Rondon tossed 1.2 scoreless innings, walking one and striking out two to record his 18th save in the Cubs 7-3 win over the Giants on Friday afternoon.

After Tommy Hunter allowed a pair of hits in the eighth inning, including a solo home run to Nori Aoki, Rondon was called upon to shut the door. The Cubs got the run back in the bottom of the inning, and he finished up with a scoreless ninth. Rondon has pitched well of late, and with Jason Motte scuffling, he appears to be solidifying his hold on the closer's job.

Rondon struck out one in a perfect ninth to pick up his 17th save of the season Thursday against the Giants.

Rondon is 17-for-20 in save opportunities and for the season has a 1.84 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 44:11 K:BB ratio in 49 innings of work.The 27-year-old hasn't blown a save since May 22 and it looks as though he's replaced the struggle Jason Motte as the Cubs' closer.

Rondon recorded a bumpy save Sunday against the Brewers, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits.

The unearned run highlights that the game could have been over, but for a Starlin Castro error on a routine ground ball. Rondon now has saves in four of the last five days, and has pitched five of the last seven.

Rondon recorded his 15th save of the season in Friday's 4-1 win over the Brewers, working around a base hit to retire the side with a scoreless ninth inning.

With Rondon receiving each of the last three save chances and converting them without much slippage, it looks like he's back in the saddle as the Cubs' closer, replacing the struggling Jason Motte. Rondon's increased workload should result in him receiving the day off Saturday if another save chance should arise, but he's done nothing to jeopardize his standing as the Cubs' most-trusted ninth-inning man.

Rondon pitched a perfect ninth for his 14th save of the season Thursday against the Brewers.

Rondon has now closed back-to-back games Wednesday and Thursday, earning his first two saves since June 20. Jason Motte was rested but manager Joe Maddon chose to use Rondon again. Though Rondon had a brief lapse or two earler in the season to lose the closer's role, it looks like he has it back now. It remains to be seen if Rondon would be used in a third consecutive game, but Maddon didn't rule out the possibility.

Rondon pitched a clean ninth inning Wednesday to notch his 13th save of the season. He struck out two batters and walked one before retiring the side on 15 pitches.

On the heels of a string of poor performances from Jason Motte, Rondon received the ninth-inning call and proved up to the task, converting his first save since June 20. Dating back to the beginning of June, Rondon has surrendered just one earned run, making him perhaps the Cubs' most dependable reliever at the moment. Though Joe Maddon hasn't offered any indication that Rondon will reclaim closing duties, it wouldn't be a surprise if he soon usurps Motte for the gig.

Rondon took the loss against the White Sox on Friday despite not giving up a single hit.

The Cubs lost 1-0 as the Sox scratched out a run in the eighth with a hit batter, a stolen base, and two sacrifices. Though it was the first run Rondon has given up in nearly a month, he still hasn't given up a hit since June 20. Somehow during his strong pitching run he's still given up his hold on the closing role to Jason Motte.

Rondon pitched in the seventh inning of Saturday's win over the Marlins and retired the only two batters he faced.

Rondon's season has been strange, as he's been the closer for most of the year and has pitched well, but he doesn't seem to have a hold on the job right now. He has a 2.10 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 29:8 K:BB in 34.1 innings, but he's apparently ceded the ninth inning to veteran Jason Motte. Even more strange, he has not given up an earned run in more than six weeks. He is probably not done pitching in the ninth inning for the Cubs this year, but Rondon should not be considered a good bet to get a lot of saves in the season's second half.

Rondon tossed a scoreless ninth inning in a non-save situation against the Cardinals on Friday night.

The game was tied at 2-2 when Rondon entered, but it's worth noting that Pedro Strop started the eighth and Jason Motte followed him to face one batter in the frame. Rondon has not allowed an earned run in June, and he seems to have stabilized his role as the Cubs' preferred option to close games for the time being.

Rondon allowed one hit in a scoreless 10th inning Saturday to notch his 12th save of the season.

He hasn't been charged with an earned run in his last 10 appearances, and Rondon still seems to be the Cubs' preferred option to close games, although Pedro Strop and Jason Motte remain in the late-inning picture.

Rondon took the loss despite giving up just one unearned run and striking out two against the Reds on Friday.

