The Spring Training battle to be the closer on Opening Day is over before it ever started. According to MLB.com, manager Bob Melvin told reporters in a Wednesday afternoon conference call, that Brandon Lyon will open Spring Training as the closer. He added that Tony Pena and Chad Qualls will be in the set-up role.
After the departure of National League save leader Jose Valverde to the Houston Astros in the off-season, the role of closer was expected to be filled by either Lyon or Pena. The announcement came as a surprise, because the decision was not expected to be made until at least late Spring Training.
Lyon had been the closer for the Diamondbacks previously. In 2005, he opened the season as the closer before an injury sidelined him in May. Since then, health has not flared up as an issue, as Lyon appeared in a career-high 73 games last season. He posted a record of 6-4, with an ERA of 2.68.
Pena pitched in 75 ballgames last season, with an ERA of 3.27. He converted two save opportunities in five chances, along with winning games opposed to four losses. According to Melvin, Pena will take on most of the eighth inning situations.
Qualls joins the Diamondbacks bullpen after spending the first four seasons of his career in Houston. Over the last three seasons, Qualls has averaged 79 appearances for the Astros. He earned the reputation as one of the best set up men in the game, which was a reason the Diamondbacks were able to part with Valverde. Last year, Qualls had a 3.05 ERA with a 6-5 record. He will handle mostly seventh inning and some eighth inning situations.
As all three have the abilities to close games, if Lyon is slow out of the gate, Pena and Qualls are waiting in the wings to step in and be the guy to end games for the D’backs this year.
