MARK MELANCON NEWS

Suffers first blown save of season Melancon (0-3) took the loss against the Rockies on Saturday, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits over two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one.

Impact The game was a pitchers' duel throughout, with Arizona breaking through for a run in the bottom of the eighth to take a 1-0 lead. Melancon was tasked with closing things out for Arizona but was unable to do so, allowing three straight two-out singles that allowed four runs to cross the plate. This was the veteran closer's first blown save as a member of the Diamondbacks after successfully converting his first five opportunities.

MAY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rockies rally with two outs in 9th, beat Diamondbacks 4-1

Yonathan Daza, José Iglesias and Connor Joe hit consecutive, two-out, run-scoring singles in the ninth inning to help the Colorado Rockies rally past the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-1

MAY 8, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

One-out save Melancon got the final out of Friday's 4-1 win against the Rockies, allowing one walk.

Impact Melancon relieved starter Merrill Kelly with two out in the ninth and the tying run at the plate. He walked Sam Hilliard but induced a Jose Iglesias groundout to secure his fifth save. Though Melancon's allowed just one run through 8.1 innings, he's struck out only three batters and owns a high 1.32 WHIP.

MAY 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Kelly excels, D-backs get late homers to top Rockies 4-1

Merrill Kelly came within one out of a complete game, Daulton Varsho and David Peralta hit home runs in the eighth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies 4-1

MAY 7, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Activated before Friday's game Melancon (undisclosed) was activated from the injured list prior to Friday's game against the Rockies.

Impact Ian Kennedy notched three saves in three appearances over the last six days, so Melancon could have some competition for saves going forward, although he is the presumed top closer at this point.

MAY 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rockies look to stop 4-game road slide, play the Diamondbacks

The Colorado Rockies will attempt to stop their four-game road skid in a matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks

MAY 6, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Throws in bullpen Melancon (undisclosed) played long toss on the field and later threw in the bullpen late Monday night, well after the game ended, Jose M. Romero of the Arizona Republic reports.

Impact Melancon has been on the injured list since last Friday after a positive COVID-19 test. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said the team cleared everything with MLB to allow Melancon to participate in the activity with no one else around. The reliever's status is up in the air, per Lovullo, who added Melancon needs another negative test to be activated.

MAY 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Marlins aim to break slide in matchup with the Diamondbacks

The Miami Marlins will try to stop their three-game skid when they take on the Arizona Diamondbacks

MAY 4, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Diamondbacks play the Marlins leading series 1-0

The Arizona Diamondbacks bring a 1-0 advantage into the next game of the series against the Miami Marlins

MAY 3, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Marlins host the Diamondbacks to begin 3-game series

The Miami Marlins host the Arizona Diamondbacks to begin a three-game series

MAY 2, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Diamondbacks bring 2-1 series lead over Cardinals into game 4

The Arizona Diamondbacks lead 2-1 in a four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals

MAY 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Marte, Ahmed homer in Arizona's 2-0 win over St. Louis

Merrill Kelly threw seven shutout innings and Ketel Marte and Nick Ahmed each homered in the eighth inning, lifting the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-0 over the St. Louis Cardinals

APRIL 30, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Closer Mark Melancon latest Diamondbacks pitcher lost to COVID The Diamondbacks lost another reliever to COVID-19 with closer Mark Melancon going on the injured list on Friday.

APRIL 30, 2022 • AZCENTRAL.COM

Hits injured list Melancon was placed on the injured list for undisclosed reasons Friday.

Impact The Diamondbacks declined to specify both the reason for Melancon's absence and which injured list he'd been placed on, which is the pattern teams have used when a player lands on the COVID-19 injured list. Whether or not Melancon has tested positive for the virus himself is unclear. If he has, he could miss over a week, but it's also possible he's merely close contact or is dealing with the symptoms of an unrelated illness. Ian Kennedy could see save chances while Melancon is unavailable, as could Joe Mantiply, the only Diamondback other than Melancon to record a save this season.

