Diamondbacks' Mark Melancon: Will begin season on IL
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Melancon was diagnosed with a subscapularis strain in his right shoulder Thursday and will begin the season on the injured list, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
The news keeps getting worse regarding Melancon's shoulder. He will receive a PRP injection Thursday and is expected to miss the first few months of the season. Expect Andrew Chafin and Kevin Ginkel to pick up an increased share of save opportunities while Melancon is out.
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Diamondbacks' Mark Melancon: Dealing with shoulder issues
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Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said Melancon has a shoulder issue and will likely miss the beginning of the season, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Manager Torey Lovullo previously said the veteran reliever was battling arm fatigue and emphasized that Melancon was fine. Now that it seems like Melancon will be sidelined for the start of the season, the door opens for other relievers like Kevin Ginkel and Andrew Chafin to pick up some saves early in the year.
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Diamondbacks' Mark Melancon: Experiencing fatigue
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Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Melancon has not pitched since last Friday because he's "battling some fatigue," Theo Mackie of the Arizona Republic reports.
The manager stressed that Melancon is fine, but that he's "backing off" certain players when the need arises. Melancon's had a rough spring and should not be considered the Diamondbacks' sole closer.
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Diamondbacks' Mark Melancon: Makes first scoreless appearance
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Melancon allowed one hit and walked one while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning in Friday's spring game against Cincinnati.
Melancon authored his first scoreless appearance over three Cactus League outings. The reliever's 16.88 ERA this spring has manager Torey Lovullo exploring several options to close games in 2023.
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Diamondbacks' Mark Melancon: Struggles again
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Melancon allowed two runs on three hits while striking out one over one inning in Monday's spring game against Kansas City.
That makes two disappointing -- maybe alarming -- Cactus League outings by Melancon, who's given up five runs on nine hits over two innings this spring. While he was not named the sole closer, Melancon is expected to be part of the crew that closes out games, but not if results like this are the norm. Those speculating on Arizona saves may want to keep the names Andrew Chafin, Kevin Ginkel and Joe Mantiply handy. Of the group, Mantiply has the most success so far this spring.
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Diamondbacks' Mark Melancon: Roughed up in first outing
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Melancon allowed three runs on six hits while striking out two over one inning in Friday's spring game against Seattle.
Melancon made his spring debut in the fourth inning and was immediately tagged for a single and a home run. After a strikeout, the next four hitters reached base before he finished out the inning. Melancon operated as the team's closer to start 2022 before losing the job then reclaiming it again late. He'll be part of the late-game mix in 2023, although manager Torey Lovullo has said the closer role will be fluid.
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Diamondbacks' Mark Melancon: Among many possible closers
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Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said the Diamondbacks' closer role will "be fluid," which means Melancon is not a lock to finish games, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports. "I haven't yet made up my mind about naming somebody as our ninth-inning guy," the manager said.
Melancon opened the 2022 season as the sole closer, but his grip on the job was tenuous. He finished the year with a 3-10 record, 18 saves and three blown saves and a 4.66 ERA, including stints when he was removed from the role. Lovullo sounds open to the idea of having a fluid bullpen. Beyond Melancon, the manager could be eyeing Andrew Chafin, Kevin Ginkel and Joe Mantiply.
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Diamondbacks' Mark Melancon: Earns 18th save
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Melancon didn't allow a baserunner during the 10th inning to pick up the save against the Astros on Wednesday.
Melancon's number was called in the bottom of the 10th, and he proceeded to retire all three batters he faced on a total of six pitches to record his first save since Aug. 17. The 37-year-old reliever has been solid for the Diamondbacks in September to the tune of a 2.70 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 10 appearances.
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Diamondbacks' Mark Melancon: Mops up in loss
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Melancon allowed one hit and two walks while striking out one over a scoreless ninth inning in Tuesday's 4-0 loss to the Dodgers.
Melancon retired the first two batters before loading the bases on a single and two walks but escaped the jam. It was the eighth consecutive outing that the former closer entered in a non-save situation. Melancon has a 5.56 ERA with three saves, eight strikeouts and eight walks over 11.1 innings (13 appearances) since manager Torey Lovullo moved to a closer-by-committee in early August. Ian Kennedy had solidified the role for a spell, but he's had issues of late (32.40 ERA last three outings), which prompted the manager to describe his closer situation as "fluid."
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Diamondbacks' Mark Melancon: Rocked in non-save situation
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Melancon allowed four runs on three hits and a walk without retiring a batter in Saturday's 16-7 loss to the Cardinals.
St. Louis batters jumped on Melancon, who entered the top of ninth inning with Arizona down by a run, and he lasted just 12 pitches. Edwin Uceta followed and gave up a grand slam (three runs charged to Melancon) and then some. Melancon had pitched well after being removed from the closer's role until Saturday's results. The performance continues a pattern in which Melancon's more effective with a save on the line (2.89 ERA) than in non-save situations (5.48 ERA).
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Diamondbacks' Mark Melancon: Records save with perfect inning
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Melancon earned a save against the Giants on Wednesday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning.
Melancon came on in the ninth inning to protect a one-run lead, and he was able to retire the side on just nine pitches. A wild pitch on a strikeout allowed the first batter he faced to reach base, but that was quickly wiped out by a double-play grounder. Since blowing a save Aug. 1 against Cleveland, Melancon has converted three straight save opportunities while giving up only one run over five innings. He and Ian Kennedy have alternated the past six successful saves for Arizona and appear to be locked into the top spots in a closer committee.
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Diamondbacks' Mark Melancon: Making slight changes
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Melancon tweaked his delivery since Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo added other relievers to the closer mix, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports. "I've been always trying to tweak things to be better," Melancon said.
Melancon said the changes are barely perceptible to the naked eye and involve tightening his torso and creating more tension throughout his body to hone his command. "I'm creating more down angle, or cut, on the ball," Melancon said. "And just less stress on the shoulder, creating more tension throughout." The changes, however small, have worked for the right-hander. In the three outings since the role change, Melancon has allowed one hit and three walks with three strikeouts over three scoreless innings, which includes two saves.
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Diamondbacks' Mark Melancon: Logs 16th save
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Melancon saved Tuesday's 6-4 win against Pittsburgh, issuing one walk while striking out one in the ninth inning.
Melancon worked around a two-out Bligh Madris walk to finish off the fifth win in seven games for Arizona. During the recent stretch, Melancon has saved two games while co-closer Ian Kennedy has closed out three, so it appears Kennedy is still the preferred option for now. The 37-year-old Melancon has fired two scoreless innings since being removed as the closer, though he's put four baserunners on in the process.
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Diamondbacks' Mark Melancon: Shaky in save
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Melancon allowed a hit and two walks while striking out one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 6-4 win over the Rockies.
Melancon was removed from the full-time closer gig after a blown save versus the Guardians last Monday. With Ian Kennedy unavailable after pitching the two previous days and Joe Mantiply having pitching earlier in the game, manager Torey Lovullo asked Melancon to close. He loaded the bases with two outs but got a fielder's choice to end the contest without surrendering a run for the first time in his last three appearances. Neither his recent work nor his season-long numbers -- a 4.54 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 27:15 K:BB -- should inspire much confidence in the 37-year-old's ability to lock things down. This was his 15th save in 18 chances, but expect Kennedy and Mantiply to get their chances in the ninth inning over the last two months of the season. Kennedy picked up the first two saves since the move to a committee approach, while Mantiply was deployed in the sixth inning Sunday.
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Diamondbacks' Mark Melancon: Out of ninth-inning role
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The Diamondbacks will go with a closer-by-committee approach going forward, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports. Melancon is 3-10 with a 4.66 ERA and 1.58 WHIP this season.
In a perfect world for Arizona, Melancon would have been good as the closer through four months and they could have gotten something for him at the trade deadline, but that ship has sailed. He will probably work in lower-leverage situations in the short term, with Ian Kennedy the leading candidate to get the next save chance.
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Diamondbacks' Mark Melancon: Can't close door in extras Monday
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Melancon (3-10) blew the save and took the loss Monday, giving up two unearned runs on two hits and a walk over 1.2 innings in a 6-5 extra-innings loss to the Guardians.
The Diamondbacks took the lead in the top of the 10th inning, but Melancon gave up a single to Andres Gimenez to bring home Cleveland's phantom runner, and the veteran right-hander then suffered the same fate in the 11th as Amed Rosario walked it off with another single. Melancon's 10 losses on the year lead all relievers, but the blown save was only his third, with his last one coming June 4. His numbers aren't great, but his spot as Arizona's closer doesn't seem to be in immediate jeopardy.
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Diamondbacks' Mark Melancon: Registers 14th save
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Melancon earned a save over the Giants on Wednesday, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one batter in one scoreless inning.
Melancon preserved a two-run ninth-inning lead, but not without difficulty. The veteran closer allowed two of the first three batters he faced to reach base before setting down the next two hitters. Melancon has had some blowups this season, but he's posted a 2.74 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 22:7 K:BB over his past 25 appearances dating back to May 18. He's converted 14 of 16 save opportunities on the season, so his role as Arizona's closer appears decently secure for the time being.
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Diamondbacks' Mark Melancon: Notches 13th save
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Melancon earned the save during Sunday's 3-1 win against the Padres, striking out one in a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Melancon retired the heart of San Diego's order on 16 pitches to earn only his second save since June 3, though both have come this week. Despite the two saves, the 37-year-old also has two losses in six appearances this month, though his seven strikeouts in 5.1 July innings matches his season high for a month already. Melancon concludes the first half with a 5.12 ERA and 1.55 WHIP with 22 strikeouts in 31.2 innings across 36 appearances.
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Diamondbacks' Mark Melancon: Takes eighth loss
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Melancon (3-8) allowed one earned run on three hits and one walk while striking out one across one-third of an inning to take the loss Wednesday against the Giants.
Melancon entered the game in the ninth inning with the score knotted at three. However, he allowed two singles, a double and a walk to take his eighth loss of the season. Melancon has served as Arizona's primary closer this season -- particularly since Ian Kennedy (calf) has been sidelined -- but has allowed one earned run in four of his last 10 appearances. Melancon owns a 5.28 ERA and a 21:9 K:BB across 30.2 frames on the season.
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Diamondbacks' Mark Melancon: Secures 12th save
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Melancon allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Monday's 4-3 win over the Giants.
Melancon hadn't logged a save since June 3, though that's been more a product of a lack of opportunities. Only Ian Kennedy (calf) has logged a save since Melancon's last conversion, and that came back on June 9. In his last 13 innings, Melancon has allowed six runs (five earned) with a 10:3 K:BB, two saves, a 2-2 record and a blown save. The veteran right-hander has trimmed his ERA to 5.04 with a 1.48 WHIP and 20:8 K:BB across 30.1 innings, and it appears he'll continue to maintain the closer job for the Diamondbacks, though save chances could remain sparse for the struggling team.
