D-Backs remove struggling Sewald from closer's role

The Arizona Diamondbacks are taking Paul Sewald out of the closer's position amid his recent struggles, manager Torey Lovullo announced Friday, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.

Sewald has tallied 16 saves in 20 chances this season, but he hasn't had an easy time getting there. Since the start of July, the 34-year-old has put up a 10.80 ERA and blown almost as many saves (five) as he's completed (four).

The bottom really fell out during his last two outings. On July 28, Sewald blew a save against Pittsburgh when he allowed the game-tying run with two outs in the ninth, a contest the D-Backs ended up losing in extra innings. Three nights later, he nearly coughed up a three-run advantage against Washington and was pulled after recording only one out. Ryan Thompson eventually got the save in that game.

Lovullo hopes that a break from ninth-inning duties will allow Sewald to rediscover his old form and didn't rule out reinstating him as a closer later in the year, according to Piecoro.

Sewald was acquired by Arizona from the Seattle Mariners for three players at last year's trade deadline. In Seattle, he'd emerged as one of the best closers in baseball, but the righty's tenure in the desert has been rocky: He's put up a 4.06 ERA and 1.26 WHIP while striking out under 10 batters per nine innings in a D-Backs uniform.

Lovullo declined to name a full-time closer to replace Sewald, and will instead determine who pitches the ninth based on matchups, according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. Thompson, Kevin Ginkel, Justin Martinez, and the newly-acquired A.J. Puk could get save opportunities going forward.

Thanks to a red-hot July that thrust them back into the playoff race, the D-Backs enter Friday a half-game up on the New York Mets for the final NL wild-card spot.