Kelley was unavailable out of the bullpen the last two games due to an illness, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Kelley's unavailability explains why the Nationals deployed Jacob Turner for four innings of relief during Wednesday's win over the Diamondbacks. It's unclear if Kelley will be available to pitch Thursday, so consider him day-to-day until the Nationals update his status.

Kelley struck out one in a perfect 11th inning to pick up his third save of the season in Friday's 4-3 win over the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

It's the first time this season Kelley had been used in back-to-back games, an encouraging sign for his ability to rack up saves now that he's been named the Nats' primary closer. Koda Glover will still figure into the mix somehow, but the veteran righty is the pitcher to own in the Washington bullpen at the moment.

Kelley will be Nationals manager Dusty Baker's first option to close for now, with Koda Glover getting opportunities when Kelley is unavailable, Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post reports. "[Dusty] just said, 'Moving forward, you're going to be the closer, but you still got to be honest with us about your arm and how you feel and we're still going to be cautious about your pitches,'" Kelley said Thursday. "'We're not going to just run you out there just because you're the closer.'"

EDGE Analysis

The veteran reliever picked up his second save of the season later Thursday night, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless ninth against the Braves to preserve a 3-2 win. It's important to note that Kelley has yet to pitch on back-to-back days this season as the Nats remain careful in how they use the oft-injured righty -- although Kelley himself said that usage pattern is just a coincidence -- so it's likely that Glover will get his chances when the club decides they don't want to push Kelley too hard.

Kelley will share closer duties with Koda Glover for the time being, Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Blake Treinen was formally removed from the closer role Wednesday after nearly squandering a three-run lead Tuesday night. Kelley put out the threat and nailed down the win for Washington, but he will not be the sole closer, at least not right away. Manager Dusty Baker said Kelley's elbow history and Glover's inexperience were the primary factors in the decision not to name one closer.

Kelley recorded the final two outs of Tuesday's 3-1 win over Atlanta, striking out one for his first save of the year.

EDGE Analysis

Blake Treinen started the inning, but he was yanked from the game with the bases loaded and a run already in. Kelley came in and promptly took care of business, throwing 10 strikes among 11 pitches. After getting scored on in his first three appearances, Kelley has now posted four straight scoreless outings, and he may take over the closer role from Treinen (or at least be part of a timeshare) moving forward.

Kelley struck out two in a perfect 10th inning Friday to notch his first win of the season in a 3-2 victory over the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran righty had a rough start to the season after losing out on the closer job to Blake Treinen this spring, serving up home runs in each of his first three appearances, but Kelley appears to be settling down and still has a strong 8:2 K:BB through five innings. While he's still looking for his first hold of 2017, the 32-year-old should provide solid value in that category by the time the season is through.

Kelley lost the closer battle to Blake Treinen, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports. Kelley should remain an important piece of the back end of the bullpen, though.

EDGE Analysis

Whether Kelley will rank ahead of Koda Glover, who earned some buzz with his spring performance, is yet to be clarified, though Kelley's skills make him worth a speculation in deep leagues, if prospective owners can hold him. Still, the right-hander's durability concerns make him a target of concern from manager Dusty Baker and the rest of the Nationals' organization.

Nationals manager Dusty Baker said Saturday the team has decided on a closer, although he isn't yet willing to make that decision public, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports. Kelley is one of three candidates for the job, along with Koda Glover and Blake Treinen.

EDGE Analysis

While much can be read into the fact that Glover and Treinen have been getting ninth-inning work over the last couple of weeks in spring games while Kelley hasn't, the veteran has been consistently one of the first arms out of the bullpen after the starter during Grapefruit League action and will have a high-leverage role for the Nats this season, whether he's recording saves or holds. Either way, it seems the team's bullpen picture should become a lot clearer very soon.

Kelley gave up two hits and struck out one over 1.2 scoreless innings during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

The 32-year-old has been getting plenty of work in during minor league games, but Kelley still has a strong 1.93 ERA and 4:1 K:BB through 4.2 official spring innings. The Nats haven't yet tipped their hands when it comes to who will be their Opening Day closer, but the veteran righty remains very much in the mix.

Kelley remains among the favorites to win the Nationals' closer job this spring, Jamal Collier of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran righty has made two appearances so far in Grapefruit League action, striking out three and walking one in two innings. If Kelley does emerge with the job, he won't have to share it -- manager Dusty Baker made it clear Monday that he won't be using a committee to close games. Kelley's main competition comes from Blake Treinen, although recent signee Joe Blanton and young Koda Glover may also get a look, and a trade to bring in a name-brand closer before Opening Day is also possible. Don't expect much clarity on the Nats' closer situation until near the end of spring training, though.