Marlins' closer Steve Cishek's historic streak

The last time Steve Cishek failed to convert a save was June 4, 2013 against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Cishek had been called upon to protect a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 10th inning. The first batter he faced, John Mayberry, Jr., tied the game in one swing as Cishek's slider, according to Cishek, "just didn't slide."

Fast forward almost a year to the current time and Cishek's last blown save is a distant memory. He now owns MLB's longest current streak of consecutive saves with 33, which is also a Marlins franchise record.  During the streak, Cishek's ERA has been a microscopic 1.05. He has yet to surrender a run, earned or unearned, in seven appearances in 2014.

"I just don't like to lose," Cishek said. "I just do everything I can to put a zero on the board, to do whatever I can to help these guys out. They've battled the entire game. The last thing I want to do is go out there and not compete and blow it up for them."

Cishek's steadiness stands in stark contrast to the rest of the Marlins bullpen, which has struggled late in games so far. Marlins relievers have given up nearly as many runs as the starters through the club's first few weeks. Cishek, on the other hand, has been dominant. Opponents are batting a paltry .125 against him and he's posted a very respectable 0.71 WHIP, so he's not putting many guys on base either.

As was the case with many of the Marlins young players, Cishek was the subject of trade rumors last season, but it appears the Marlins front office has made the correct decision not to let Cishek go as his value has certainly increased during the course of the 33-save streak, both to the Marlins and to any potential suitors.