Joaquin Benoit will remain the Tigers' primary closer despite Monday's acquisition of Jose Veras.

Veras was picked up from the Astros in exchange for outfield prospect Danry Vasquez and a player to be named later. The plan is for Veras to function as a setup man.

Joaquin Benoit slammed the door on the Phillies on Friday, protecting a one-run advantage and earning his 10th save of the season.

Benoit, pitching on his 36th birthday, was promptly greeted by a leadoff single from Jimmy Rollins. Rollins proceeded to swipe second and third, but was stranded there when Darin Ruf grounded out to end the game. Benoit has been outstanding at the backend of the Tigers bullpen, posting a 1.50 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 52/12 K/BB ratio in his 42 innings.

In his first appearance of the second half, Joaquin Benoit tossed a scoreless ninth inning to earn his ninth save against the Royals on Sunday.

Sunday marked the first time Benoit has failed to strike out a batter in an appearance since June 9. He has has surrendered only two runs since May 27 and now owns a 1.60 ERA and 1.04 WHIP.

Joaquin Benoit struck out both batters he faced in a non-save situation Sunday against the Rangers.

Benoit has surrendered only two runs since May 27 and he's struck out at least one batter in every appearance since June 9. Detroit stubbornly took years to hand the closer's job to Benoit, but he's rewarded them handsomely for finely doing so. Benoit ends the first half 8-for-10 in save conversions to go with a 1.64 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 50/12 K/BB rate over 38 1/3 innings.

Joaquin Benoit is unavailable for Thursday's game against the Blue Jays.

Benoit has pitched each of the past three days, so Tigers manager Jim Leyland wants to give him a breather. Drew Smyly is also unavailable, so it's unclear who would get the ball in a potential save situation.

Joaquin Benoit pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his sixth save of the season on Tuesday.

Benoit didn't exactly go through the heart of the Blue Jays' order, as he faced Emilio Bonifacio, Munenori Kawasaki and Jose Reyes to pick up the save. He's now converted all six of his save opportunities and owns a 1.83 ERA and 1.02 WHIP through 34 1/3 innings. It took the Tigers a while to give him the job, but he's got the ability to run with it.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Thursday that he'll lean toward Joaquin Benoit for save opportunities.

"I'm not naming anybody closer," Leyland told reporters. "I'm just saying if Benoit was available right now, I would try to close with him." Benoit has registered a stellar 1.80 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 35/9 K/BB ratio across 30 innings this season out of the Detroit bullpen. Valverde, meanwhile, has a 5.59 ERA through 19 1/3 frames. Benoit needs to be owned in all standard fantasy leagues.

Joaquin Benoit earned his fourth save of the season Sunday as the Tigers beat the Twins 5-2.

Jose Valverde has been shaky lately so Tigers manager Jim Leyland decided to give this one to Benoit, who entered the game in the eighth inning and closed it out with 1 1/3 scoreless frames. Benoit remains a solid stash in standard mixed fantasy leagues.

Joaquin Benoit recorded his third save of the season with a scoreless inning in Sunday's win over the Indians.

With Jose Valverde having pitched three days in a row, Benoit was called upon in the ninth and responded with a two-strikeout scoreless frame. Valverde still has some leash, but Benoit is the guy to own for saves in Detroit if Papa Grande falters.

Joaquin Benoit hasn't allowed a run since April 27.

One of the league's most underrated relievers, Benoit's career took off when he was no longer asked to start. Unfortunately, he's never been given an opportunity to close. Despite having clearly been Detroit's best bullpen option over the last three years, he's notched just six saves when Jose Valverde has needed a break. Benoit owns a 1.50 ERA and 0.94 WHIP through 18 innings. In holds leagues, he's an asset.

With Jose Valverde unavailable, Joaquin Benoit got one out for his second save Monday against the Twins.

Drew Smyly did the hard work, getting two outs in the eighth and two in the ninth against the heart of the order before Benoit induced a groundout from Trevor Plouffe. The Tigers went to Benoit tonight because they didn't want Valverde pitching three straight days.

