Estevez allowed a hit in a scoreless inning and picked up a save over the Marlins on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Estevez allowed a leadoff single but had no trouble working around it to finish off the 7-4 win. He's fired two scoreless frames to notch a pair of saves so far in 2024, but he's yet to strike a batter out. Estevez registered an 11.3 K/9 with 31 saves during the 2023 campaign.

Estevez picked up the save Sunday against the Orioles. He pitched a clean inning with no strikeouts.

EDGE Analysis

Estevez calmly retired all three Orioles batters he faced Sunday to earn his first save of the season and 57th of his career. The 31-year-old reliever entered 2024 on the hot seat following the Angels' signing of Robert Stephenson over the winter. However, with Stephenson (shoulder) slated to be out until late April, Estevez should have no issue being the main saves target in the team's bullpen for now.

Angels manager Ron Washington recently confirmed that Estevez will be the team's closer, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

General manager Perry Minasian said in January following the signing of Robert Stephenson that he still viewed Estevez as the favorite to serve as the club's closer, and Washington has now given his stamp of approval. Estevez had a dominant first half in 2023, which netted him an All-Star nod before he regressed to a 6.59 ERA in the second half. Stephenson -- who signed a three-year, $33 million contract -- will be a threat to overtake Estevez after his dominant run with the Rays last season. Worth noting, though, is that Stephenson is dealing with a bit of shoulder soreness.

Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Tuesday that Estevez remains the team's closer on paper even after the Robert Stephenson signing, Taylor Blake Ward of The Sporting News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Minasian did note, however, that the closer decision will ultimately be up to manager Ron Washington. Estevez was an All-Star in 2023 while notching 31 saves for the Angels, but he posted a 6.59 ERA after the All-Star break. Even if Estevez does indeed begin the season with the closer job, Stephenson will be a threat to usurp him.

Estevez picked up the save in Saturday's 1-0 win over Minnesota, striking out two over one inning while not allowing any hits or walks. He also hit a batter with a pitch.

EDGE Analysis

Estevez entered the game with a one-run lead in the ninth and hit Kyle Farmer with a pitch in the opening at-bat before getting the next two batters to go down swinging. The right-handed reliever was then able to retire Christian Vazquez on a flyout to secure his 31st save of the season, marking the first time in his last four appearances that he didn't allow any hits or walks. Estevez has converted two of his last three save opportunities and has not given up a home run since Aug. 3.

Estevez (5-5) blew the save and took the loss Thursday against the Rays. He allowed two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out one over 0.2 innings.

EDGE Analysis

Estevez immediately ran into trouble allowing the first two batters (Harold Ramirez and Yandy Diaz) to reach via singles in the ninth inning. He was unable to stem the tide and eventually allowed the game-winning run to score via a Manuel Margot single. Before Thursday, Estevez had thrown four straight scoreless outings dating back to Sept. 5, his last blown save. He has 30 saves and four blown saves on the year.

Estevez struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Guardians.

EDGE Analysis

Estevez became the 10th member of the 30-save club this season, and he's done it in just 33 save opportunities. Aside from a blown save Tuesday versus the Orioles, he's been sharp lately -- he's allowed two runs, five hits and a walk while striking out nine over his last eight innings. For the season, he has a 3.41 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 71:28 K:BB through 58 innings as the Angels' primary closer. All three of his blown saves have come since the start of August, but he's also converted seven saves in that span for a team that's faded in the second half.

Estevez blew the save Tuesday against Baltimore. He allowed two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out one over one inning.

EDGE Analysis

Since starting the season 23-for-23 in save situations, Estevez has blown three of his last nine chances. While he still ranks in the top 10 in saves with 29, he's been rather unreliable as of late, owning a 9.00 ERA in 13 innings since the beginning of August. His struggles haven't resulted in any lost opportunities, but the Angels could look to give Jose Soriano or Aaron Loup some ninth-inning looks if Estevez doesn't round back into form.

Estevez picked up the save Wednesday against Philadelphia, striking out two over a perfect inning.

EDGE Analysis

Estevez got Alec Bohm to go down on strikes to open the bottom of the ninth before needing 17 pitches to retire Brandon Marsh in the following at-bat. The right-hander then made short work of Josh Rojas to close out the game and nail down his 29th save of the season. Estevez has now converted each of his last three save opportunities and has not issued a walk over his last eight appearances (spanning 8.2 innings). He's also recorded two strikeouts in five of his last seven outings.

Estevez picked up a save against the Mets on Saturday with a perfect inning of work.

EDGE Analysis

Estevez had no trouble protecting a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, retiring the side in order on 10 pitches (nine of which were strikes). The right-hander appears to be past a rough start to August during which he blew two saves and gave up nine runs over 2.1 innings across his first three appearances. Since that stretch, Estevez has gone 5-for-5 in save chances while holding his opponent scoreless in six of seven outings and posting a 9:0 K:BB over 7.2 frames.