RHP Chad Qualls will undergo surgery to repair a torn femoral tendon in his left patella once the swelling subsides. The normal recovery time is three to four months, the D-backs said, so Qualls is expected to be 100 percent for the start of spring training. He set a career-high with 24 saves in 29 opportunities this season and has one year of arbitration eligibility remaining.
Qualls went on the 60-day disabled list on Monday, August 31st. He suffered a dislocated left kneecap the previous day on a comebacker hit by the Astros' Jason Michaels. He was able to deflect the ball to shortstop Stephen Drew, who retired Michaels to secure the victory.
"You could see the dislocation," D-backs manager A.J. Hinch said after the game.
RHP Juan Gutierrez has allowed a baserunner while converting his first two save opportunities after replacing RHP Chad Qualls as the closer. Gutierrez needed only eight pitches to get two groundouts and a foul-out Wednesday, two days after another 1-2-3 inning.
Gutierrez, whose fastball can reach the upper 90s, has converted three of four save chances this season. He and Qualls came over to the D-backs together in the deal involving closer Jose Valverde. While Gutierrez figures to get the majority of save opportunities, Hinch stopped short of naming him the closer.