Pagan was charged with a blown save in Thursday's 10-inning loss to the Mariners, allowing two runs on two hits in one inning. He struck out two.
It was a nightmarish outing for Pagan, who was tasked with protecting a two-run lead in the ninth. The right-hander would give up a leadoff homer to Cal Raleigh before Randy Arozarena tied the game with another long ball just two pitches later. Pagan, who converted his previous four save chances prior to Thursday, now sports a 2.89 ERA, 0.54 WHIP and 9:1 K:BB through his first 9.1 innings this year. While Pagan should continue to serve as the Reds' primary closer in the short term, he figures to have a short leash as Alexis Diaz has delivered consecutive scoreless outings in his return from the injured list.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Likely to keep closer job for now
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Reds manager Terry Francona indicated Tuesday that Pagan will continue to serve as the team's primary closer for now even after Alexis Diaz's return from the injured list, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.
Francona has suggested previously that he wants Diaz to get his closer job back, but he plans to ease the reliever back into high-leverage work. Pagan holds a 1.23 ERA and has successfully converted all four of his save opportunities thus far. While Diaz should get another crack at the ninth inning if he pitches well, fantasy managers should hang on to Pagan for the time being.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Notches fourth save
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Pagan turned in a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Pirates.
Pagan now has saves in back-to-back days as he's established himself as the Reds' preferred ninth-inning option in the absence of Alexis Diaz (hamstring). The 33-year-old Pagan is now 4-for-4 in save chances while allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits through 7.1 innings to start the year.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Picks up third save
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Pagan struck out two batters in a perfect ninth inning to collect his third save of the season in Friday's 5-3 win over the Pirates.
Friday's outing was exactly what Pagan needed to bounce back from his last appearance Wednesday, which saw him give up a walk-off home run against the Giants. He sent Endy Rodriguez and Ke'Bryan Hayes down on strikes, and Jack Suwinski ended things quickly with a flyout on the first pitch he saw. Pagan is still the only reliever in the Reds' bullpen with multiple saves, though he may not get many more ninth-inning chances with Alexis Diaz (hamstring) approaching a return from the IL.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Saddled with loss against Giants
Rotowire
Pagan (0-1) took the loss Wednesday against the Giants after giving up a two-run home run in the 10th inning.
Pagan came on to pitch the 10th inning in a 6-6 game, promptly allowing a two-run home run to Mike Yastrzemski after just two pitches as the Giants walked it off. The journeyman right-hander still holds a sharp 1.69 ERA, 0.59 WHIP and 3:1 K:BB with two saves over 5.1 innings this season, and he should continue sharing ninth-inning work alongside Tony Santillan as long as Alexis Diaz (hamstring) remains on the injured list.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Racks up second save
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Pagan worked a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his second save of the season in Tuesday's 1-0 win over the Giants.
The veteran righty needed only seven pitches (six strikes) to get the job done. Pagan hasn't been a full-time closer since 2019, when he collected 20 saves for the Rays. but he's getting a chance to handle that job while Alexis Diaz (hamstring) gets healthy and tries to get his mechanics back in sync. Through his first five appearances this season, Pagan has a 0.00 ERA and 3:1 K:BB and has allowed only one hit. Tony Santillan, who recorded the final out of Monday's combined shutout after Hunter Greene fired 8.2 innings, has the only other save so far in 2025 for Cincinnati.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Looking like top closer option
Rotowire
Pagan was warming up in the bullpen in the bottom of the eighth inning of Sunday's loss to the Giants and appeared poised for a save chance had the Reds taken the lead, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.
The Reds did not take the lead and Pagan did not make an appearance. However, the fact that Pagan recorded a save Saturday and was warming for a potential save Sunday suggests he is currently at the top of the team's closer hierarchy while Alexis Diaz (hamstring) is out. Tony Santillan looks to be manager Terry Francona's most trusted reliever, but Francona prefers to use Santillan "when we need to put the fire out" earlier in games.
Pagan pitched a perfect ninth inning Saturday against the Giants to get the save in a 3-2 victory.
