Those fantasy owners who chose to deal with the Joe Nathan experience this season, either confidently or reluctantly, had to know that it was far from assured he’d keep the role the entire season, and even if he did, the numbers might not be so attractive. Still, it’s potentially over after four pitches? That’s it? My reaction to hearing Wednesday’s news that the Detroit Tigers closer was placed on the disabled list with a flexor strain was actually one of surprise. I thought Joakim Soria would get saves because Nathan would lose the job. I hadn’t really considered an arm injury making it possible, and certainly not after he faced one hitter.

Alas, the Tigers have a new closer for at least the next two weeks but beyond that, well, you know it can’t be that simple. As of now, this does not appear to be a situation in which Tommy John surgery appears imminent and of course when reporters asked Tigers manager Brad Ausmus whether Nathan would get the job back from Soria upon his return the clear implication was that he would, regardless of who the better pitcher is, and it’s tough to make the case it’s Nathan. Whether this happens in April or beyond is problematic, but the one thing fantasy owners should do today is add Soria, for he is currently a closer. Today. We don’t know when or if Nathan will return.

Allow me to throw another name into the mix. Yes, there’s the 40-year-old Nathan coming off a terrible season, and Soria, 30, has quite a few saves to his career credits as well, but don’t forget about young fireballer Bruce Rondon. He’s currently on the DL with biceps tendinitis but it isn’t expected to shelve him for long. Even after missing all of last season due to Tommy John surgery, the large, imposing right-hander can get his fastball up to the triple digits, and managers tend to favor hard throwers of his ilk for the ninth inning. I’m not saying Rondon will save more than a few games this season. He’s obviously a risk as well. But Soria, who missed 2012 and most of 2013 with his own elbow woes, is no sure thing either. Upon being acquired from the Texas Rangers last season he struggled as a Tiger and missed a month with an oblique strain.

My prediction, and nobody in the fantasy world will like this because what we really desire is clarity, is that Soria closes effectively in April, Nathan returns in May and no matter how well Soria does the older fellow gets presented the job back and he saves games for a while. Then, of course, Nathan loses the role, Soria gets it back, then he gets hurt, Rondon and Joba Chamberlain each save a few games in July and … this is a total mess. Just own Soria. Stash Nathan if you’ve got the room but don’t feel too badly if you don’t, and in a dynasty format, see if Rondon is out there and procure him as well. I don’t know if any Tigers relief pitcher is going to save more than 20 games this season, but it sure will be an adventure.

Meanwhile, there are two other messy closer situations involving more than a few names. One is with the Los Angeles Dodgers as they anxiously await the return of Kenley Jansen from the DL. Chris Hatcher got the call over Joel Peralta in the first win of the season, but even that wasn’t a normal situation since Peralta had pitched the eighth inning in a tie game. Hatcher then got torched for four runs (two earned) in Tuesday’s loss and Peralta didn’t pitch. It was hardly a surprise that Peralta earned the next save chance Wednesday and because it went well, then he’s the guy to add. It really is that simplistic. I know that’s ridiculous and ultra-reactive, but I think that’s what manager Don Mattingly is thinking. Watch Juan Nicasio get into the fray at some point as well. I theorized a month ago that Jansen, when he comes back from the foot injury, is at performance risk as well, further complicating things. But honestly, I’m not all that interested in owning any Dodgers reliever except Jansen at this point. If I were, it would have to be Peralta.

With the New York Mets, well, how much time ya got? I think Jeurys Familia has the job today and should be allowed to keep it if he thrives, which he should. He’s really good. But I think the Mets want former closer Bobby Parnell (in 2013) to get an opportunity to take the job. And Jenrry Mejia, who was supposed to close before elbow soreness bit him while he was warming up for the Game 1 save, like Nathan isn’t out indefinitely, so he could return to relevance as well. No clarity here. I think Familia, like Detroit’s Soria, is the April guy and then eventually the former guy, in this case Parnell, like Nathan, gets a chance. OK, now I’m even confusing myself. I’ll predict Familia leads the team in saves this season, but he’ll probably need Parnell to fail. In a way, Parnell and Nathan are similar, as are Familia and Soria. And I suppose you could make Mets right-hander Vic Black like Rondon, if you want, but it’s a bit of a stretch.

Wednesday closer game notes: The New York Yankees have a save, and it didn’t go to right-hander Dellin Betances. It was lefty Andrew Miller. However, Betances entered the eventual 4-3 win in the eighth inning with his team trailing 2-1, and he allowed an unearned run, plus two walks and a hit. He did not look good at all, just like in the spring. However, in this case, the stats did matter. Miller didn’t have a great spring either, but he threw well Wednesday. I think Miller is the closer until further notice. … A day after I praised Colorado Rockies right-hander LaTroy Hawkins, he blew the save in Milwaukee, though he wasn’t exactly pounded. Several of the hits allowed, to Ryan Braun and Carlos Gomez, were simply infield grounders in the right spot. John Axford earned the save in the 10th inning, but Adam Ottavino, who pitched the eighth, is likely next in line should Hawkins lose the job, which I’m confident he didn’t. … I remain perplexed at how many people believe Sergio Romo will regain the San Francisco Giants closer role at some point this season. Santiago Casilla isn’t awesome, but he’s good enough to keep saving games. If you’re stashing Romo, and since he’s owned in more leagues than the Mets’ Familia, some of you are, I think it’s in error.