Blue Jays' Paul Sewald: Heading to Toronto via waiver claim
Rotowire
The Blue Jays claimed Sewald off waivers from the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.
Sewald was scrubbed from the Diamondbacks' 40-man roster Monday after posting a 12.79 ERA and 1.89 WHIP across his last 12.2 frames. The veteran reliever began the season with a 3.08 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 29:7 K:BB over 26.1 innings covering his first 29 appearances, so the Blue Jays will try to coax the latter version back out of Sewald. Once he reports to the team, Sewald will likely be slated for middle relief.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: DFA'd by Diamondbacks
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The Diamondbacks designated Sewald for assignment Monday.
In his first 29 appearances this season, Sewald logged a 3.08 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 29:7 K:BB over 26.1 innings and converted 17 of 18 save opportunities. Since then, he's posted a 12.79 ERA and 1.89 WHIP and has served up eight home runs in 12.2 frames. The rough stretch resulted in Sewald being demoted from the closer role in late July, and he'll now be removed from the 40-man roster altogether. He's making only $1.5 million this season, so it's not out of the question Sewald gets claimed off waivers by a team that thinks he might be able to right the ship.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Falters in low-leverage spot
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Sewald allowed five runs on five hits and failed to retire a batter in Saturday's 12-8 win over the Guardians.
Sewald was making his first appearance since being dropped from the closer's role earlier in the week, and it didn't go well. It appeared that manager Torey Lovullo was giving the demoted closer an opportunity to build confidence -- Arizona was leading 10-2 when Sewald entered to begin the eighth inning -- but he allowed five straight hits and was on the hook for three runners on base when he was removed from the game.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Dropped from closer's role
Rotowire
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said after Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Pirates that Sewald has been removed from the closer's role for the time being and will be used in lower-leverage situations, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.
After recording just one out and yielding three earned runs en route to blowing his second save in his last three chances during Tuesday's 8-7 win in 12 innings, Sewald was passed over for the save chance Wednesday. Brandyn Garcia got the call in the ninth inning and retired three of the four batters he faced to earn his second save of the season, though Lovullo declined to name him the team's closer moving forward. Instead, Lovullo indicated that he plans to play matchups for any save chances that emerge in the short term with Garcia, Juan Morillo, Jonathan Loaisiga and Kevin Ginkel all potentially factoring into the late-inning picture. Sewald could eventually join that group, but he'll first have to pitch effectively in less pressure-packed situations after he had yielded at least one run in seven of his last 13 appearances.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Blows save Tuesday
Rotowire
Sewald was tagged with a blown save Tuesday against the Pirates after allowing three runs on three hits -- including two home runs -- over one-third of an inning. He did not record a walk or a strikeout.
Sewald entered the bottom of the ninth inning holding a three-run lead, but he allowed a two-run shot to Brandon Lowe and a solo homer to Bryan Reynolds before recording an out. Arizona would end up getting the win in 12 innings, but this is not what the Diamondbacks need from their closer in tight games given their situation in the NL wild-card race. Sewald has blown two of his last three save chances and owns an inflated 8.22 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP across nine appearances (7.2 innings) in July.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Takes second blown save
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Sewald allowed two runs on two hits and struck out two without walking a batter over one inning to take a blown save versus the Athletics on Tuesday.
Sewald served up a two-run home run to Jacob Wilson in the ninth inning, squandering the Diamondbacks' lead. Arizona went on to win in the 10th. Given his recent form, it was only a matter of time before Sewald took a blown save -- he's been scored upon in seven of his last 11 outings, giving up 11 runs over 10 innings in that span. For the season, he's 23-for-25 in save conversions while posting a 4.95 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 42:9 K:BB across 36.1 innings. Sewald's not in danger of losing the closer job yet, but his performance over the last month isn't inspiring confidence.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Earns 23rd save
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Sewald earned the save in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Cardinals, allowing one run on one hit and no walks with two strikeouts in the ninth inning.
Sewald was called upon to protect a three-run lead in the ninth inning and did so despite surrendering a solo home run to Jimmy Crooks. The 36-year-old righty has now converted 14 straight save chances dating back to May 17, though he's allowed at least one earned run in six of his past 10 appearances. On the season, he's 23-for-24 in save chances with a 4.58 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 40:9 K:BB across 35.1 innings.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Shaky in 20th save
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Sewald allowed a run on one hit and struck out two over one inning to earn the save in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Brewers.
Sewald had another shaky appearance, but he was able to uphold the lead. He's given up seven runs over his last 5.2 innings, but he's converted all three of his save chances in that span. On the season, the closer has a 4.50 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 35:8 K:BB through 32 innings while converting 20 of 21 save opportunities.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Up to 17 saves
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Sewald earned the save in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Reds, logging a strikeout and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning.
