Matsui walked one and struck out one over one-third of a hitless and scoreless inning to earn the save in Thursday's 5-3 win over the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

Sean Reynolds and Robert Suarez both struggled earlier in the ninth inning, and Matsui wasn't much better. He allowed an inherited runner to score on a wild pitch, but Matsui struck out Dalton Rushing to squash the Dodgers' late rally. This was Matsui's first save of the season -- Suarez has been locked in as the Padres' closer, though he's now been scored upon in three straight appearances. Overall, Matsui is at a 3.00 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 35:15 K:BB over 30 innings. He's added just two holds and isn't a regular part of the late-inning mix, as the Padres have plenty of other options to close if Suarez loses the job or becomes part of a committee. Don't expect to see many other save opportunities for Matsui this season.

Matsui allowed two runs on four hits without retiring a batter in Saturday's loss to Pittsburgh.

EDGE Analysis

Matsui entered with one out in the seventh inning with San Diego down 3-0. The southpaw gave up four straight hits -- three singles and one double -- to allow the Pirates to plate two runs before he was given the hook. It was an uncharacteristically poor performance by Matsui, who entered Saturday with a solid 2.74 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 10.2 K/9 through 23 appearances. He hasn't been on the fantasy radar, though, since he isn't being used in high-leverage situations often. Matsui has just two holds and no save chances on the season.

Matsui allowed one run on two hits with a strikeout in an inning Tuesday against Athletics. He has a 1.80 ERA with nine strikeouts and two walks in five innings.

EDGE Analysis

Matsui is working in middle relief but could be used in higher-leverage roles if he can continue his high strikeout totals and limit his walks. After striking out 12 batters per nine innings during his 10-year career in Japan, Matsui's K rate dipped after moving to the States. His 26.8 percent strikeout rate during the regular season last year was still above league average, but Matsui's 10.5 percent walk rate likely prevented possible ascension to higher-leverage work.

Matsui (3-2) took the loss against the Angels on Tuesday, allowing three runs on one hit and two walks without retiring a batter.

EDGE Analysis

Adam Mazur gave San Diego six innings of one-run ball in his MLB debut, but Matsui wasn't able to keep the game tied upon entering in the seventh. The lefty reliever issued two walks around an infield single to load the bases, and all three runners came around to score after his departure. The rough outing came two days after Matsui blew a save opportunity against the Royals, giving up three runs while retiring just one batter as the ninth-inning option of choice while regular closer Robert Suarez -- who had pitched on consecutive days -- was unavailable. Prior to the pair of ugly appearances, Matsui held a solid 2.88 ERA, but that mark now sits at 4.97.

Matsui earned a hold against Atlanta on Friday, walking one batter and striking out two over two-thirds of an inning.

EDGE Analysis

Matsui was called upon with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning with the trying run at the plate, and he struck out Michael Harris to end the frame. The lefty reliever then struck out Orlando Arcia to begin the seventh before walking Adam Duvall, which got him the hook. Interestingly, usual closer Robert Suarez was deployed in a high-leverage spot in the eighth frame Friday, but Matsui -- who was expected to compete for the ninth-inning role after working mostly as a closer during his 10-year career in Japan -- wasn't available to close since he had already been used. If Suarez sees more work before the ninth, it's possible Matsui gets an occasional save chance, though he's mostly struggled in May, allowing four runs on five hits while posting a 6:6 K:BB over 4.2 innings covering six appearances.

Matsui pitched two-thirds of an inning in Wednesday's regular-season opener against the Dodgers in South Korea, allowing one walk and striking out one batter without allowing any runs.

EDGE Analysis

Matsui worked as a closer during most of his 10-year career in Japan, but he came into Wednesday's contest in the sixth frame in his first big-league appearance. The southpaw began his outing by walking James Outman but followed that by fooling Enrique Hernandez badly for a three-pitch swinging strikeout and then retiring Gavin Lux on a flyout. Matsui could eventually ascend to higher-leverage work, but he missed much of spring training due to a back injury, so he may be still in the process of fully ramping up. For now, it looks like Robert Suarez will get the first shot to stake a claim as San Diego's closer.

Matsui struck out two batters and allowed one hit in a scoreless inning against Oakland in San Diego's Cactus League finale Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Prior to Wednesday's outing, Matsui had been sidelined from game action since late February due to back inflammation. He resumed throwing in early March and looked good in his return to Cactus League play Wednesday, and he was included on the Padres' 31-man travel roster to Korea for the season-opening set against the Dodgers that begins Wednesday. Per MLB.com, Matsui is expected to be ready for the Seoul Series, though he may be working in a setup role behind presumed closer Robert Suarez.

Matsui (back) will pitch in the Padres' Cactus League finale against the A's on Wednesday, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Back tightness cost Matsui several weeks of his first major-league spring training after he signed a five-year, $28 million contract with the Padres in December. However, the lefty made it through an intrasquad game over the weekend and his imminent return to exhibition play bodes well for his chances of making the trip to South Korea for the Seoul Series against the Dodgers. Matsui was a top closer in Japan and could eventually find his way into the ninth inning, though MLB.com is projecting him to to open the season as one of the team's primary setup men.

Padres manager Mike Shildt told 97.3 The Fan that "there is a possibility" Matsui (back) will be ready for San Diego's opening regular-season series in South Korea.

EDGE Analysis

Matsui hurt his back near the end of February, and a subsequent MRI revealed inflammation. The Japanese reliever was able to work up to throwing a bullpen session Tuesday, and he felt well enough to toss 30 pitches after initially being scheduled for 20, though he didn't throw at full effort, per Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Matsui said after the session that he wasn't sure if he'd be ready to pitch in San Diego's opening regular-season game March 20, stating, "I need to go out there and throw 100 percent. I just want to see how I feel tomorrow and how the body responds." Shildt offered a similar sentiment the following day and said the team would subsequently be assessing Matsui's next step. While the manager expressed some optimism about the southpaw's potential to be ready to pitch in the Seoul Series, he was also clear that the issue is still hazy, explaining, "It's too early to say...with any weight to it."

Matsui (back) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matsui developed some back spasms following his first appearance of the spring but has progressed since then and is ready to try things from the bump again. Padres manager Mike Shildt expressed optimism Tuesday that Matsui will have time to ramp up for Opening Day as long as he continues to trend in the right direction. Matsui fanned the side in his lone Cactus League appearance and is in the mix to close for San Diego.