Pressly was not used in a save situation Monday, as Drew Pomeranz instead closed out the 5-2 win over the Marlins.
Pressly last pitched Friday, so fatigue shouldn't have been an issue. It appears the Cubs are ready to try other options at the end of games due to Pressly's struggles. The veteran righty has a 7.07 ERA and 1.93 WHIP, and he's only struck out six batters across 14 innings. Porter Hodge seemed like the most likely ninth-inning alternative coming into the year, but he's also struggled with a 5.71 ERA of his own. The Chicago bullpen is in flux at the moment, and while Pressly could re-emerge as the closer at some point, his fantasy stock is trending down for now.
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Cubs' Ryan Pressly: Walloped for eight earned runs
Rotowire
Pressly (2-2) was the pitcher of record in Tuesday's 14-5 loss to the Giants in 11 innings after allowing nine runs (eight earned) on five hits and one walk without recording an out.
Pressly was brought in for the 11th inning with the game tied 5-5, but things fell off the rails for the veteran closer. He was pummeled for four singles and one double and also put runners on base with a walk and a hit by pitch before he was mercifully lifted from the contest in favor of Caleb Thielbar, who recorded all three outs in the inning. Pressly didn't give up an earned run in any of his previous 10 outings, but after Tuesday's brutal appearance, his ERA rose from 2.08 to 7.62 and his WHIP increased from 1.46 to 1.92. Pressly's rough showing could also prompt manager Craig Counsell to go with Porter Hodge the next time a save situation arises.
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Cubs' Ryan Pressly: Tosses scoreless frame Sunday
Rotowire
Pressly (knee) pitched one scoreless inning, allowing one walk in Sunday's 3-1 extra-inning loss to the Phillies. He did not factor into the decision.
Pressly made his first appearance out of the bullpen in a week Sunday, tossing a scoreless top of the ninth to keep the score knotted up at 1-1 ahead of the bottom of the frame. The right-hander has been dealing with right knee irritation and hadn't pitched since having his knee drained Tuesday. After a slow start to his first campaign in Chicago, the right-hander has now compiled nine consecutive scoreless appearances, posting a 1.00 WHIP with four strikeouts while picking up two wins and three saves over nine innings in April.
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Cubs' Ryan Pressly: Availability Friday TBD
Rotowire
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Pressly's (knee) availability for Friday's game against the Phillies is yet to be determined, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Pressly had to have his right knee drained Tuesday. He played catch Thursday and will do so again Friday before the Cubs determine whether he's available to pitch in the series opener versus the Phillies. Porter Hodge is next in line to close for Chicago if Pressly cannot pitch, although an appearance Friday would be Hodge's third in four days, so it's possible the Cubs would prefer not to use him.
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Cubs' Ryan Pressly: Battling knee problems
Rotowire
Pressly had his right knee drained Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Pressly hasn't appeared in a game since Sunday, and manager Craig Counsell confirmed after Wednesday's win over the Dodgers that the 36-year-old reliever has been dealing with a knee injury over the past few days. The Cubs are optimistic that he'll be available out of the bullpen when they return to action Friday for a three-game series against Philadelphia. While the right-hander was unavailable, Porter Hodge picked up his first save of the season Wednesday.
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Cubs' Ryan Pressly: Earns second win Friday
Rotowire
Pressly (2-1) worked around a hit to toss a scoreless inning of relief and earn the win in Friday's 13-11 victory over the Diamondbacks.
The Cubs led 7-1 in this one, and then allowed 10 straight Arizona runs in the eighth inning before rallying back in the bottom of the frame for the wild win. While Pressly worked the ninth and preserved a two-run lead, the scorer credited him with a win rather than a save due to ineffective Chicago relief work in that eighth inning as the lead evaporated. The veteran righty had some hiccups earlier in the season, but he's now strung together seven straight scoreless appearances, and he's a perfect 4-for-4 in save opportunities.
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Cubs' Ryan Pressly: Collects win Tuesday
Rotowire
Pressly (1-1) picked up the win Tuesday, striking out one in a perfect inning of relief during a 2-1 extra-inning victory over the Padres.
After the Cubs' closer breezed through the ninth inning on 16 pitches (11 strikes), Nico Hoerner led off the 10th with an RBI triple to deliver the game-winning run. Pressly has reeled off six straight scoreless appearances, and while his ratios (3.00 ERA, 1.89 WHIP, 4:6 K:BB in nine innings) remain a little shaky, he's 4-for-4 in converting save chances.
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Cubs' Ryan Pressly: Notches fourth save
Rotowire
Pressly earned the save in Sunday's 4-2 victory over the Dodgers, pitching a clean inning with one strikeout.
The veteran reliever made quick work closing out this win, completing the task in seven pitches, all of which were strikes. Pressly is now a perfect 4-for-4 in saves opportunities this season. However, under the hood, the 34-year-old has shown signs of slowing down, as his 3.38 ERA across eight innings is underpinned by a 6.11 FIP, 2.13 WHIP and 3:6 K:BB.
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Cubs' Ryan Pressly: Struggles but nabs first save
Rotowire
Pressly picked up a save against the Diamondbacks on Saturday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out one batter over one inning.
Pressly had a cushy three-run lead to work with when he got the ball in the ninth inning, but the veteran righty nearly gave the game away. He allowed Arizona to pull to within a run before making an out when Eugenio Suarez tagged him for a two-run homer, and Arizona put the tying run on base when Gabriel Moreno followed with a single. Pressly managed to retire the next two batters, but he walked Ketel Marte, and then allowed Corbin Carroll to reach base on an infield single. However, Garrett Hampson made a baserunning blunder on the hit and was tagged out after reaching third base, allowing Pressly to escape with his first save as a Cub. He should have some leash given his veteran status, but if Pressly were to struggle for an extended period, Porter Hodge -- who saved nine games for Chicago last season -- would be waiting in the wings.
