Mariners Musings · Jun 12, 2015
Rodney still not ready to close, plus other Friday news
Fernando Rodney still isn’t ready to return to the closer’s role for the Mariners, but manager Lloyd McClendon believes the 38-year-old reliever is headed in the right direction after a pair of non-save appearances in Seattle’s last series in Cleveland.
Rookie Carson Smith has closed in the Mariners’ last two save situations, with Rodney pitching the ninth inning in a 9-3 blowout win on Wednesday and the eighth in a 6-0 loss on Thursday to the Indians.
Rodney owns a 6.75 ERA in 26 appearances and blew saves in two of his last three opportunities before McClendon made the switch to Smith, who has a 1.38 ERA in 27 games coming into Friday’s series opener against the Astros.