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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
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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
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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: Nabs third save of season
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Sewald struck out two to record the save after tossing a scoreless and hitless inning in Saturday's 2-1 win over Atlanta.
The veteran right-hander retired the side in order, but Atlanta made him work for it with a pair of eight-pitch at-bats and a total of 21 pitches (14 strikes) Sewald is 3-for-3 in save chances this season and has posted four scoreless outings in five appearances, with the lone exception being Friday's game against Atlanta, when he allowed two runs on two homers over two-thirds of an inning.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Takes loss Friday
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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.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Secures save No. 2
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Sewald earned the save by striking out the side in order during Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Tigers.
The 35-year-old was called upon for the ninth inning after Arizona turned a 5-1, eighth-inning deficit into a two-run lead, and he dispatched the middle of Detroit's lineup on 13 pitches. Sewald now has two saves through three scoreless appearances this year, already matching his saves total from a bumpy 2025 regular season with Cleveland and Detroit. Things can change fast this early in the season, but Sewald has quickly established himself as Arizona's top option for saves.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Nails down first save
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Sewald earned a save against the Tigers on Monday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.
It didn't look like there would be any save opportunities after Arizona built an 8-0 lead through five frames, but Detroit made a late rally to get close. Sewald was summoned to protect a three-run lead in the ninth frame, and he avoided any drama by retiring the side in order on 12 pitches. Manager Torey Lovullo previously hinted that Sewald might be the favorite for early save chances, and that became a firmer scenario given Monday's bullpen usage. Sewald certainly has plenty of experience in the role, having racked up 81 regular-season saves between 2021 and 2024.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Cleans up loss
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Sewald retired the lone batter he faced in the eighth inning of Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Dodgers.
Arizona led 2-1 in the eighth inning with Sewald warming up in the bullpen, presumably to save the game in the ninth, but he never got the chance after Juan Morillo allowed a two-run home run, setting up Sewald to get the final out of the inning in a non-save situation. It was the veteran right-hander's first appearance of the season.
Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Early favorite for saves
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo indicated Thursday that Sewald is likely to get the first chance to serve as the team's closer, Cameron Cox of 12 News in Arizona reports.
When asked who will be the team's closer, Lovullo noted that Sewald has been a "very back end" reliever for a "long time" and "I'd be foolish not to strongly consider him" as closer. Lovullo did not mention any other relievers by name, only adding that Sewald will not be able to pitch every day, so the club will need "understudies" if Sewald is the closer. While Sewald looks like the clear early favorite for saves in the Diamondbacks bullpen, Kevin Ginkel and Ryan Thompson could also be in the mix. Sewald held a 4.58 ERA and 20:6 K:BB between the Guardians and Tigers during an injury-shortened 2025 season.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Potential closer
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Arizona manager Torey Lovullo mentioned Sewald as a potential closer candidate Wednesday, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
Lovullo has yet to name a closer and said he probably won't until the regular season begins, but Sewald has the most experience of the group competing for the role. "I love where [Paul] Sewald is at," the manager said. "He's been throwing the heck out of the ball. We have other guys that have been doing the exact same thing. So, out of fairness to the group, I probably won't say anything until Opening Day." Those comments came after Sewald authored a fourth consecutive scoreless Cactus League appearance. Overall, he has allowed two runs over six innings (3.00 ERA) with zero walks and four strikeouts. Kevin Ginkel (11.81 spring ERA) and Ryan Thompson (6.14 ERA) are also among the relievers that could get save opportunities early in the regular season.
Sewald allowed one run on one hit and struck out one over one inning in Saturday's spring game against the Angels.
Sewald showed improved velocity in his Cactus League debut, which came in the fourth inning against some of the Angels expected starters. The 35-year-old reliever averaged 92 mph on the eight fastballs he threw, a couple of ticks up from the 90 mph he averaged in 2025 and more in line with the velocity he showed in his previous stint with the Diamondbacks. Sewald credited the improved velo to the work he put in at Driveline over the offseason, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports. With Arizona having no set closer at this point in spring training, Sewald is in the mix for save opportunities along with Kevin Ginkel and Ryan Thompson.
Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: In mix to close for Arizona
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo listed Sewald, Kevin Ginkel and Ryan Thompson as candidates to emerge as the team's closer, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.
"I mean it's probably simple arithmetic for you guys to figure out," Lovullo said. "I'm just going to go kind of blind here, but Sewald, Ginkel, Thompson, all those guys that have had that experience in big moments... they're all wanting to do it." Lovullo prefers to establish a defined closer, though it's unclear whether he intends to name one prior to Opening Day. A.J. Puk (elbow) and Justin Martinez (elbow) should also be in the closer mix when they return. Sewald was the Diamondbacks' closer when they won the National League pennant in 2023 and opened the 2024 season in the role before eventually losing it. The veteran righty held a 4.58 ERA and 20:6 K:BB between the Guardians and Tigers during an injury-shortened 2025 season.
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Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Grabs one-year deal from Arizona
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The Diamondbacks signed Sewald to a one-year, $1.5 million contract Thursday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Sewald was the Diamondbacks' closer when they won the National League pennant in 2023 and opened the 2024 season in the role before eventually being replaced. He'll turn 36 in May and was limited to just 19.2 innings in 2025 due to injuries, posting a 4.58 ERA and 20:6 K:BB between the Guardians and Tigers. Sewald might not have much left in the tank, but given of the state of Arizona's bullpen, it wouldn't be far-fetched that he winds up with some save opportunities.
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Paul Sewald: Next year's option declined
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The Tigers declined Sewald's $10 million mutual option for 2026 on Thursday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Sewald exercised his part of the option, but the Tigers declined their side and will pay the reliever a $1 million buyout instead. The 35-year-old Sewald was limited to only 19.2 regular-season innings in 2025 due to a shoulder issue, posting a 4.58 ERA and 20:6 K:BB between the Guardians and Tigers. He finished the season healthy, but Sewald didn't pitch during the wild-card series versus the Guardians and was not included on the Tigers' ALDS roster.
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Tigers' Paul Sewald: Returns from 60-day IL
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The Tigers activated Sewald (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Thursday.
Sewald was recovering from a right shoulder strain when the Tigers acquired him from the Guardians at the trade deadline, but he's made his way onto the active roster following five rehab appearances. The veteran reliever will likely be used in low-leverage spots initially but could find himself working in key situations if he looks sharp.
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Tigers' Paul Sewald: Nearing return?
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Sewald (shoulder), who has logged two scoreless innings in a rehab assignment with High-A West Michigan, could return from the injured list as soon as Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
Sewald has yet to pitch for Detroit after getting acquired in a trade before the deadline. The 33-year-old righty last saw the mound on July 11 when he was with Cleveland, and he posted a 4.70 ERA and 18 strikeouts across 15.1 innings for the Guardians before going down with a right shoulder strain. The Tigers are hoping Sewald can provide some veteran bullpen depth for the stretch run, though he's unlikely to see save chances ahead of Will Vest and Kyle Finnegan (groin) once he's healthy.
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