11 articles
CHC •
3 months ago
Pressly was designated for assignment by the Cubs last week after posting a 4.35 ERA with just a 15.4 percent strikeout rate in 41 1/3 innings this season. Pressly pitched parts of six seasons for the Twins before they traded him to the Astros in 2018. The Twins have an inexperienced back-end of the bullpen after the trade deadline, so the 36-year-old could use the final two months of the season to recoup some value for 2026; however, Hayes says Pressly “is mulling his options, including retirement.”
Source: The Athletic
CHC •
4 months ago
After acquiring LHP Taylor Rogers from the Pirates, the Cubs needed a spot on their 40-man roster, so Pressly will no longer be with the team. The 36-year-old was acquired in the off-season to be the closer, but he pitched to a 4.35 ERA with just a 15.4 percent strikeout rate in 41 1/3 innings this season and will not look to latch on elsewhere, perhaps on a minor league deal.
CHC •
5 months ago
Pressly never actually blew a save while losing the closer’s role early this season; he had a 2.08 ERA before giving up eight earned runs in the 11th inning of a tie game on May 6 and exiting the mix for saves. The two-run homer he gave up to Mitch Garver today was the first real damage done against him since that fateful day; he had pitched 15 innings since, allowing only an unearned run. The Cubs aren’t looking at him as a closer these days, but there’s the chance that could change if Daniel Palencia falters.
CHC •
5 months ago
Daniel Palencia, who has been functioning as the Cubs’ closer in recent weeks, worked a perfect eighth inning against the heart of the Pirates’ lineup. That left Pressly to close it out and he didn’t betray his manager’s trust. The 36-year-old hurler got Adam Frazier, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Tommy Pham each on ground balls to the right side of the infield. Pressly earned his fifth save of the season for his efforts. He’s not going to usurp the closer’s role back anytime soon, but it’s nice to see him get back on track.
CHC •
6 months ago
It’s his first time this season that he’s struck out even two batters in an appearance. If not for one very, very bad day, Pressly would likely still be closing for the Cubs right now. Since giving up nine runs on May 6, he’s thrown eight scoreless innings over nine appearances. Still, it doesn’t seem like the Cubs have much interest in seeing him win his job back. Daniel Palencia is running with it right now.
CHC •
6 months ago
Pressly came into a 4-1 game today. The Cubs then made it 5-1 in the bottom of the seventh, so there was no save situation to be had. If that had changed, we imagine it would have gone to Porter Hodge after Brad Keller worked a hitless eighth. Pressly has now made four appearances without allowing a run since his disastrous nine-run outing on May 6.
CHC •
6 months ago
Woof. Pressly took over for the top half of the 11th inning with the score knotted at 5-5. He faced eight batters in total — five of them reached via base hit, Pressly also walked one, hit one and allowed another to reach on a sacrifice bunt. All eight runners, as well as the inherited runner to open the 11th inning, wound up coming around to score. It’s the type of outing that could very easily cost Pressly his role in the ninth inning with the Cubs as it ballooned his ERA from 2.08 to 7.62 in the blink of an eye. Porter Hodge — who worked a scoreless 10th inning on Tuesday — makes for a terrific speculative add any place where he may still be available.
CHC •
7 months ago
Pressly was tasked with facing the heart of the Phillies’ lineup and got right to work — getting Trea Turner on a ground ball to third base and Bryce Harper on a ground ball to shortstop. He then issued a two-out walk to Kyle Schwarber before retiring Nick Castellanos on a fly ball to end the inning. The right-hander showed no signs of his right knee issue bothering him and his velocity was exactly where you’d hope it would be. It looks like Pressly still has a lock on the closer’s gig for the time being.
CHC •
7 months ago
Counsell handed the ball to Porter Hodge to protect a one-run lead in the ninth inning on Wednesday night against the Dodgers. He also expressed optimism that Pressly will be available on Friday for the start of a three-game series against the Phillies. It doesn’t sound like a serious concern, but it’s a situation fantasy managers should monitor closely.
Source: Patrick Mooney
CHC •
7 months ago
Ethan Roberts, who finished the eighth but retired just one batter and gave up a homer beforehand, was in line for the win after the Cubs went ahead in the bottom of the inning, but the official scorer had the leeway to award it to a more effective pitcher. The scorer still has some time to change his mind, but for now, Pressly has two wins and four saves on the season.
CHC •
7 months ago
The 36-year-old right-hander made quick work of baseball’s most dangerous lineup, getting Enrique Hernández on a swinging third strike, Freddie Freeman on a ground ball to short and Shohei Ohtani on a ground ball to first to end it. His job security in the ninth inning continues to grow despite his 3.38 ERA, cringe-inducing 2.13 WHIP and lackluster 3/6 K/BB ratio over his first eight innings on the season.