Given Greg Holland?s disastrous start to the 2018 season, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny confirmed that Bud Norris is his closer for the time being, as Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes. ?It?s Bud?s game right now,? said Matheny after effusing praise for the manner in which the veteran Norris has performed in high-leverage spots while ascending to the ninth-inning role. ?But we?re going to have to have other people to pitch the end of the game. There are going to be times when Bud?s down and times when we need to put Bud in a little earlier and he needs help.?
There?s no indication as to when Holland might be given another try in save situations, though with Norris boasting a terrific 1.72 ERA and 22-to-2 K/BB ratio through his first 15 2/3 innings of the season, he?s likely earned himself a reasonably lengthy leash in the the ninth inning.
There?s no indication as to when Holland might be given another try in save situations, though with Norris boasting a terrific 1.72 ERA and 22-to-2 K/BB ratio through his first 15 2/3 innings of the season, he?s likely earned himself a reasonably lengthy leash in the the ninth inning.
