Hudson allowed one hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Thursday against the Blue Jays.

EDGE Analysis

Hudson successfully maintained a two-run lead for the Nationals to earn his first save of the season. He allowed a two-out double, but retired Cavan Biggio with a strikeout to end the contest. Most notably, Sean Doolittle -- another candidate for saves in the Nationals' bullpen -- did not enter the game, even with the team maintaining a lead from start to finish. Given that Doolittle has pitched only twice this season, he was almost certainly available to throw. Given that, it appears Hudson may be the team's primary choice to close games to begin the season.

Hudson (1-0) struck out three over 1.2 perfect innings of relief to pick up the win in Wednesday's extra-inning victory over the Blue Jays.

EDGE Analysis

Facing the team that dealt him to the eventual world champs last July, Hudson was lights out to finish off the eighth inning and breezed through the ninth in a scoreless game, before the Nats were able to break it open in the top of the 10th. The veteran right-hander has a 4:0 K:BB through his first 2.2 innings on the year without giving up a run, and his spot as one of the team's key high-leverage arms is secure.

Hudson is schedule to make his first appearance of the spring Monday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander will throw a side session Sunday, and if all goes well he'll make his spring debut after a day off. Hudson was eased into camp after seeing a heavy workload down the stretch and into the playoffs last year, and while Sean Doolittle will likely be the Nats' primary closer to begin the regular season, Hudson will still be a key part of the team's late-inning crew.

Hudson has no timetable for his Grapefruit League debut as the Nationals carefully monitor his spring workload, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander was one of the stars of the team's run to a championship last year, but he did it while battling through knee pain. "There were times when I started to feel my arm overcompensating for my knee being sore since it was my back leg and I was trying to generate force and velocity," Hudson said. "But it never got to the point where my elbow or shoulder was in jeopardy. If it did, I wouldn't have been pitching. I was able to make it through." After taking a full month off in November, Hudson resumed his offseason routine and headed into spring training fully healthy, but the Nats would like to keep it that way, so he'll be held to bullpen sessions on back fields for now. He'll be part of the late-inning mix alongside Sean Doolittle and Will Harris, but Doolittle will likely be the team's primary closer to begin the season.

Hudson returned to the Nationals on a two-year, $11 million contract Monday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 32-year-old hadn't been a particularly notable reliever for the last several seasons but had an excellent 2019 campaign, posting a 2.47 ERA with a career-best eight saves in 73 innings for the Blue Jays and Nationals. He topped his season off with four more saves in the postseason while teammate Sean Doolittle grabbed just two. Doolittle has a much longer track record in the ninth inning and will likely enter as the top option there again, but Hudson should be first in line should the lefty get injured.

Hudson earned the save in Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Cardinals in Game 4 of the NLCS, giving up one walk in 1.1 innings.

EDGE Analysis

That was quite a week for the 32-year-old journeyman reliever, who was on paternity leave for Game 1 of the NLCS for the birth of his daughter and returned to nail down a pair of saves to help send the Nationals to their first World Series. Hudson has yet to allow a run during the postseason, firing 5.2 scoreless innings over six appearances with four saves in as many opportunities.

Hudson was reinstated from the paternity list and added to the Nationals' NLCS roster Saturday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 32-year-old missed the first game of the NLCS for the birth of his child, but is now ready to return to the team and the closer role. Wander Suero was removed from the roster to make room for Hudson.

Hudson is on paternity leave and will miss the first game of the NLCS against the Cardinals on Friday, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Nationals will be missing a key reliever for their first ever NLCS game, but his absence is unlikely to last long. Wander Suero has been designated to be removed from the roster once Hudson is activated.

Hudson earned the save against the Phillies on Thursday after tossing a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one walk and striking out three.

EDGE Analysis

Aside from walking Brad Miller, Hudson was in lights out form, preserving a three-run lead in the ninth by whiffing three of his four batters faced. The 32-year-old right-hander owns a sparkling 1.50 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with eight saves across 68 appearances this season.

Hudson didn't allow a baserunner in the ninth inning of the team's second game of a doubleheader Tuesday against the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

Hudson closed out both of the team's wins on Tuesday, bringing his total save count on the season to seven. Though chances have been limited for the Nationals, Hudson has recorded each of the team's last four saves -- all of which have come in September. Despite manager Dave Martinez continuing to call Sean Doolittle his closer, there's nothing in his usage that suggests that's actually the case as he has yet to appear in save situation this month. In addition, there's little reason for the team to alter Hudson's role before the conclusion of the regular season, as he's now managed seven consecutive scoreless appearances.