Ziegler walked a batter and allowed a hit, but nailed down his fifth save of the year with a scoreless ninth against the Cardinals on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Although Ziegler has a sparkling 0.82 ERA, he also has a rather unappetizing 1.55 WHIP, and eventually his luck's going to balance out. It's worth noting that he's sitting on a career-best 7.36 K/9, a huge leap from last year's miserable 4.76 mark, but Ziegler's walks are up as well. Still, it's early and these may be little more than small-sample-size blips on the way to yet another solid campaign from Arizona's closer.

Ziegler fanned two batters and worked around a hit in a scoreless ninth inning Thursday against the Giants for his fourth save of the year.

EDGE Analysis

Bizarrely, over his last five outings, Ziegler's been defying everything we thought we knew about him. Generally a pitch-to-contact guy who does a great job limiting hits, he's struck out seven batters while giving up 10 hits in his last six innings. Nonetheless, despite all those men on base, Ziegler's been able to limit the damage, and he should bring that ugly 1.67 WHIP down as the season wears on. He remains unchallenged as Arizona's closer even though Tyler Clippard has been fantastic as his setup man.

Ziegler pitched his way out of trouble in the ninth against the Padres on Friday to earn his second save of the season.

EDGE Analysis

Clinging to a one-run lead, Ziegler allowed the first two hitters to reach base on singles. With runners at the corners, Ziegler struck out the next Padres batter, and then after an intentional walk, induced a ground ball double play to end the game. His two saves are far from perfect, but Ziegler is 2-for-2 in save opportunities.

Ziegler picked up his first save despite allowing one run on one hit while striking out one over one inning Tuesday at the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

Ziegler was fortunate that the Diamondbacks' offense put up two insurance runs in the ninth to add to a 2-1 lead, allowing him to get away with allowing a run to score. Despite not completing a clean inning, he easily held onto the lead he inherited, and it was the only run he's allowed in four appearances this year.

Ziegler picked up his first win of the season on Friday against the Cubs, navigating a hitless frame on 11 pitches.

EDGE Analysis

Ziegler set the Cubs down quickly in the top of the ninth on two ground outs and a pop out, then the Diamondbacks scored a walk-off win in the bottom of the inning. Ziegler doesn't rack up the strikeouts like most elite closers, but he keeps the ball on the ground, and should be a reliable source of saves and the occasional win this season.

Ziegler has pitched two innings this spring, giving up two earned runs and striking out two.

EDGE Analysis

After being held out of games until last weekend due to leg tightness, Ziegler has slowly gotten back into the swing of things. The Diamondbacks closer converted 30-of-32 save chances last year and appeared in 66 games. Expect him to be monitored closely the rest of spring training but to be fine moving forward.

Ziegler will make his spring training debut on Saturday, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Ziegler ran into some leg tightness in Friday, but his inactivity in camp is due to a request from the player for a lighter workload. Assuming he meets his usual velocity in the lead-up to the season, there's no reason to think he won't be ready for Opening Day.

Ziegler likely won't make his Cactus League debut until sometime next week, the Arizona Republic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Diamondbacks closer left a drill early last week after experiencing tightness in his legs, and the team is exercising caution with him. Ziegler is scheduled to make only seven appearances during spring training, which is fewer than most relievers. He had knee surgery prior to last season and was still able to appear in 66 games and record a career-best 30 saves while posting a 1.85 ERA, so expect him to be fine moving forward.

Ziegler came out of a drill Wednesday after experiencing tightness in his legs, the Arizona Republic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said the team was being "careful" and that Ziegler is "fine." Ziegler had knee surgery before last season and dealt with some knee injuries during the season, so the club is taking the cautious route with its closer in the early going.

Manager Dave Stewart announced Monday that Ziegler will begin the season as the Diamondbacks' closer, Jody Jackson of FOX Sports Arizona reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bringing Tyler Clippard into the fold could have been taken as a challenge to Ziegler's gig, but the incumbent will remain in the closing role once Opening Day rolls around. In 2015, Ziegler replaced Addison Reed in May and proceeded to complete 30 saves, which he supplemented with a crisp 1.85 ERA and 0.956 WHIP. However, Ziegler's lack of heat doesn't equate to many strikeouts, as evidenced by 4.76 K/9 last season.