MLB.com: D-backs’ Hudson and Clippard in line for saves
Jul 10, 2016, 3:30 PM
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Daniel Hudson (41) celebrates with teammate Chris Herrmann (10) after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in a baseball game, Tuesday, June 21, 2016, in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
(Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Arizona Diamondbacks traded Brad Ziegler to the Boston Red Sox and will now look to fill their closing pitcher void.
According to MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert, Daniel Hudson and Tyler Clippard will get first dibs on filling the role.
“Those two guys have the most experience, so I would imagine right now one of those two would be in the ninth,” D-backs manager Chip Hale said Saturday morning. “Probably more Clippard today than Huddy just because he’s been off.”
Clippard, who has been a reliever for the past eight seasons, has more experience in the role, having saved 54 games.
Hudson, meanwhile, transitioned to the bullpen last year after having a pair of Tommy John surgeries.
Clippard has been pitching better of late than Hudson, who had a 1.55 ERA before struggling with a 33.00 ERA over his last six appearances.
Hudson has five saves in his career with four of those saves coming in 2015. He has been a member of the D-backs since 2010 and wants to remain apart of the organization in the future.
Over his first 29.1 innings this season, he held a 2.45 ERA. However, his fortunes turned for the worst on June 23 when he began a stretch where he gave up 11 earned runs in three innings (33.00 ERA).
On the other hand, Clippard had 19 saves last season for the Oakland Athletics and New York Mets. In 2012, he had 32 saves with the Washington Nationals.
In his career, he’s held right-handed hitters to a .202 batting average and left-handed hitters to a .186 batting average.
Since giving up three runs to the Miami Marlins on June 10, he has only allowed one run in 8.2 innings (1.04 ERA), while striking out 12 batters.
Clippard likely has the better chance as the long-term solution for the closer spot, but Chip Hale will utilize both moving forward as of now.
