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: Pitches better Friday
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Pressly worked around a hit and a walk to pitch a scoreless inning of relief in Friday's 7-2 loss to the Mets. He struck out one.
Pressly's last appearance Tuesday was a nightmare as he allowed nine runs (eight earned) on five hits and one walk without recording an out. The veteran righty was better Friday, though he's still stuck with an ugly 7.07 ERA. The Cubs haven't presented any save opportunities since Tuesday, and it remains to be seen if Pressly will get the team's next chance or if someone like Porter Hodge is asked to step up instead.
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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.
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.
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
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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
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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.
Pressly (0-1) allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk in an inning of work to take the loss Sunday against the Padres.
Pressly was tasked with the top of the ninth inning in a 7-7 game, and the righty almost escaped with no damage, but Justin Turner committed a fielding error on what could have been an inning-ending double play. The unearned run saddled Pressly with his first loss of the year in an 8-7 San Diego victory. The veteran righty hasn't been dominant for the Cubs with a 4.50 ERA across six innings of work, though he has converted all three of his save opportunities.
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Cubs' Ryan Pressly: Earns third save
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Pressly secured the save in Friday's 3-1 win against the Padres, allowing one hit and one walk with one strikeout in a scoreless ninth inning.
Pressly labored through the ninth frame, throwing only 17 of his 33 pitches for strikes, but he managed to escape with his third save in as many chances. While he's ultimately done his job so far, the 36-year-old owns an unimpressive 5.40 ERA, 2.60 WHIP and 2:5 K:BB through five innings in 2025.
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Cubs' Ryan Pressly: Collects second save
Rotowire
Pressly gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his second save of the season in a 7-4 win over the A's.
The veteran right-hander has appeared in four of the Cubs' first eight games and hasn't exactly been dominant, posting a 6.75 ERA and 1:4 K:BB in four innings, but he's 2-for-2 in converting save chances. Pressly should remain Chicago's closer as long as he's getting the job done, but if his struggles continue and begin to turn into blown saves, Porter Hodge -- who picked up his third hold Tuesday and has yet to give up a run in four innings with a 5:3 K:BB -- is ready to step in.
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.
