Strickland earned a hold against the Rangers on Saturday, allowing one hit in a scoreless inning of work.
Strickland entered in the sixth inning and worked around a one-out walk to keep Texas off the scoreboard. It was the sixth straight scoreless outing for the veteran right-hander, who has posted a 7:1 K:BB over six innings during that span. Strickland has 11 holds on the campaign, his most since 2019.
Angels' Hunter Strickland: Getting chance to close, blows save
Rotowire
Strickland was charged with a blown save Thursday versus the Rockies after he allowed two runs on a hit and a walk during the ninth inning. He had one strikeout.
The 35-year-old recorded his first save of the season in Tuesday's series opener and was called upon again Thursday, but he gave up a two-out, two-run homer to Jake Cave to tie the game at 4-4. Ben Joyce seemed poised to take over as the Angels' closer after the trades of Carlos Estevez and Luis Garcia, but manager Ron Washington has instead turned to the veteran Strickland. According to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register, Joyce is still considered the club's closer of the future, but Strickland will receive first crack at the ninth inning until Washington feels Joyce is ready for the job. Even including Thursday's blown save, Strickland has pitched well this season with a 3.35 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 42:14 K:BB across 51 innings.
Strickland struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 10-7 win over the Rockies.
Strickland got the first save after the trade deadline, which saw the Angels ship out Carlos Estevez to the Phillies over the weekend and Luis Garcia to the Red Sox earlier Tuesday. Strickland has limited experience as a closer -- his career high for saves in a year is 14 with the Giants in 2018, and he logged seven saves over 66 appearances with the Reds in 2022 before failing to appear in a big-league game in 2023. It's unclear if Strickland will get a chance to run with the closer role, though he's pitched well this year with a 3.06 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 41:13 K:BB over 50 innings while adding six holds. Ben Joyce also figures to be in the mix, but he worked in the eighth inning Tuesday in a high-leverage spot against the middle of the Rockies' order.
Strickland (2-1) earned the win in relief over San Diego on Monday, allowing one hit and one walk over 1.1 scoreless innings.
Tyler Anderson allowed just one run over 6.2 standout frames before turning the ball over to Strickland with runners on second and third and two outs in the seventh inning. The reliever escaped the jam by getting David Peralta to fly out, then wiggled out of his own two-on, one-out situation in the eighth. Strickland subsequently became the pitcher of record when the Angels broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of that frame. Though he has primarily pitched in lower-leverage situations this year, Strickland has been arguably the team's most effective reliever, posting a 1.75 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 21:5 K:BB over 25.2 innings while notching two wins and two holds.
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Angels' Hunter Strickland: Contract selected
Rotowire
The Angels selected Strickland's contract from Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday.
Strickland didn't make the team as a non-roster invitee after pitching well this spring, but he'll receive an early-season promotion. The veteran reliever will likely operate in the middle innings.
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Angels' Hunter Strickland: Sent to Triple-A
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The Angels reassigned Strickland to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Strickland had been in the hunt for a spot in the Angels' Opening Day bullpen while attending spring training as a non-roster invitee, but Anaheim ultimately couldn't make room on the 40-man and 26-man rosters for the journeyman reliever. His minor-league deal with the Angels doesn't contain an out clause, so he'll head to Salt Lake with the hope of performing well and eventually earning a call-up to Anaheim.
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Angels' Hunter Strickland: Links up with Angels
Rotowire
Strickland signed a minor-league contract with the Angels on Friday.
Strickland's contract includes an invitation to big-league camp, so he will have a chance to earn his way onto the 26-man roster. He did not pitch in the majors last season and was hit hard at the Triple-A level, but the club is hoping familiar surroundings help get the former Angel back on track is his age-34 season.
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Hunter Strickland: Released by Cincinnati
Rotowire
Strickland was released by the Reds on Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Strickland had been lit up for 14 earned runs on 13 hits and 12 walks through 11 innings of relief this season at Triple-A Louisville. The 34-year-old right-hander is now a free agent and will look to latch on with a new organization.
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Reds' Hunter Strickland: Returns to Reds on minors deal
Rotowire
Strickland re-signed Monday with the Reds on a minor-league contract, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Strickland was released over the weekend after failing to make the Opening Day roster but will ultimately remain in the organization as relief depth at Triple-A Louisville. The veteran reliever posted a 4.91 ERA with seven saves for the Reds last season.
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Hunter Strickland: Released by Reds
Rotowire
Strickland was released by the Reds on Saturday.
Strickland appeared in 66 games for the Reds last season and saved seven of them, but that came with a well-deserved 4.91 ERA. He returned as a non-roster invitee this spring but failed to earn a spot.
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Reds' Hunter Strickland: Back with Reds as NRI
Rotowire
Strickland signed with the Reds as a non-roster invitee Saturday.
Strickland saved seven games for the Reds last season, though he likely wouldn't have matched that total with many other clubs. His 4.91 ERA looks fair according to his 4.78 FIP, and both his 21.1 percent strikeout rate and 11.6 percent walk rate were unimpressive. Alexis Diaz has been named the Reds closer, and while Strickland could find his way to the back of an unproven bullpen again at some point this season, he could just as easily fail to earn a roster spot.
