Hudson recorded only one out Sunday while giving up five runs on four hits and one home run against the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

Hudson saw his ERA jump from 5.59 to 9.90 because of the outing, which was a fitting way to end a relatively dismal first month of the season. The 30-year-old still operates as Pittsburgh's primary setup man and has recorded seven holds, but he's allowed 11 runs over 10 innings.

Hudson will serve as the team's primary setup man to start 2017, Stephen Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Clint Hurdle said he expects his seventh, eighth and ninth innings to line up with Felipe Rivero, Hudson and closer Tony Watson. Hudson will get the first chance to close if Watson can't go, but Rivero is waiting in the wings.

Hudson will serve as Pittsburgh's closer on days Tony Watson is unable to close, CBS Pittsburgh reports.

EDGE Analysis

Pirates GM Neal Huntington announced the team's pecking order for saves, listing Watson first and then Hudson and Felipe Rivero. Huntington typically doesn't permit his relievers to pitch three straight days, giving Hudson the chance to potentially close after Watson has thrown in back-to-back calendar days. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Pirates move Watson (who will become a free agent after 2017) at the trade deadline, freeing up Hudson to close in the second half of the season.

Hudson signed a two-year, $11 million contract with the Pirates on Monday, Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

While Hudson's produced an ugly 5.22 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over 60.1 innings with the Diamondbacks last season, the right-hander flashed the skills that suggested he could become a dominant reliever. Hudson had an average fastball velocity of nearly 96 miles per hour and struck out nearly a batter per inning last season, so if pitching coach Ray Searage can work his magic and help him improve his secondary offerings, he could show vast improvement with his numbers. For the time being, Tony Watson is the frontrunner to open the season as the Pirates' closer, but Hudson could rank as the top challenger out of the bullpen. He briefly served as the Diamondbacks' closer in the final month of the season to promising results, generating three saves and a 1.54 ERA over 11.2 innings.

Hudson got the final four outs, including a strikeout, in Wednesday's win over San Diego for his fourth save.

EDGE Analysis

He lived dangerously, allowing three line drives -- all caught, fortunately. The Diamondbacks don't offer Hudson a whole ton of save chances, but he's been at his most effective lately; over his last seven appearances (7.1 innings), he's allowed just a single run on seven hits with a 12:2 K:BB.

Hudson picked up his third save in Monday's win over the Rockies with a scoreless ninth.

EDGE Analysis

Hudson has struck out eight and walked just one over five innings since picking up his second save of the season August 30 against the Giants. It's unclear if he has the stuff to hack it as a closer long-term, but if he keeps pitching like this, he might have the inside track at the role come next season in Arizona.

Hudson allowed a run on one hit but still picked up his second save Tuesday against the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

Hudson has allowed a run in each of his past two appearances, a blown save August 26 and Tuesday's successful outing. The Diamondbacks are testing out Hudson in the closer's role down the stretch thanks to injuries and ineffectiveness out of their bullpen, but it's likely to be a challenge considering Hudson's lack of the typical closer strikeout stuff. Since he moved to the bullpen full time in 2015, Hudson has 113 strikeouts in 115.1 innings -- decent, but not enough to make up for his susceptibility to the home run ball (12 allowed over the past two seasons, 0.9 HR/9). The Diamondbacks have little to lose with this experiment, though, so Hudson's performance as closer will be worth keeping an eye on.

Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said Hudson could move into a late-innings role, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Given the recent struggles of Jake Barrett and Enrique Burgos at the back end of the Arizona bullpen, the announcement makes sense. Hale said both Hudson and Randall Delgado could be used in high-leverage situations going forward. Hudson recorded 20 holds a season ago and has 17 in 2016, so he's probably the safer bet of the two to see save opportunities.

Hudson gave up three hits and four runs (one earned) while recording just two outs in Wednesday's loss to the Blue Jays.

EDGE Analysis

It's been a July to forget for Hudson. In six appearances this month, the righty has given up 13 hits and eight earned runs in just five innings of work. In the process, his ERA has gone from 3.82 to 5.30. After Brad Ziegler was traded to Boston, the thought was that Hudson could be in line for some save chances. But right now, it seems hard to imagine that the Diamondbacks would trust him to close out games. Tyler Clippard looks like the guy to own in Arizona's bullpen.

Manager Chip Hale said Saturday that Hudson could get some save opportunities depending on matchups, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Diamondbacks' trade of closer Brad Ziegler left some question marks in the back end of their bullpen, but Hale was quick to address the issue Saturday by saying that Hudson and Tyler Clippard will both be getting save opportunities. It appears as though Clippard has the early edge after Hudson was away from the team on the bereavement list recently, but Hudson should be in line for opportunities after he gets re-acclimated.