Emilio

Pagán

Pagán returns to Cincinnati’s bullpen as their primary closing option prior to Tuesday’s game against the Brewers. The 35-year-old veteran stopper has been out since early May working his way back from a hamstring strain. He should be rostered in all fantasy leagues based on his track record and minimal in-house competition with the Reds.

Pagán wrapped up a minor league rehab assignment over the weekend and will regain his role as Cincinnati’s closer. The 35-year-old veteran stopper has been out since early May working his way back from a hamstring strain. He should be rostered in all fantasy leagues based on his track record and minimal in-house competition with the Reds.

The Reds could certainly use Pagán back to shore up the back-end of their bullpen with Tony Santillan hitting the injured list with an oblique strain prior to Friday’s series opener against the Pirates. The 35-year-old veteran stopper’s return to Cincinnati’s relief corps feels imminent and he should be rostered in any fantasy leagues where he somehow ended up on the waiver wire after suffering a hamstring strain back in early May.

Pagán checked out fine from a physical standpoint after facing hitters in a 25-pitch live batting practice session on Monday and will kick off a rehab assignment later this week. The 35-year-old veteran stopper has been on the shelf recovering from a left hamstring strain since early May. He’s on track to return to closing games for Cincinnati before the end of June, which would push Tony Santillan back to a setup role.

Reds’ manager Terry Francona told reporters on Sunday that Pagán had a follow-up MRI that came back clean. He threw a side session without issues on Saturday and will repeat the process on Tuesday before progressing to the live session. The next step after that would likely be a couple of tune-ups in a minor league game. It’s possible that if everything goes according to plan, he could return to the Reds’ bullpen before the end of June.

Pagán has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain and is expected to miss roughly 4-8 weeks. The -year-old stopper told reporters he thought he tore his hamstring and that his season was over when he hobbled off the mound after throwing a pitch during Tuesday’s relief appearance against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. He’s facing an extended absence, but his season isn’t over. It’ll likely be either Tony Santillan or Graham Ashcraft taking over the closer role for Cincinnati during his absence.

This didn’t look good at all. Pagán hobbled off the mound and went to the ground clutching his left hamstring after throwing his first pitch of the ninth inning of a tie ballgame. The 34-year-old was carted off the field after several minutes. There should be an update on his status prior to Wednesday’s contest, but it certainly looks like an injured list situation. Tony Santillan or Graham Ashcraft would likely be next up for saves in Cincinnati.

Pagán entered the ninth inning on Monday with a one-run lead looking for his seventh save of the year. After Pete Crow-Armstrong started the inning with a triple, the game was tied two batters later. Then Michael Conforto hit a pinch-hit walkoff home run. It’s Pagán’s third blown save of the season. He has a 6.43 ERA.

Pagán surrendered doubles to James Outman and Austin Martin in the ninth before preserving the tie. It’s his second blown save, but it doesn’t seem like a big problem with the Reds winning in 10 innings anyway. That said, Tony Santillan, who got a save with Pagán resting Saturday, looks like the better reliever right now.

Emilio Pagán shook off his hamstring issue to pitch last night, but the Reds apparently weren’t willing to use him on back-to-back days just yet. That got Santillan his first save in 2026 after he earned seven last year. He’s yet to allow a run in 10 innings this season, and he’d be in line to close if Pagán loses the job at some point.