Vazquez gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his 13th save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

While his control has been wavering lately, Vazquez is still piling up strikeouts, posting a 9:5 K:BB over his last five appearances and 5.1 innings. The left-hander's 4.55 ERA and 1.55 WHIP on the year remain sketchy, but if he can stay healthy he has the talent to put together a strong push to the All-Star break and into the second half.

Vazquez converted just his second save in his last six opportunities Wednesday against the Diamondbacks.

EDGE Analysis

Fortunately for Vazquez fantasy owners, the Pirates have no closer-in-waiting to push the lefty out of his role. Pitching for just the second time in a week, Vazquez averaged 99.2 mph with his fastball, more than two miles-per-hour better than his season mark (97.1 mph). Unfortunately, he totaled 36 pitches and threw only 20 for strikes. Tyler Glasnow was warming up midway through Vazquez's outing, but only because Edgar Santana had already pitched a scoreless eighth. Since May 20, Vazquez has allowed nine earned runs on 14 hits and nine walks in eight innings. Still, the Pirates don't seemed inclined to remove him as closer.

Vazquez gave up two runs on two hits and three walks while striking out two in the ninth inning Wednesday to record his 12th save of the season in a 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks.

EDGE Analysis

Jon Jay's bases-loaded single brought Arizona to within a run, but Vazquez was able to strike out Jake Lamb with the bases loaded once again to end the threat. The Bucs closer has blown four of 11 save chances over his last 19 appearances, and his 4,72 ERA is far from reassuring, but as yet manager Clint Hurdle hasn't suggested a change is imminent.

Manager Clint Hurdle said Friday that the Pirates are not considering removing Vazquez from the closer's role, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

He will not be available to pitch Friday, after pitching three days in a row, and Kyle Crick, who would be an option to close, is also unavailable after pitching in five games over the last week. While Hurdle can claim they aren't considering removing Vazquez from the ninth inning, the closer will still need to perform better going forward, as he has four blown saves in his last six appearances. Vazquez's fastball velocity was down from 100.8 mph Sunday to 97.2 mph Thursday.

Vazquez continues to battle with inconsistent velocity as his average fastball velocity dipped from 100.8 mph on Sunday to 97.2 mph against the Cardinals on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

He threw just nine of 17 pitches for strikes Thursday, including zero swing-and-misses. Vazquez has followed up a mediocre last two months of 2017 (4.15 ERA in 21.2 innings) with more of the same in 2018 (4.84 ERA in 22.1 innings). An MRI on Sunday apparently showed no injury. Since then, manager Clint Hurdle has used Vazquez three straight days, which may have also contributed to his ineffectiveness Thursday. Aside from Vazquez, the team's entire bullpen has totaled just two career saves. The lefty almost certainly won't be available Friday, but even after four blown saves in five outings he remains the de facto closer until Hurdle notes otherwise.

Vazquez did not record an out in Thursday's blown save against the Cardinals. He allowed five runs (four earned) on three hits and a walk.

EDGE Analysis

Vazquez was called upon to protect a three-run lead in the ninth inning Thursday but ended up suffering a horrendous blown save in what was his third relief appearance in the last three days. The first three Cardinal hitters reach base via a double, error and walk before Luke Voit slapped a two-run single and Yairo Munoz walked it off with a three-run blast to center. Vazquez's ERA ballooned from 3.22 to 4.84 in the disastrous outing.

Vazquez gave up two hits and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to pick up his 10th save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

His fastball sat around 98 mph, and Vazquez threw 11 of his 14 pitches for strikes in recording his first save in nearly two weeks. Whatever forearm discomfort that caused his to leave Sunday's game appears to be behind him and, despite his three consecutive blown saves prior to Wednesday's successful conversion, the left-hander has still only been scored upon in three of his 23 appearances this season.

Two days after experiencing left forearm discomfort, Vazquez returned to action Tuesday and retired the Cubs in order. He hit 100 mph with his fastball for the first time in 2018.

EDGE Analysis

Five of Vazquez's seven fastballs registered at least 100 mph. The lefty also induced four swing-and-misses among his 11 overall pitches, including two on 90-mph changeups. Vazquez's turnaround is all the more surprising considering he seemed like a potential DL candidate just a couple days ago. Prior to Tuesday, the lefty blew threw consecutive save opportunities.

Vazquez (forearm) tossed a scoreless ninth inning in Tuesday's loss to the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Vazquez looked good in his first appearance following his injury scare Sunday against the Cardinals. He threw 10 of his 11 pitches for strikes and was able to induce three consecutive groundouts in his clean inning of work. He seems to be operating just fine and can be deployed in fantasy lineups moving forward.

Vazquez (forearm) is available for Tuesday's game against the Cubs, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Vazquez was unavailable for Monday's series opener after experiencing forearm discomfort over the weekend, but he's been cleared to return to action after throwing with no issues prior to Tuesday's game. The 26-year-old, who owns a 3.54 ERA across 20.1 innings this season, will immediately slot back in as the team's closer.