The following are some save candidates who could replace shaky closers or share chances:

Florida's Franklyn German: Matt Herges blew his first save chance by allowing three runs in the ninth to the Nationals, taking the loss. Another closing candidate Carlos Martinez may be headed to the DL with a sore right elbow. Reliever Chris Resop was demoted last Thursday. This leaves German, once a highly touted Oakland prospect, as the best candidate to share save chances or replace the shaky Joe Borowski, who sports a 6.75 ERA. German, who has extensive closer experience in the minors, saved 27 games for Triple A in 2004, striking out 60 in 49 innings. He also totaled 48 saves for Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A in 2001 and 2002. He was waived by Detroit and claimed by Florida in the season's beginning.

Tampa Bay's Chad Orvella (Also Shawn Camp): Dan Miceli is currently Tampa Bay's closer, but he has one blown save in four chances and owns a 9.53 ERA. Camp has one save already this season by pitching two innings on Saturday and is the current set-up man. He also closed two games in '04, his rookie season. He could receive additional spot saves. Chad Orvella has promise to be the featured closer, receiving 14 holds for the Devil Rays and garnering nine saves in Double-A last season. Orvella improved in his stint at Triple-A, compiling a 2.57 ERA with six hits, six strikeouts and one walk in seven innings over five games.

Cincinnati's Todd Coffey (Also Kent Mercker): Weathers blew his first save Sunday, giving him three saves in four chances. He's in his 16th season and has a robust 5.79 ERA. Second-year reliever Coffey has served well as a set-up man, compiling a 1.35 ERA with four holds, one earned run, five strikeouts, seven hits and two walks in 6.2 innings over seven games.  He has closing experience, saving 20 games at Double-A in 2004. Mercker already has one save and two holds, has allowed only one earned run and two hits, and has seven strikeouts and two walks in 3.1 innings over five games. Mercker will likely continue to receive spot saves.

Seattle's J.J. Putz: Eddie Guardado blew his first save of the season in the ninth inning of Monday's loss to Boston. He allowed two earned runs and two hits in .2 innings. That made his ERA jump to 11.57.  Until Monday's blown save (one earned run, two hits in .2 innings) in the eighth inning at Boston, Putz had an impressive 14 strikeouts, two saves and two holds, while allowing just six hits, one walk and three earned runs in 7.1 innings over six games. Putz has closing experience, saving 11 games for Triple-A in 2003 and nine saves for the M's in 2004. If Guardado continues to struggle, he'll likely keep sharing save chances with Putz.  

Any others who could receive save chances or become closers soon?