Claudio surrendered one hit over 1.1 scoreless innings to pick up a hold in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Tigers.

EDGE Analysis

Claudio opened the season as the Rangers' primary long-relief option, but the recent additions of Anthony Bass and Austin Bibens-Dirkx to the bullpen have allowed the lefty to see more work in the middle innings. The 25-year-old has been able to secure three holds in his last five appearances, lowering his season ERA to 2.18 in the process. Unless he endures a prolonged rough patch, Claudio seems poised to stick around as a valuable cog in the bridge to closer Matt Bush.

Claudio was credited with his first MLB save after tossing a scoreless frame in Friday's 3-1 win over the Mariners in 13 innings.

EDGE Analysis

Since closer Matt Bush was called upon to pitch the 12th inning, manager Jeff Banister was forced to go in another direction to close out the game after Rougned Odor gave the Rangers the lead with a two-run homer in the top of the 13th. Banister ended up settling on Claudio, who was making his first appearance since making a spot start in place of the injured Cole Hamels (oblique) on Wednesday. The Rangers have since ruled Hamels out for the next eight weeks, but Claudio is expected to stick in his usual long-relief role rather than warranting any consideration for a rotation spot.

Claudio didn't factor into the decision during his first MLB start in Tuesday's 8-7 loss to the Astros. He covered four innings, giving up three runs on four hits and no walks and struck out one batter.

EDGE Analysis

Cole Hamels was a late scratch after experiencing right oblique tightness while warming up, unexpectedly thrusting Claudio, the club's long reliever, into a starting role. Considering the circumstances, Claudio generally fared well before being pulled after 65 pitches, though he did serve up two homers. Hamels returned to Arlington and will undergo an examination Wednesday before the club determines if he'll be able to make his next scheduled turn Sunday against the Mariners, but in the event that Hamels remains out, the Rangers could opt to call up a starter from Triple-A Round Rock rather than asking Claudio to make another start.

Claudio will take the mound Tuesday against the Astros after scheduled starter Cole Hamels was scratched due to tightness in his oblique, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Claudio has experienced plenty of success out of the Rangers' bullpen to begin the season, tossing 10 innings of scoreless baseball. He'll receive a real test Tuesday as he draws the last-minute start against the Astros after Cole Hamels was scratched with oblique tightness. It's unclear if Claudio will be a candidate to fill Hamels' spot in the rotation if he is forced to miss extended time.

Claudio has allowed just three of the 15 batters he's faced to reach base to begin the season.

EDGE Analysis

Claudio doesn't see too much action since he is the Rangers' lefty specialist, but has impressed in that role during 2017. In 2016, the 25-year-old posted a 2.79 ERA over 51.2 innings with a 3.4 K/BB rate.

The Rangers are expected to increase Claudio's usage in the 2017 season, Stefan Stevenson of the Forth Worth Star-Telegram reports.

EDGE Analysis

Claudio put together a solid season for the Rangers in 2016. Once the season finished, he'd compiled a 2.79 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over 39 games (51.2 innings). Now that fellow reliever Jake Diekman (abdomen) will likely miss at least half the season rehabbing from surgery, it appears that Claudio will take on a greater workload for the Rangers. The southpaw isn't one to retire many batters by way of the strikeout (5.9 K/9 in 2016) but has a propensity for keeping the ball on the ground, as batters hit a grounder nearly 63 percent of the time with Claudio on the mound.

Claudio was promoted from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Claudio was brought back up to the major league team Friday, after spending a couple weeks with Round Rock. He has been back and forth between the Rangers and Triple-A this season, compiling a 4.50 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP during 18 innings of work at the major league level.

Claudio was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

In need of room for Chi Chi Gonzalez's recall for Monday's start, the Rangers decided to demote the left-handed Claudio for the time being. While his results this year in the majors haven't been spectacular (4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP over 18 innings), he does have a history of success at the major league level and could be a candidate for recall later in the season should the bullpen need a southpaw.

Claudio was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Monday with Yu Darvish (shoulder) heading to the DL, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

EDGE Analysis

This is Claudio's third appearance in the majors in the season, where he has compiled a 4.30 ERA in 14.2 innings of work. The left-hander will likely return to the bullpen as a middle relief option while Cesar Ramos temporarily takes Darvish's place in the rotation.

Claudio was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday, MLB.com's TR Sullivan reports.

EDGE Analysis

With Shawn Tolleson coming off the bereavement list Friday, the Rangers swapped out bullpen arms, with Claudio heading to Triple-A to offer organizational depth.