Seth McClung: Losing the Hold on Closer's Job

Seth McClung had a poor outing for the Devil Rays against Houston on Sunday, and after the game, manager Joe Maddon indicated the closer's role was still up for grabs, the Tampa Tribune reports.

McClung allowed two runs and four baserunners in one inning of work Sunday (two hits, one walk, one HBP, no strikeouts). According to the report, Maddon indicated McClung still has trouble harnessing his fastball, and until that's no longer an issue, Maddon said McClung can't be considered the closer. "By no means has that role been established for him," Maddon said. So far this spring, McClung has allowed eight of 17 batters to reach base while registering just one strikeout; those are awful performance indicators for any reliever, let alone a closer. If McClung pitches his way out of the closer's role, it appears Al Reyes and Chad Orvella are on the short list of candidates to claim the job at the moment.
Source: RotoWire.com