Pagan didn't strike out any Giants batters, and as a matter of fact the Giants only struck out once as a team. It's noteworthy that Tony Santillan pitched the seventh and Graham Ashcraft pitched the eighth to set up the save chance for Pagan.
Pagan exercised his $8 million player option for 2025 on Saturday.
Pagan was forced to sit out the first half of the season due to a lat injury, and he accumulated a 4.50 ERA across 38 innings upon returning in mid-August. Given his decline in performance, it was unlikely he'd receive an offer close to $8 million in free agency, so the 33-year-old righty will return to Cincinnati and likely fill a high-leverage role out of the bullpen.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Contract decision looming
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Pagan has an $8 million option for the 2025 season that he's expected to exercise this offseason, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Pagan missed three months of the season with a lat injury, but returned to action Aug. 10 and finished the campaign healthy. He wasn't as effective as usual over his 38 innings in 2024 (4.50 ERA, 1.34 WHIP), and given that he would be unlikely to receive a contract exceeding $8 million on the open market, it makes sense for him to run it back with Cincinnati for another season.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Collects first save
Rotowire
Pagan allowed two hits and a walk while striking out three over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Cardinals.
Alexis Diaz had pitched four of the previous five days, leaving this save chance up for grabs. Pagan nearly made a mess of it by loading the bases with no outs before fanning Jordan Walker, Thomas Saggese and Matt Carpenter to end the threat. Since returning from a lat injury in August, Pagan has been scored upon in just one of his 12 outings, though he gave up four runs in an inning in that misstep. He's at a 3.67 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 41:10 K:BB with one save and seven holds across 34.1 innings this year.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Working as opener Wednesday
Rotowire
Pagan will serve as the Reds' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Pagan owns a 4.22 ERA and 1.36 WHIP through 21.1 innings on the season, though he threw a scoreless inning against the Brewers on Sunday in his first appearance since returning from the 60-day injured list. He's only made one appearance that lasted longer than one inning in 2024, so he'll likely only be asked to get through the Cardinals' first three batters before turning the game over to Carson Spiers, who is expected to pitch in bulk relief.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Comes off IL
Rotowire
The Reds reinstated Pagan (lat) from the 60-day injured list Saturday.
After three rehab outings, Pagan was given the green light to rejoin Cincinnati's bullpen. To make room for Pagan on the 26-man active roster, the Reds optioned right-hander Yosver Zulueta to Triple-A Louisville. Pagan turned in a 4.43 ERA and 1.38 WHIP while striking out 26 over 20.1 innings in 22 appearances before landing on the IL on June 9 with a right lat strain.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Could return vs. Brewers
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Pagan (lat) is with the Reds for their weekend series against the Brewers, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Pagan began his rehab assignment Aug. 2, and after throwing two scoreless frames over his first two outings, he gave up two runs on two hits in one inning in his last appearance with Triple-A Louisville on Thursday. The 33-year-old reliever travelled with the team to Milwaukee and could be activated during the weekend series. Pagan has recorded three holds across 22 major-league appearances this season with a 4.43 ERA and 1.38 WHIP over 20.1 innings.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Makes first rehab outing
Rotowire
Pagan (lat) struck out one over one scoreless inning in his rehab appearance for Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.
Pagan kicked off a rehab assignment Saturday and is expected to make three to five more appearances in the minors before being activated. He landed on the 15-day injured list in June then was transferred to the 60-day IL a few weeks later. Pagan is eligible to be activated Aug. 8.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Beginning rehab stint
Rotowire
Manager David Bell said Friday that Pagan (lat) will begin a rehab assignment Saturday and will require 3-to-5 outings before being activated from the injured list, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
The 33-year-old has been sidelined by a late strain since early June, and he should be ready to join the Reds shortly after he's first eligible to be activated Aug. 7. Pagan posted a 4.43 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 26:7 K:BB over 20.1 innings prior to landing on the 60-day IL.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Starts throwing again
Rotowire
Pagan (lat) began a throwing program July 2, MLB.com reports.
Pagan's throwing progression is expected to last most of the month before he reports to a minor-league affiliate for a rehab assignment. The right-hander is on the 60-day injured list with a right lat strain and won't be eligible for activation until Aug. 7.
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