Carlos Marmol collected his 15th save as the Cubs beat the Reds in the second half of Saturday's doubleheader.

Marmol allowed a one-out single to Brandon Phillips but pitched around the damage while netting two strikeouts. He's had a miserable season and so have the Cubs, but everything clicked at the end Saturday night.

Carlos Marmol tossed a scoreless ninth for his 13th save of the season in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Cardinals.

Daniel Descalso started the inning with a single and Tyler Greene stole second base after entering the game as a pinch-runner, but Marmol was able to retire the final three batters he faced without incident. Believe it or not, the erratic right-hander has converted 11 straight save opportunities since regaining the closer role in mid-June. It's still awfully tough to trust him, though.

Carlos Marmol got two outs in a 4-0 game Friday for a save against the Astros.

Probably even the most strident "closer's mentality" believers would agree with us that anyone could have gotten the job done in this one. Paul Maholm had the Astros baffled all day, but the Cubs still opted to pull him after a paid of hits in the ninth. Marmol came in, struck out J.D. Martinez, hit Chris Snyder with a pitch and then got Chris Johnson on a lineout to end it. It was his fourth save since he returned to the closer's role two weeks ago.

Carlos Marmol picked up his fifth save of the season in Tuesday night's win over the Mets.

Marmol allowed a leadoff walk to David Wright in the ninth inning of a two-run game but managed to rack up two strikeouts and induce a fly out to secure the victory. He's about as shaky as a closer can get, but the righty still holds fantasy value.

Pitching with the Cubs down by four runs, Carlos Marmol retired just one of the three batters he faced Saturday and gave up a run to the Diamondbacks.

The Cubs were just trying to get Marmol some work since they haven't been generating save chances. Once he struggled, instead of letting him try to pitch himself out of it, they took him out to ensure that he'd still be available Sunday. He'll probably get the save chance if one arises.

Carlos Marmol pitched a scoreless ninth Tuesday to earn his fourth save against the White Sox.

Marmol struck out a batter but walked another. Cubs manager Dale Sveum reinstated Marmol into the closing role last week, a decision that made sense on a lot of levels, not the least of which was Chicago's vested interest in trading him next month. Perhaps Marmol will be able to rebuild his trade value to the point that another organization will take him (and a portion of his 2013 salary) on at the deadline. The Dominican Republic native has posted four consecutive scoreless outings.

Pitching around a Luis Valbuena error, Carlos Marmol turned in a scoreless ninth inning for a save Friday against the Red Sox.

With Adrian Gonzalez and David Ortiz due up to start the eighth, manager Dale Sveum opted to bring in James Russell then and was rewarded with a perfect inning. That left Marmol for the ninth. He gave up a single with one out and then watched Valbuena commit an error on a grounder that might have turned into a game-ending double play. Marmol went on to strike out Daniel Nava, walk Scott Podsednik to load the bases and then induce a game-ending grounder from Dustin Pedroia. It was his first save since May 2, and it'll probably lead to more opportunities going forward, though no one should think about dropping Russell just yet.

Despite two walks, Carlos Marmol pitched a scoreless innings Wednesday in his first appearance back from the DL.

The Cubs didn't really want to use Marmol in a close game his first appearance back, but they also didn't want him sitting around for days on end after he was activated Monday. Therefore, he was used in a one-run game today. He got the job done, even though just eight of his 17 pitches were strikes. He'll need to string together a few good outings before he becomes a candidate for saves.

Carlos Marmol (hamstring) threw two wild pitches Sunday in a rehab appearance at Triple-A Iowa.

Marmol struck out three in a scoreless inning of work but still had real problems with his command. It's not clear when he might be activated from the disabled list.

Carlos Marmol (hamstring) tossed a scoreless inning Friday in his first minor league rehab appearance with Triple-A Iowa.

Marmol allowed one hit and a walk while striking out one. He threw nine out of 16 pitches for strikes. The rehabbing right-hander is expected to make one more appearance Sunday before coming off the disabled list. He will not return to the closer role upon his return.

Carlos Marmol (hamstring) played catch Wednesday for the first time since landing on the disabled list.

It's not clear when he'll start throwing from a mound, but Cubs manager Dale Sveum anticipates Marmol being ready for activation in 10 days. "I should be ready to go," Marmol said. "The way I've been working, I think I'll be fine." Marmol figures to be used in low-leverage situations initially upon activation.

Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times considers Carlos Marmol a "likely candidate to be traded" if he healthy and effective prior to the deadline.

Marmol, who just landed on the DL with a hamstring injury, is making $7 million this season and will earn $9.8 million in 2013. The Cubs aren't going to be in contention either year, so they wouldn't mind getting out from under his contract. What level of prospect they're able to get in return will likely depend on whether the inconsistent reliever gets hot at the right time.

An MRI taken Saturday on Carlos Marmol's injured right hamstring showed only minimal damage.

Good news for Marmol and the Cubs. There is no timetable yet for his return, but he may be able to come back after the minimum 15-day stint on the disabled list. Though Rafael Dolis has taken over at closer, it's a role that is likely too see rapid turnover this summer. And Marmol could even work his way back into the mix.

Cubs placed RHP Carlos Marmol on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring.

Marmol, who lost his role as closer last week, was sent to Chicago for an MRI after leaving Friday's game in the seventh inning. The Cubs have recalled right-hander Casey Coleman in a corresponding move.

Carlos Marmol (hamstring) will undergo an MRI in Chicago on Saturday.

Marmol is almost certainly looking at a DL stint, given the Cubs used every reliever in their bullpen Friday. Scott Maine -- who appeared in five games earlier this month -- is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Iowa.

Carlos Marmol was diagnosed with a right hamstring strain.

Initial speculation was that Marmol suffered some sort of arm injury, but it's actually his hamstring. No word on whether he'll require a stint on the disabled list, but a potential rehab assignment might not be the worst way to try to get him back on track performance-wise. Stay tuned.

Carlos Marmol exited Friday's game against the Brewers in the seventh inning with an apparent arm injury.

David Kaplan of CSNChicago.com reports that Cubs manager Dale Sveum has officially informed Carlos Marmol that he is no longer the team's closer.

Rafael Dolis and James Russell will now pitch the ninth inning in a matchup-based approach. Kerry Wood could also eventually be an option, but the Cubs will use him in the sixth and seventh inning initially after he was activated from the DL Thursday. It's probably just a temporary demotion for Marmol, and we're not convinced that Dolis or Russell will run away with the job. Both are worth scooping up in fantasy leagues, though.

Cubs manager Dale Sveum said Thursday that he is considering removing Carlos Marmol from the closer role.

Marmol imploded yet again Thursday after inheriting a 3-0 lead against the Reds. After walking the first two batters he faced, Brandon Phillips then hit a potential double-play ball which went off Ian Stewart's glove to score a run. Marmol then gave up a single to Jay Bruce to load the bases and walked Ryan Ludwick to force in a run. The tying run scored after he was pulled in favor of Rafael Dolis and the Reds went on to win the game 4-3 in 10 innings. Marmol was charged with only one earned run, but he still has a terrible 6.23 ERA and 8/12 K/BB ratio over 8 2/3 innings. Sveum mentioned Dolis and James Russell as his only alternatives, which rules Kerry Wood out of the mix. Dolis and Russell don't inspire much confidence, either, but feel free to speculate if you need saves.

Carlos Marmol pitched a perfect ninth with a four-run lead Friday against the Cardinals.

Marmol seems to have shaken off the loss and blown save he took in his first two appearances. He hasn't allowed a hit in his last three. He's walked two, but he's also struck out four in the 2 1/3 innings.