Felipe Rivero, Juan Nicasio to share closer duties

Clint Hurdle said Friday afternoon that Tony Watson is being removed from the closer role, shifted to lower-leverage work, and Felipe Rivero and Juan Nicasio will share closer duties.

This seems like a positive development on multiple fronts. First, Watson obviously could not continue pitching important innings. He blew saves in back-to-back games in Baltimore this week and was just 10-for-15 in save opportunities this season.

Additionally, it appears the Pirates may not pigeonhole their best reliever, Rivero, who has been important in seventh- and eighth-inning jams and will continue to be needed in those spots at times.