The Reds made Rondon work in the inning, as they hit two singles and stole two bases after Todd Frazier led off the inning reaching base on a Kris Bryant error. Rondon's days may be numbered as the closer, but overall his season has been a success: 2.84 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 22:7 K:BB ratio, and 11 saves. Even if he's demoted to another role in the pen, he could still be a valuable fantasy reliever in leagues that count holds.

Rondon gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth against the Reds on Thursday to pick up his 11th save of the season.

Rondon, whose status as Chicago's closer has come into doubt, saved his 11th game in 14 attempts. He hasn't allowed a run in his past seven outings, and he was entrusted with a save opportunity Thursday. He converted the save, but it remains to be seen if he will continue to close games for the Cubs.

Rondon tossed a scoreless eighth inning in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Nationals, picking up his first hold of the year.

Jason Motte pitched a perfect ninth inning to pick up a surprise save. Rondon was removed from a save situation in favor of Pedro Strop on Saturday, and Cubs manager Joe Maddon said afterward he may start using Rondon outside of the ninth inning. According to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, Strop was unavailable for Sunday's game, yet Maddon still elected not to save Rondon for the ninth inning. Maddon didn't say that Strop has overtaken Rondon for the closer's role, but it does seem both players are candidates to pick up saves, at least in the short term. Motte is unlikely to get another save opportunity anytime soon.

Rondon was pulled from a save situation Saturday after walking the only batter he faced. Afterward, manager Joe Maddon said he might give Rondon chances in other situations to work on his game, ESPN Chicago reports.

Maddon did not go so far as to say the club would make a closer change, but it sounds like the skipper is thinking about using Rondon in some lower-leverage spots until he gets his act together. Pedro Strop replaced Rondon in Saturday's game and retired the side in order on 14 pitches, striking out two. Rondon has a 3.09 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 23.1 innings this season, but he has blown two of his last three save chances.

Chicago Cubs closer Hector Rondon, who has blown two of his last four save chances, could be moved to non-save situations after he was pulled in the ninth inning Saturday following a leadoff walk against the Washington Nationals, according to ESPN.

Chicago Cubs closer Hector Rondon, who has blown two of his last four save chances, could pitch in non-save situations to work on his game after he was pulled in the ninth inning Saturday following a leadoff walk against the Washington Nationals, according to ESPN. Manager Joe Maddon did not say Rondon is no longer the closer, but he might give Rondon a chance to "pitch more freely in a different moment." Rondon has struggled in the closer's role this season, blowing three saves with a 3.09 ERA "Obviously, he hasn't been as sharp as he can be lately," Maddon said. "For me, it was about winning the game today. I'm not ordaining anyone new." Pedro Strop replaced Rondon and retired the side on 14 pitches, striking out two. "If he wants to put me in another situation, I'll take it," Rondon said. "It's no big deal for me."

Rondon picked up his third win of the season with a scoreless ninth inning against the Nationals on Tuesday, allowing one hit while striking out one.

The 27-year-old has been a bit shaky lately, blowing two of his last three save opportunities, but he seems to be settling down with back-to-back scoreless appearances against Washington to start the week. Walks have not been part of Rondon's problem recently, as he hasn't issued a free pass in any of his last seven appearances.

Rondon earned his ninth save of the season, striking out one while allowing only one hit in a scoreless ninth in a win over the Padres on Wednesday.

Rondon bounced back from his blown save in his most recent outing and had little resistance. Will Middlebrooks singled to start the ninth, but the Padres failed to drive him in as Rondon converted his ninth save in 11 chances.

Rondon picked up his seventh save of the season Monday against the Mets, only needing 12 pitches to get through the ninth.

The last time Rondon was on the mound on May 8, he gave up three earned runs, but that was only the second time he allowed any runs in an appearance this season. His ERA is down to 3.21 now.

Rondon probably won't be available for Saturday's game, ESPN Chicago's Jesse Rogers reports.

He has pitched in two of the Cubs' last three games and labored Friday, allowing three runs while throwing 32 pitches in the ninth inning against the Brewers. Manager Joe Maddon said the Cubs would play the matchups Saturday if there is a save chance. Rondon should be available for Sunday's game.

Rondon gave up a hit and a walk with a strikeout in a scoreless ninth to pick up his sixth save of the season Wednesday against the Cardinals.

St. Louis put runners on the corners with one out in the ninth, but Rondon struck out Mark Reynolds and forced Jhonny Peralta to ground out to escape for his sixth save in seven chances. For the season, Rondon has a 1.50 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP and a 12:2 K:BB ratio in 12 innings.