Clippard blew his fifth save of the season Saturday against Boston, allowing a run on two hits while striking out one batter.

EDGE Analysis

Clippard has been a decent fill-in closer while Roberto Osuna remains suspended, but he failed to get the job done this time around. Entering the ninth with a one-run lead, he allowed back-to-back doubles to Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley before eventually getting out of the inning. Clippard will have just a few more weeks left in which to earn save chances, with Osuna expected to immediately resume closing duties upon his return Aug. 5.

Clippard gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to pick up his fifth save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Tigers.

EDGE Analysis

Ryan Tepera was left in the bullpen Friday after blowing his previous two save chances, with Seung Hwan Oh working the eighth inning and Clippard getting the call in the ninth. The three relievers could continue to swap save chances around until Roberto Osuna (suspension) returns depending on who's got the hot hand and who's been struggling, so don't be surprised if Clippard remains in the closer role for the Jays until he falters.

Clippard struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his third save of the season in a 2-0 win over the Nationals.

EDGE Analysis

Ryan Tepera was available, but manager John Gibbons elected to give Clippard the save chance against his former club instead, and the right-hander delivered. He now sports a 3.24 ERA and 39:16 K:BB through 33.1 innings on the year, but Clippard will likely remain the second choice for ninth-inning duty in Toronto unless Tepera falls apart.

Clippard threw a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout against the Angels on Tuesday to earn his second save of the season.

EDGE Analysis

He sat down Justin Upton, Albert Pujols and Shohei Ohtani on 10 pitches (seven strikes), bouncing back from a disastrous blown save against Oakland his last time out. It seems fairly clear at this point that Clippard is manager John Gibbons' preferred option in the ninth with Roberto Osuna on administrative leave. Osuna's leave was recently extended through May 28 and it seems likely that it will be extended beyond that date.

Clippard was saddled with a blown save and a loss Saturday against the Athletics, allowing a pair of runs on two hits and a walk while getting just two outs.

EDGE Analysis

Clippard entered with men on second and third and a three-run lead with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning. He proceeded to load the bases with a walk and then allowed a grand slam to Chad Pinder. The Blue Jays' closer situation remains in flux while Robert Osuna is on administrative leave, but Clippard did very little to help his case in this outing.

Clippard earned a spot on Toronto's Opening Day roster.

EDGE Analysis

Clippard wound up making the major-league roster after signing a minors deal with the club earlier this month. Over the course of 67 appearances in 2017 with three different organizations, Clippard posted a 4.77 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with a 72:31 K:BB in 60.1 innings of relief.

Clippard said he made changes to his mechanics last season to help avoid tipping pitches, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

Clippard wouldn't address what changes he made to his delivery, but he's hoping they'll help him bounce back from his down year in 2017. The Astros apparently pointed out mechanical tendencies that Clippard had developed that could have been tipping his pitches. He initially struggled with his new delivery, posting a 10.00 ERA across his first 11 appearances (nine innings) with the Astros, but he said things started to click around mid-September, when he allowed no runs over his final five appearances (five innings). That said, it's a small sample size, so it'd be wiser to wait and see how he fairs in exhibition play before drawing any conclusions. Clippard also said he'd like to throw his fastball more often in 2018 after throwing it less than 40 percent of the time for the first time in his career.

Clippard has agreed to a minor-league deal with the Blue Jays which includes an invitation to spring training Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

After eight straight seasons where he posted an ERA of 3.72 or lower, the 33-year-old Clippard saw his ERA balloon to 4.77 last season. His strikeout rate remained solid at 27.3 percent, but his 11.7 percent walk rate was his highest since 2009. If the walk rate comes back down, the Blue Jays will have acquired a capable middle reliever for cheap. In a bullpen which is short on quality arms behind closer Robert Osuna, Clippard could even be in line for the occasional save.

Clippard didn't allow a baserunner during a scoreless ninth inning to collect his fourth save of the season during Saturday's win over Oakland.

EDGE Analysis

Ken Giles recorded a five-out save Friday, so Clippard was called to the mound to close out the Athletics on Saturday. It's worth noting that Giles has converted nine of his past 10 save opportunities and has a firm grasp on the Houston closer job. Still, Clippard might be next in line for save opportunities, which makes him a player to keep tabs on in all settings.

Clippard allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one during a scoreless inning in Monday's 2-0 loss to Arizona.

EDGE Analysis

Clippard entered the game in the eighth inning with Houston down, 2-0, and promptly served up a leadoff double and a walk before getting out the jam. The freshly minted Astro made his debut in a Houston uniform, one day after he was acquired from the White Sox. The right-handed Clippard is expected to fill a role as a late-inning setup reliever.