Ryan

Pressly

Pressly blossomed into one of the premier postseason relievers of his generation, converting 14 of 15 playoff save opportunities, while posting a microscopic 2.01 FIP across 45 1/3 innings for the Astros from 2018-2024. The 37-year-old stopper split the first 12 seasons of his career between the Twins and Astros before spending his final campaign with the Cubs last year. He made the leap from pedestrian middle reliever to upper-echelon closer almost immediately after arriving in Houston at the 2018 trade deadline. He hangs up his spikes after recording 117 career saves to go along with a sparkling 3.33 ERA — 3.27 FIP — 1.18 WHIP and 721/207 K/BB ratio across 691 1/3 innings over 667 appearances from 2013-2025.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

Even though Palencia blew his first save chance with Porter Hodge down Monday, he was given another try today and converted it by retiring Connor Norby, Liam Hicks and Graham Pauley on three flyouts, all hit between 355 and 363 feet. Brad Keller got five outs in the seventh and eighth and was credited with his first win. Ryan Pressly, who earned holds on both Sunday and Monday, wasn’t used in this one. It looks like Palencia is the guy in the Cubs pen for now, with Keller probably getting the eighth. Go ahead and pick Palencia up where he’s available.

Daniel Palencia was given a chance to close in Hodge’s place last night, but he failed and took the loss to the Marlins. Ryan Pressly, Brad Keller and Drew Pomeranz should also be in the mix for saves now, but it’s hard to pick a true favorite. We’d take fliers on Pressly and Keller first. Those in shallow leagues could consider dropping Hodge, since it’s not like he was throwing especially well anyway and it’s far from assured that he’ll return to closing once he’s activated.

Palencia getting the call over Porter Hodge was a big surprise until it was announced after the game that Hodge was out with an oblique strain. Palencia, who has been averaging 99 mph with his fastball this year but still has control issues, obviously didn’t advance his cause to take over as the Cubs’ closer in going after what would have been his second career save. The team could revert to Ryan Pressly, who has two holds in two days after pitching a scoreless seventh tonight.

Counsell added that Hodge was unavailable for Monday’s game against the Marlins, which is presumably why he turned to righty Daniel Palencia in a save situation after Ryan Pressly and Drew Pomeranz pitched earlier in the contest. It’s a tough break for fantasy managers since Hodge figured to be in the mix for saves going forward. It’s a rather unsettled situation, and a bit of a quagmire altogether, but Pressly and Pomeranz seem like the most logical choices to close in Chicago at the moment.