Chad Qualls Injury Forces Fantasy Owners to Scramble for Saves

A potential season-ending injury is no way for a closer to end a game. But, Chad Qualls did just that on Sunday as he earned his 24th save but took a line drive off of his kneecap on the final play of the game.

Instead of celebrating a three-game sweep, the Diamondbacks tended to closer Chad Qualls, who suffered a dislocated left kneecap on a game-ending play.

Qualls crumpled to the dirt after deflecting a liner by Jason Michaels to shortstop Stephen Drew, who fired to first base for the final out. Qualls immediately motioned to the dugout for help, and trainers and teammates rushed to the mound. After several moments, trainers helped the 6-foot-5-inch, 220-pound Qualls to his feet and off the field.

Arizona manager A.J. Hinch said Qualls had dislocated the kneecap but had no other details about the extent of the injury. Qualls underwent X-rays after the game and did not speak to reporters.

The closer landscape is barren on the waiver wire these days. If the season is over for Qualls, the Diamondbacks may hand ninth inning duties to Juan Gutierrez.

Gutierrez has a 4.29 ERA this season and almost a strikeout per inning. He's the likely choice for the Diamondbacks but you may also see Esmerling Vazquez and Clay Zavada get thrown into the mix if the team runs with a closer by committee approach of Gutierrez comes out of the gate slowly.

You may want to avoid the Diamondbacks closer situation all together and grab either Mike MacDougal or Leo Nunez from the waiver wire. MacDougal has eight saves over the last month with a perfect 0.00 ERA. Nunez also has eight saves but a 3.48 ERA.

Both MacDougal and Nunez are available in over 50% of fantasy baseball leagues.