Paul Sewald has been getting the final outs for the Diamondbacks, but the way those innings have unfolded has kept the closer conversation alive.
Arizona entered 2026 without a clear answer for the ninth inning after right-hander Justin Martinez was expected to miss most of the season. Manager Torey Lovullo said before the year that the bullpen would not have a fixed closer and that the roles would stay fluid. Even with that plan in place, Sewald quickly emerged as the arm handling the back end.
The veteran reliever is in his second stint with the club and came back on a one-year, $1.5 million deal. Sewald was Arizona’s closer after arriving from the Seattle Mariners before the 2023 trade deadline, and his work helped push the Diamondbacks toward their 2023 World Series run. The next season, though, was a different story, and he spent 2025 with two other organizations before returning to the Valley.
This year, Sewald has converted 23 of 25 save opportunities, which on the surface looks like a strong hold on the job. But Tuesday brought his second blown save of the season, and the numbers behind the saves have only sharpened the questions.
Sewald owns a 4.71 ERA, the highest among Arizona’s current bullpen arms. Since June 1, that number has climbed to 6.00, even though he has picked up nine saves in 16 appearances over that stretch. In several of those outings, he has still allowed one or two runs.
That’s the issue for Arizona. Sewald is finishing games, but not always cleanly. He’s often putting runners on base or giving up damage before closing the door, which leaves very little room for mistakes.
The timing matters, too. The Diamondbacks are fighting for a National League Wild Card spot, so every late lead carries extra weight. In that kind of race, a ninth inning that wobbles can turn a needed win into a painful loss.
So the question is back on the table: does Lovullo keep riding Sewald, or does Arizona turn elsewhere in the bullpen? Either way, the Diamondbacks need steadier work in the closer role if they want to stay in the postseason chase.
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