54 Cole Sulser RP

Sulser will not be the Orioles' closer going forward, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.

Sulser has saved five games for the Orioles this season but has blown three more opportunities. He's given up runs in each of his last four outings, walking eight batters in five innings over that stretch. His 4.70 ERA, 21.2 percent strikeout rate and 19.7 percent walk rate are all far from closer material. Hunter Harvey and Miguel Castro could be the primary ninth-inning options in Baltimore now, as Mychal Givens was traded to the Rockies on Sunday.

Sulser (1-4) allowed two runs on a hit and three walks Sunday, blowing a save chance and taking the loss against the Blue Jays. He recorded two outs.

Sulser has now been tagged with a loss in three of his last four appearances and has blown three of his eight save opportunities. With two outs and a runner on second Sunday, the 30-year-old walked two straight batters before allowing a walkoff single to Teoscar Hernandez. His season ERA ballooned up to 4.70 and it's unclear if he'll still be the team's main closer moving forward.

Sulser (1-2) gave up an unearned run on two walks and struck out none in 1.1 innings, taking the extra-inning loss versus the Blue Jays on Tuesday.

Sulser entered the tie game in the ninth inning and got through it fine, but couldn't get through the 10th cleanly. A Chris Davis throwing error allowed Travis Shaw to score, and the Orioles weren't able to get Sulser off the hook in the bottom half of the inning. The 30-year-old righty has a 3.86 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 10 strikeouts in 11.2 innings this season.

Sulser pitched a perfect 1.1 innings with one strikeout to earn the save in Saturday's 7-3 win over the Nationals.

Sulser was called on for the last out of the eighth inning, and he retired Adam Eaton via a flyout. Sulser then retired Juan Soto, Asdrubal Cabrera and Eric Thames in order in the ninth for his fifth save of the year. The 30-year-old Sulser has a 4.35 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 10.1 innings this season. He's 5-for-7 in save chances as the primary ninth-inning option in the Baltimore bullpen.

Sulser struck out two and did not allow a baserunner in the ninth inning to earn the save Wednesday against the Phillies.

After blowing a save chance Tuesday against the Phillies, Sulser was given the chance to redeem himself. He took advantage by whiffing two of the three batters he faced to earn his fourth save of the season. Sulser has been up and down while serving as the Orioles' primary closer, suffering two blowup outings but working effectively otherwise. Overall, he has a 5.00 ERA and 9:5 K:BB across nine innings.

Sulser (1-1) allowed two earned runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one across one inning to blow the save Wednesday. However, he was credited with a win.

Sulser was called upon to protect an 8-6 lead in the ninth inning. After retiring the first two batters he faced, he allowed two singles and two walks to allow the Phillies to tie the game. Sulser was bailed out by the Orioles' offense after Austin Hays hit an inside-the-park home run to lead off the 10th inning and was credited with the win as a result. Sulser has now blown two saves this season and has a 5.63 ERA and 7:5 K:BB. The team has consistently used him in the closer role, though Mychal Givens and Miguel Castro could become options if his struggles continue.

Sulser fired two scoreless innings Sunday as he earned the save against the Rays. He allowed no hits and no walks while failing to record a strikeout.

The Orioles' closer situation was slightly murky to begin the season, but Sulser picked up his third save in four attempts Sunday, signaling that he has the trust of manager Brandon Hyde for the time being. The right-hander has struck out just four batters over six innings this year, but his current status as Baltimore's closer makes him a fantasy asset.

Sulser struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his second save of the season in a 6-3 win over the Rays.

Facing the team he made his big-league debut for last season, Sulser got Mike Zunino and Ji-Man Choi swinging before Brandon Lowe grounded out to first base to end the game. The unheralded 30-year-old appears to have earned manager Brandon Hyde's trust, and while Sulser doesn't have elite stuff, his 94 mph fastball, changeup and slider were good enough to consistently post K/9 rates in the double digits in the minors. Opportunity is the most important factor in the fantasy value of any reliever, and right now Sulser is getting opportunities in Baltimore.

Sulser earned the save Sunday against the Red Sox as he pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out two.

The Orioles used Mychal Givens to record four outs late in Saturday's win, so Sulser was called on to pitch in the eighth and ninth innings in the series finale, and he was rewarded with his first save of 2020. Givens will likely serve as the team's primary closer to begin the season, but Sulser's usage Sunday indicates that he could be in line to see some save opportunities as well as the year progresses.

Sulser was claimed off waivers Tuesday by the Orioles.

Sulser heads to Baltimore's 40-man roster after being designated for assignment by the Rays on Sunday. In 7.1 innings pitched for Tampa Bay in 2019, the 29-year-old allowed only five hits while recording a 9:3 K:BB.

Sulser was designated for assignment by the Rays on Sunday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Sulser had his contract selected in early September and didn't allow a run across 7.1 innings, but he won't remain on the 40-man roster with Yandy Diaz (foot) returning from the 60-day injured list.

Sulser's contract was purchased by the Rays on Monday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Sulser, acquired in a trade from Cleveland over the offseason as part of the return for Jake Bauers, spent the season with Triple-A Durham. The 29-year-old recorded a 3.27 ERA in 66 innings, striking out 32.6 percent of opposing batters. A corresponding move to clear a spot on the 40-man roster has yet to be announced.