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Cubs' Ryan Pressly: Traded to Cubs after waiving NTC
Rotowire
Pressly will waive his no-trade clause and is set to be traded by the Astros to the Cubs in exchange for Juan Bello, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The Astros will also be sending money to help cover some of Pressly's $14 million salary, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The trade is pending Pressly passing his physical, but the expectation is that the 36-year-old right-hander will be the Cubs' closer for the 2025 campaign. Bob Nightengale of USA Today relays that the move also opens the door for the Astros to bring Alex Bregman back. Pressly appeared in 59 regular-season games for Houston in 2024, registering 25 saves with a 3.49 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 58:18 K:BB across 56.2 innings.
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Astros' Ryan Pressly: Earns fourth save
Rotowire
Pressly pitched 1.2 scoreless innings while allowing two hits to earn the save Saturday against the Angels.
Pressly entered the game with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth inning. He allowed a single to the first batter he faced but still managed to escape the frame with a one-run lead. The ninth inning was less adventurous for Pressly, and he picked up his fourth save. Josh Hader had pitched three times in the last four games and in back-to-back contests, leaving him unavailable Saturday.
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Astros' Ryan Pressly: Returns from IL
Rotowire
The Astros activated Pressly (back) from the 15-day injured list Thursday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Pressly missed just the minimum 15 days while recovering from a lower-back strain. He did not go out on a rehab assignment, but manager Joe Espada is unlikely to shy away from using Pressly in high-leverage spots right away.
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Astros' Ryan Pressly: Throwing live batting practice
Rotowire
Pressly (back) threw a live batting practice session Monday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Everything seemed to go fine for the veteran reliever. Pressly is not expected to need a rehab assignment and is eligible for activation Thursday, so Monday's live BP session was likely the final hurdle he needed to clear before he's deemed fit to return. He's been out since mid-August with a lower-back strain.
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Astros' Ryan Pressly: Expected back when first eligible
Rotowire
Pressly (back) threw another bullpen session Saturday and is expected to return from the injured list when first eligible, MLB.com reports.
Saturday's activity marked Pressly's second bullpen session since being placed on the injured list. Manager Joe Espada also noted that Pressly won't need a rehab assignment, putting him in line to return Aug. 29.
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Astros' Ryan Pressly: Plays catch Monday
Rotowire
Astros manager Joe Espada said that Pressly (back) played catch Monday, MLB.com reports.
Pressly was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a lower-back strain, but the fact that he resumed throwing two days later bodes well for his chances of rejoining the Astros when first eligible Aug. 29. Espada said that the right-hander had been nursing the back strain for about two weeks before he was deactivated over the weekend.
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Astros' Ryan Pressly: Lands on IL with back strain
Rotowire
The Astros placed Pressly on the 15-day injured list due to a lower-back strain, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
It's unclear when exactly Pressly sustained the strain, but he's given up one earned run in each of his last four outings. In his 10 outings since the All-Star break, he's recorded six holds and two blown saves with a 4.50 ERA and 1.80 WHIP over 10 innings. Seth Martinez was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move.
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Astros' Ryan Pressly: Under contract for 2025
Rotowire
Pressly's $14 million option for 2025 vested during Friday's 3-2 win over the Rays, when he made his 45th appearance of the season, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Prior to the 2023 season, Pressly inked a two-year, $30 million extension that triggered a $14 million option if he appeared in 50 games in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons or if he appeared in 110 games between both seasons. Since he had already logged 65 appearances in 2023, Pressly was able to reach 110 with his scoreless inning Friday. The 35-year-old right-hander's strikeout rate continues to tumble downward from his peak years as Houston's closer, but he's remained dependable in his first season as a setup man for five-time All-Star Josh Hader. After a bumpy March and April, Pressly has settled in nicely and has provided a 0.51 ERA and 0.91 WHIP over his last 18 appearances while collecting 12 holds and a save during that stretch.
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Astros' Ryan Pressly: Tosses another scoreless appearance
Rotowire
Pressly struck out one and allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth inning to earn a hold Saturday against the Mets.
Pressly struggled significantly to begin the season, but he's now turned in seven straight scoreless appearances. He's picked up five holds and a save while maintaining a 6:1 K:BB in that span. Even with that stretch, Pressly has a 4.40 ERA with a 1.43 WHIP overall on the campaign.
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Astros' Ryan Pressly: Grabs first save
Rotowire
Pressly struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 8-5 win over the Cardinals.
This was Pressly's first save of the season to go with seven holds and four blown saves. Regular closer Josh Hader had pitched three of the last five days, including Monday, which likely led to the decision to give Pressly the ninth inning in Tuesday's win. Over his previous nine outings, Pressly had been tagged for six runs (five earned) over 8.2 innings. He's had a rough campaign with a 5.01 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 30:8 K:BB over 23.1 innings after Hader's offseason arrival bumped Pressly into a setup role through no fault of his own.
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Astros' Ryan Pressly: Returns to mound
Rotowire
Pressly threw a scoreless inning without allowing a baserunner and striking out one Monday against the Angels.
Pressly was out for the team's weekend series with finger soreness, but he showed no ill effects in his return. He entered the game in the eighth inning with the Astros down three, presumably because the team wanted to get him some work after the layoff. Pressly has struggled a bit of late, allowing an earned run in half of his last four appearances. He has a 5.19 ERA on the season.
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