ANAHEIM, Calif. — Roenis Elias gave an impish grin at the question.
How do you say “the closer” in Spanish?
“El Cerrador,” he said.
That’s you?
“No, no, no,” he said before pausing and adding with that same grin, “Maybe.”
Maybe is probably the best mindset. To be fair, the Mariners are stubbornly sticking with their “closer by committee,” which was enacted after Hunter Strickland suffered a Grade 2 lat strain in the fifth game of the season — an injury that will keep him out till June at least. But for the past two nights at Angels Stadium, Elias filled the role ably, notching saves on both nights, giving him a total of four this season.