Melancon pitched a perfect nine inning, striking out one to pick up the save in the win Sunday over the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

Melancon is 6-for-6 on save opportunities this season. The closer has allowed just one run and has seven strikeouts in nine innings. He is in a premium spot to be amongst the league leaders in saves throughout the season on a winning Padres team.

Melancon struck out one batter in a perfect ninth inning to earn a save in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

Melancon has been absolutely lights-out to start the season, allowing just one hit through six shutout innings while racking up five saves. He has a very tight grasp on the Padres' closer role and will see the vast majority of opportunities.

Melancon fired a perfect ninth inning, striking out one to earn his fourth save of the season Saturday against the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

Melancon has allowed only a single hit in four innings this season. The veteran's stellar start has him tied with Jake McGee for the league lead in saves (4). The Padres will have a large number of save opportunities this season and Melancon has solidified himself in the closing role.

Melancon secured his third save of the season Tuesday against the Giants, pitching a scoreless ninth while striking out one.

EDGE Analysis

Melancon continued his dominant start to the 2021 season by picking up his third save in six games. The 36-year-old righty has solidified his spot as the team's closer by pitching three shutout innings while striking out two and allowing just one hit.

Melancon earned the save against Arizona on Friday, pitching one scoreless inning and allowing one hit while striking out one.

EDGE Analysis

There was some question heading into the campaign about who would get the ball for the Padres in the ninth inning, but manager Jayce Tingler has all but erased that mystery by going to Melancon with the team's first two save chances. For his part, the right-hander has found success in both opportunities, converting on both chances and allowing only one hit over two frames. San Diego has plenty of options if Melancon should eventually falter, but for now the veteran appears to be the first choice for save chances for a Padres team expected to win many games.

Melancon didn't allow a baserunner in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Thursday against the Diamondbacks.

EDGE Analysis

Melancon protected a one-run lead effectively, as he needed only seven pitches to induce a flyout and two groundouts to end the game. The closer role was in flux for the Padres entering the season, with Drew Pomeranz and Emilio Pagan also in the mix. However, Pagan pitched in the seventh inning and was followed by Pomeranz one frame later, giving the impression that Melancon may have the opportunity to claim save opportunities going forward.

Melancon is among the candidates to close for the Padres this season, but manager Jayce Tingler has not yet settled on how the back end of the bullpen will shape up, Bill Center of FriarWire reports.

EDGE Analysis

Melancon brings plenty of closing experience with him to San Diego -- he has saved 205 games in his MLB career and tied for seventh in the league with 11 saves last season. That said, the Padres have other intriguing ninth-inning options, including former big-league closers Emilio Pagan and Keone Kela in addition to Drew Pomeranz, who briefly and effectively filled in as the team's closer last year. It remains to be seen how the mix of arms will shake out in terms of roles, and manager Jayce Tingler has not yet decided whether any single pitcher will be handed exclusive ninth-inning duties, stating, "Are we open to a committee? Open to matchups? We are. We'd love to come out of here saying this is our ninth-inning guy and move forward. This early, I'm not interested in giving anyone that title. Sometimes, the key outs are in the seventh or eighth."

Melancon signed with the Padres on Friday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The financial terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed. The 35-year-old may not be the pitcher he was at his peak, when he cruised to a 1.80 ERA and saved 147 games over a four-year stretch from 2013 to 2016, but he can still help a contender like the Padres. He saved 11 games for the Braves last season while posting a 2.78 ERA, though his 14.7 percent strikeout rate was worryingly low for a high-leverage reliever. That lack of whiffs also means he's unlikely to have much fantasy value if he's not closing games, though it's entirely possible he beats out the likes of Drew Pomeranz and Emilio Pagan to become the Padres' top option in the ninth inning.

Melancon allowed an unearned run on one hit and no walks over one-third of an inning Tuesday as he earned the save in Game 2 of the NLCS.

EDGE Analysis

Atlanta held a five-run lead heading into the ninth inning, but the Dodgers rallied early in the frame. As a result, Melancon was called on to pick up the save, his second of the postseason. The right-hander has made six appearances during the playoffs in 2020, allowing one run (zero earned) on one hit and no walks while striking out two over 5.1 innings.

Melancon came in to close the game out the ninth inning, recording one scoreless inning of work while striking out one in Wednesday's win over the Marlins in Game 2 of the NLDS.

EDGE Analysis

Melancon earned his first save of the postseason and threw eight of his 13 pitches for strikes. The 35-year-old recorded 11 saves during the regular season and will continue to get the ball in save situations.