Tony

Santillan

Working with a 6-3 lead in the ninth, Santillan gave up a walk and a single with one out. He then retired Sandy León, who had already replaced Chadwick Tromp behind the plate and thus couldn’t realistically been lifted for a pinch-hitter. That brought up Ronald Acuña Jr., however, and an RBI single followed. Lefty Sam Moll took over at that point and walked Michael Harris II before retiring Matt Olson on a groundout. It went as Moll’s first save and Santillan’s 11th hold. Santillan still looks like the favorite for saves in Cincinnati with Graham Ashcraft and Pierce Johnson joining Emilio Pagán on the injured list, but he just hasn’t impressed of late. Terry Francona won’t like it, but he’ll probably have to do some mixing and matching.

José Fermín started the ninth with a homer that made it a one-run game. After that came a walk to Victor Scott II, a two-out walk to Alex Burleson and a game-tying single from Jordan Walker. It’s Santillan’s third blown save, and it bodes particularly poorly for him that both Graham Ashcraft (1 2/3 scoreless) and Pierce Johnson (scoreless 10th and 11th innings and a win) did very well tonight. It may be some time before Santillan gets another save chance.

Santillan got Trea Turner to hit a foul popup and then struck out Bryce Harper and Alec Bohm in his first one-two-three inning since Apr. 18. He entered tonight with a 16.62 ERA and five homers allowed in 4 1/3 innings this month, making it pretty surprising that Terry Francona saved him for the ninth. Since it worked, consider Santillan to be in the driver’s seat for saves in Cincinnati, at least until he blows another one.

Two singles, followed by two homers. Santillan came into the game with a 2.87 ERA in 15 2/3 innings, but his velocity is down 2.3 mph from last year and he’s been walking too many batters. For Santillan to have this outing on the heels of Graham Ashcraft’s blown save Thursday suggests that things are not going to be OK for the Reds bullpen while Emilio Pagán is out. This does really make Ashcraft look the better fantasy bet going forward, though.

Thrust into the closer role after Emilio Pagán’s injury on Tuesday, Ashcraft fell apart here. With his team headed for their sixth straight loss, they rallied in the top of the ninth to take a two-run lead. That wouldn’t be enough for Ashcraft though, who promptly gave up a game-tying, two-run home run to Pete Crow-Armstrong that barely stretched over the ivy in left-center field. Tony Santillan or Ashcraft remain the logical choices to get save opportunities in Cincinnati, unless this outing sours Terry Francona’s confidence in the latter.

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.

Santillan gave up a long homer to Michael Busch to tie the game. However, he still has a nice 2.87 ERA on the season, and he figures to be the choice to close for the Reds with Pagán almost certainly IL bound. Maybe Graham Ashcraft would get a shot if Santillan blew one of his first opportunities.

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 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.