After Brayan Pena's RBI groundout in the top of the 14th, Joaquin Benoit pitched a scoreless bottom of the inning -- by the skin of his teeth -- to earn his first save in Detroit's 2-1 win over the Mariners.

Benoit gave up a two-out double to Dustin Ackley with Justin Smoak on first base. Had it been the ninth inning, Smoak probably would have been gone for a pinch-runner. However, in the 14th, there was no one left to use. The Mariners tried to score Smoak on the double anyway, but the throw beat him easily and Smoak was unable to jar the ball loose, though he did his best to run over Pena at the plate. That gave Benoit a save, whether he deserved it or not.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland reiterated Wednesday that Joaquin Benoit will be the primary ninth-inning man.

But Leyland also left open the possibility that Phil Coke, Octavio Dotel and Al Alburquerque could still see random save opportunities. "On a lot of the days, if it's doable, I think Benoit is the most experienced and versatile enough against righties and lefties to pitch the ninth," Leyland told reporters. "But it's not going to be doable every day. You're liable to see anybody at any time."

Pitching the ninth in a five-run game, Joaquin Benoit gave up a homer and a double before finishing off the Blue Jays on Tuesday.

Manager Jim Leyland talked about Benoit getting a chance in the closer's role Saturday because of his ability to get out righties and lefties. Except today Benoit gave up a long homer to a lefty in Colby Rasmus and then a double to a lefty pinch-hitter in Adam Lind. Things are obviously far from settled in the Detroit pen right now. Benoit is as good of a bet for saves as anyone, though.

Joaquin Benoit worked a scoreless inning Thursday to lower his spring ERA to 1.64.

Benoit has allowed two runs and posted a 12/3 K/BB ratio in 11 innings. It's still likely that the Tigers would prefer someone else step up in the closer's role, but Benoit is their most proven reliever and he's been as effective as anyone in the pen this spring. He's worth picking up in any leagues in which he's available.

Joaquin Benoit pitched another scoreless inning Sunday to lower his spring ERA to 2.00.

The Tigers ruled Benoit out as a closing candidate months ago, questioning his ability to bounce back after outings. Of course, he did struggle coming down the stretch last year, but he still pitched 71 innings and had a 3.68 ERA. And, as these things usually work, he'd almost certainly have a lesser workload as a closer than he would as a seventh- and eighth-inning guy. Anyway, manager Jim Leyland doesn't want him to close, but that doesn't mean he can't end up in the role should he perform well and the alternatives fail. He's not to be forgotten about.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland indicated Saturday that Joaquin Benoit isn't a candidate to close because he doesn't fare well pitching on back-to-back days.

"Joaquin Benoit physically, I don't think he can do it," Leyland said. "With all due respect to Benoit, he doesn't bounce back." Benoit fared well in 2011 when pitching with no rest, but he did struggle last season, posting a 4.50 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. Leyland admitted that he doesn't "really know what I'm going to do" at closer, but it's no secret that the Tigers hope Bruce Rondon runs away with the job. "We do have some others who can do the job if he needs a break, but to me, the leading candidate is Rondon," general manager Dave Dombrowski said.

Picked over Jose Valverde to close Thursday, Joaquin Benoit gave up a game-tying homer to Billy Butler in the ninth, but ended up with the win after the Tigers scored in the bottom of the inning.

Valverde was supposed to be available, so it seems manager Jim Leyland simply felt more confident in Benoit in a one-run game. With the way both have thrown of late, it's hard to blame him. However, since Benoit took the blown save, one guesses it might be his only ninth-inning duty during the final week.

Joaquin Benoit returned to action on Thursday August 9.

Joaquin Benoit was unavailable Tuesday night due to soreness around his right shoulder.

"He's been a little sore, but he's ok," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "No red flags." Leyland thinks he could have pitched Tuesday if needed, but they wanted to play things safe. Look for him to be available in a set-up situation Wednesday.