Brach walked two batters and logged one strikeout during one inning as he earned his second save of the season in Baltimore's 8-7 victory over the Yankees on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Sunday's game pushed Brach's streak of scoreless innings to five, as he managed to record a save despite issuing two walks. He figures to continue seeing high-leverage situations for the Orioles with Zach Britton (Achilles) on the shelf, but could lose save opportunities to Darren O'Day or Mychal Givens if he begins to struggle.

Brach picked up the save in Baltimore's 5-2 win over the Yankees on Thursday, striking out two and walking one in a scoreless ninth inning.

EDGE Analysis

Since giving up two runs and blowing a save on Opening Day, Brach has fired three scoreless innings, struck out five batters and logged his first save of the season Thursday. He figures to remain in the mix in the ninth-inning role for Baltimore as long as Zach Britton is on the disabled list, but his leash also doesn't figure to be particularly long with Darren O'Day and Mychal Givens in line for opportunities should he struggle.

Brach allowed two runs on two hits and two walks while only recording two outs Thursday against the Twins for his first blown save of the season. He struck out two batters.

EDGE Analysis

Brach opened up the ninth inning with a strikeout, but things went downhill from there. He allowed three of the next four batters to reach base -- via an infield single and a pair of walks -- before a two-out single from Robbie Grossman tied the game up at two, prompting his removal. Mychal Givens came in and retired the next four batters he faced before the Orioles eventually won on a walkoff homer. This isn't an ideal start to the season for the 31-year-old, who is currently part of a ninth-inning committee with the likes of Givens and Darren O'Day.

Brach will split save opportunities with Darren O'Day and Mychal Givens, Eduardo A. Encina of The Baltimore Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brach was presumed to be the Orioles' primary closer in the absence of Zach Britton, but now the situation appears murky. It's not uncommon for teams to begin the year with a committee only for the best-performing arm to emerge as the undisputed closer fairly early in the season, though it's not clear who that will be on the Orioles. Brach was the clear primary closer in Britton's absence last year, recording 18 saves, and had the lowest FIP at 3.58, though O'Day and Gyvens were right behind at 3.70 and 3.72, respectively. Brach also had the lowest strikeout rate of the trio. If he only gets roughly a third of the team's save chances in the first two months before Britton takes over, there will likely be better closing options available at his price.

Brach is expected to fill in as the Orioles' closer while Zach Britton (Achilles) is on the disabled list, the Baltimore Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Orioles have brought Brach along slowly this spring, but he felt good after making his Grapefruit League debut on Sunday. Although Britton is progressing as expected from his injury thus far, he was placed on the 60-day DL in late February and can't return prior to late May even if things continue to go well with his recovery, leaving Brach with approximately two months to handle the ninth-inning role for Baltimore before a likely shift back into setup duty.

Brach agreed to a one-year, $5.165 million deal with the Orioles on Friday, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

This marks the final offseason as an arbitration-eligible player for Brach, who received a $2.115 million raise from last year. In 2017, Brach posted a 3.18 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 18 saves in 68 innings as a late-inning reliever that saw time as the closer when Zach Britton was out with a forearm injury. With Britton once again sidelined, this time due to a ruptured Achilles' tendon, Brach could begin the year as the ninth-inning man, although manager Buck Showalter did stress that he hasn't decided if the right-hander will take over the position at this time.

Manager Buck Showalter said Tuesday that he hasn't decided if Brach will be the Orioles' closer while Zach Britton (Achilles) is on the shelf, Rich Dubroff of PressBoxonline.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Showalter said that Brach, Darren O'Day, Mychal Givens and perhaps Richard Bleier can all do the job, but made it clear that Britton will be the closer when he returns, likely in late June. Brach seems like the heavy favorite, as he saved 18 games last season while Britton dealt with a forearm strain. However, it seems that Givens is being groomed to eventually step into the closer's role, so if he were to impress in spring training, particularly against left-handed hitters, he could win the job. Brach should still be drafted in the mid-to-late rounds, but prospective owners need to be aware that he is not a lock to be getting saves over the first couple months of the season.

Brach will likely serve as Baltimore's closer for the first half of the 2018 season, following the news that Zach Britton suffered a ruptured achilles Tuesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brach filled in for Britton during the start of the 2017 season when the left-hander dealt with forearm issues, and wound up earning 18 saves on the year, with a 3.18 ERA and 70:26 K:BB over 68 innings. Now it appears as though Britton will be sidelined until at least the end of June, with an expected timetable of around six months until he's fully recovered. As the season approaches, there will undoubtably be more news on the subject, with an update on Britton's status, but for the time being, expect Brach to hold down the ninth-inning role in his absence.

Brach walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning to earn his 18th save in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

Brach retired the first two batters, but things got complicated when a walk and a J.J. Hardy error put the tying run on base. He was able to escape by getting Kevin Kiermaier to fly out to left, thus notching his 18th save to go with six blown saves. Brach should continue to serve as the closer with Zach Britton (knee) day-to-day.

Brach allowed two hits and a walk while recording just two outs, yet still managed to pick up his eighth hold of the year Tuesday in Toronto.

EDGE Analysis

The setup man couldn't get the job done during the eighth inning Tuesday, but closer Zach Britton -- who went on to blow the game in the ninth -- bailed Brach out. Despite the rough outing, the 31-year-old righty still owns a career-best 1.02 WHIP and 17 saves over 61 games this season.