39 ERA while striking out over a batter per inning.

ESPN's Buster Olney wrote that free agent closer Joe Nathan would "be an absolutely perfect fit" for the Tigers.

Nathan, of course, pitched for several years in the AL Central as a member of the Twins. Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said over the weekend that his team will pursue an experienced closer this winter. Joaquin Benoit is an option, but most expect the incumbent to be replaced from outside the organization. Nathan is the best option on the free agent market. It's going to take multiple years to acquire his signature.