Sewald has converted eight straight save chances while allowing just one run on four hits in his last 11 innings. He's up to 17 saves overall this season, tied for third-most in the National League, while posting a 3.08 ERA with a 0.72 WHIP and 29:7 K:BB across 26.1 innings.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Collects save No. 16
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Sewald struck out one batter in a perfect ninth inning to pick up the save in Friday's win over Cincinnati.
Sewald needed eight pitches to strike out Dane Myers to lead off the inning, but it took just five more offerings for Sewald to collect the final two outs and lock down his 16th save of the season -- good for fourth in the National League. The 36-year-old righty has been much more effective recently than his 3.20 ERA might suggest, allowing just one run and striking out nine batters across his last 10 innings.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Secures 12th save
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Sewald struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Rockies.
Sewald has three saves and a win over his last four outings, a span where he's logged four scoreless innings and a 3:1 K:BB. The closer is clicking, aside from a handful of shaky outings, which have mainly come in non-save situations. He's posted a 3.72 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB while converting 12 of his 13 save opportunities over 19.1 innings this season.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Picks up 11th save
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Sewald struck out one in a hitless and scoreless ninth inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 6-3 win over San Francisco.
Sewald pitched for the first time in the three-game series versus the Giants and got his 11th save in 12 chances this year. The right-hander needed only 13 pitches to earn the save and has now converted two straight after blowing his first save of the season a week ago in Texas. The clean showing lowers his ERA to 4.15 with a 20:6 K:BB.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Secures 10th save
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Sewald walked one and struck out none in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 8-6 win over Rockies.
Sewald took his first blown save of the season Wednesday versus the Rangers, and he didn't pitch for three days after that. He bounced back well Sunday, throwing 11 of 16 pitches for strikes to pick up his 10th save in 11 chances this year. Aside from Wednesday, Sewald has mostly taken care of business when closing, but his struggles have been more prevalent when in non-save situations. He's at a 4.41 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 19:6 K:BB across 16.1 innings this season, and he's allowed three home runs.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Clean inning for save
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Sewald struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Mets.
This was Sewald's first save since April 17 versus the Blue Jays. Over his last six appearances, he's given up three runs across 5.1 innings with a 6:4 K:BB. The lack of recent saves is simply because the Diamondbacks are producing too few opportunities -- Saturday's victory was just their second win through eight games in May. Sewald is at a 3.29 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 17:4 K:BB across 13.2 innings this season. He's converted all eight of his save chances this year despite some hiccups in non-save situations and remains Arizona's No. 1 option to close out games.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Posts seventh save
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Sewald struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Friday's 6-3 win over the Blue Jays.
Sewald's been excellent in save situations this season, pitching seven scoreless innings to come away with seven saves in as many attempts. He's struggled outside of closing duties, allowing three runs (two earned) over 1.1 innings across his three other appearances this season, two of which have resulted in him taking a loss. Overall, he still looks locked in as the Diamondbacks' closer with a 2.16 ERA, 0.48 WHIP and 11:0 K:BB through 8.1 innings.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Earns save against Minnesota
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Pagan (hamstring) collected his sixth save of the season Friday in the Reds' 2-1 win over the Twins, striking out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning.
Pagan injured his hamstring in his last outing against the Giants on Tuesday, but he was cleared to come out of the bullpen Friday to protect the Reds' one-run lead in the ninth. He needed just 13 pitches (eight strikes) to get through the frame for his sixth save of the season, which is tied with Mason Miller and Paul Sewald for most in the National League. It was a good sign to see Pagan back on the mound, but his usage over the weekend will be worth monitoring.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Locks down sixth save
Rotowire
Sewald struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his sixth save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Orioles.
The veteran reliever needed 11 pitches (seven strikes) to convert his sixth straight save chance to begin the season. Sewald has a 2.45 ERA, 0.55 WHIP and 10:0 K:BB through 7.1 innings, and while he's been a little lucky with a .143 BABIP in the early going, his 13.5 percent swinging strike rate is also his best mark since 2023.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Earns fifth save
Rotowire
Sewald earned the save in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Phillies, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.
Sewald was summoned to protect a one-run lead in the ninth and retired the bottom of the Phillies' lineup in order on just 11 pitches. He's kept opponents scoreless in six of eight appearances this season while converting all five of his save opportunities. Overall, the 35-year-old owns a 2.84 ERA, 0.63 WHIP and 9:0 K:BB through his first 6.1 innings.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Secures fourth save
Rotowire
Sewald gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his fourth save of the season in a 5-4 win over the Phillies. He didn't walk or strike out a batter.
The veteran right-hander has looked good to begin his second stint as the Diamondbacks' closer. Sewald has converted all four of his save chances so far, and through 5.1 innings he sports a 3.38 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 7:0 K:BB.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Takes loss Friday
Rotowire
Sewald (0-1) was tagged with the loss Friday, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning in a 2-0 loss to Atlanta.
Sewald entered a scoreless game in the top of the ninth inning and ceded back-to-back home runs. It was the first hiccup in four outings for Sewald, who had not allowed a baserunner in his first three appearances.