APRIL 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Closes out another game Melancon struck out one and did not allow a baserunner in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Wednesday against the Dodgers.

Impact Melancon entered the game with a two-run lead and retired the side in order on 11 pitches to record his fourth save of the season. He's now closed out consecutive games, not allowing a hit in either appearance. Melancon has struck out only three hitters across eight innings but has turned in seven scoreless appearances early on in the campaign.

APRIL 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Diamondbacks score twice after error to beat Dodgers 3-1

Zac Gallen pitched six scoreless innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks scored two runs after Max Muncy’s throwing error in the eighth inning to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1

APRIL 27, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Notches third save Melancon saved Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Dodgers, recording a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Impact After Arizona took the lead in the bottom of the eighth, Melancon was brought in to secure the victory and made quick work of the bottom of Los Angeles order on just seven pitches. The veteran closer has now converted all three of his saves in his last four appearances, but failed to record a strikeout for the sixth time in seven appearances this season.

APRIL 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Peralta's HR, 5 double plays send Diamondbacks past Dodgers

David Peralta hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning and also started one of Arizona’s five double plays as the Diamondbacks put on a defensive clinic to beat the Los Ange...

APRIL 27, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Handed second loss Melancon (0-2) took the loss during a 6-5 defeat against the Mets on Friday, allowing an unearned run on two hits in one inning.

Impact After Arizona tied the game in the bottom of the ninth, Melancon was brought in to keep the game tied and got the first two Mets out before surrendering two hits that put him in line for the loss. The 37-year-old has pitched better than his 0-2 record indicates as he's permitted just one earned run in six innings, though his two strikeouts are uninspiring and don' stand to rise considerably given Melancon's history.

APRIL 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Marte's hustle single in 10th lifts Mets over D-backs 6-5

Starling Marte legged out an RBI single in the 10th inning that lifted the New York Mets over the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-5

APRIL 23, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Squeaks out save with bases loaded Melancon collected the save, allowing two hits over one scoreless inning in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Nationals.

Impact Melancon got himself into a bit of a jam, loading the bases in the ninth with two outs. Juan Soto swung at Melancon's 0-2 pitched and popped a fly to third base, giving the closer his second save of the season. Despite the shaky inning, Melancon has a firm hold on the closer position for the Diamondbacks.

APRIL 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Melancon gets Soto in 9th, Dbacks hold off Nats 4-3

Arizona closer Mark Melancon retired Juan Soto with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, helping Cooper Hummel’s tiebreaking two-run home run hold up in the Diamondbacks’ 4-3 win...

APRIL 21, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Credits mechanical adjustment Melancon noted a mechanical adjustment following last Saturday's win over the Mets in which he recorded a save, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Impact With the help of pitching coach Brent Strom and physical therapist Ben Hagar, Melancon made a change with his "hip hinge," per Strom. "Instead of (his right knee) just being straight and falling, he would get into his back leg and that helped create a little bit better power through the middle of the body, which then works its way up the chain and helped his cutter a great deal, which was evident in (Saturday's) game." The reliever, who struck out two over a clean inning Saturday, had the best of his four outings. Melancon had a rough Cactus League, which he attributed to toying with new grips of some pitches. It's unclear if those spring training struggles may have also been due to shifting mechanics.

APRIL 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Diamondbacks pitcher Mark Melancon encouraged after mechanical adjustment pays off Closer Mark Melancon sounded optimistic that the Diamondbacks had identified a meaningful adjustment in his mechanics.

APRIL 17, 2022 • AZCENTRAL.COM

Picks up first save Melancon struck out two and did not allow a baserunner to earn the save Saturday against the Mets.

Impact Melancon was called upon to protect a one-run lead, and he had no trouble doing so to pick up his first save of the season. He retired the Mets in order and generated swinging strikeouts against the final two batters he faced. Though this was his first save, Melancon has made four appearances this season, allowing one earned run across four frames. He appears to be locked into the closer role.

APRIL 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE