Cubs manager Craig Counsell indicated Sunday that Alzolay isn't currently the club's closer, and the skipper said he'll treat the role as a "day-to-day thing," Steve Greenberg of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The right-hander blew his second straight save, and fourth of the season, during Saturday's doubleheader, so it appears he'll get a break from the ninth inning. Alzolay has a 4.50 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 9:4 K:BB across 10 innings and is now set to fill a lower-leverage role, at least temporarily. Hector Neris and Mark Leiter are now the top candidates for the ninth inning, though Counsell didn't indicate if he'll go with one reliever or utilize a committee approach.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Blows another save
Rotowire
Alzolay (1-2) was charged with the loss and a blown save in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against Miami. He allowed two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out one over 1.1 innings.
The Cubs closer entered with two outs in the eighth inning and walked a batter before he stranded the bases loaded, but a single and two-run homer in the ninth put Miami ahead 3-2. It's the second straight outing with a blown save for Alzolay, who is now 3-for-7 in save chances on the season. He's given up five runs with a 9:4 K:BB across 10 innings. Hector Neris picked up the save in Game 2 and could see more chances in the ninth inning if Alzolay's struggles persist.
Alzolay blew the save Tuesday against Arizona, allowing one run on one hit and two walks across one inning. He didn't generate a strikeout.
Alzolay toed the rubber with a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and surrendered the game-tying home run to Ketel Marte. Following the long ball, Alzolay dished out back-to-back walks but avoided disaster by retiring Christian Walker to end the inning. He's converted on three of his six save opportunities this season. However, he's only allowed three runs in 8.2 innings -- all solo homers -- and still has a firm grip on ninth-inning duties.
Alzolay worked around a hit to pitch a scoreless inning and record the save in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Mariners. He struck out two.
Alzolay allowed a run and blew a save in his first appearance of the season, but he's been pretty locked in since then, recording a 1.35 ERA and striking out nine across 6.2 innings. He's also converted three saves in that time, and the righty should stay slotted in as Chicago's closer, with Hector Neris working in a setup role.
Alzolay earned a save against the Mariners on Saturday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter in a scoreless inning.
Alzolay entered in the ninth frame staked to a three-run lead. He surrendered a two-out single but nothing more to pick up his second save this season. Alzolay has also blown two save opportunities, but he's pitched pretty well overall with a 2.70 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 7:1 K:BB over 6.2 innings.
