The suspected is now verified: Carlos Marmol is no longer the Cubs' closer. Carrie Muskat of MLB.com tweets that manager Dale Sveum has informed Marmol that he's being stripped his ninth-inning duties.
The unsurprising decision comes on the heels of Marmol's blowing a three-run lead to the Reds on Thursday. On the season, the freshly defrocked Marmol has a 6.23 ERA, and he's walked 12 batters (!) in 8.2 innings. As well, he's blown two saves in four opportunities, and he took the loss on opening day.
Muskat also tweets that James Russell and Rafael Dolis will handle closing duties during Marmol's exile. Russell has yet to allow a run in 7.2 innings this season.
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