It's May and the Cubs don't have a closer. Cool. Jed Hoyer was hoping that Ryan Pressly would be the answer to save games in 2025, but he was removed from the closer role earlier this month and now Porter Hodge, who was next up on the depth chart, is being placed on the injured list with a left oblique issue. Things at the back end of the Cubs bullpen is less than ideal to say the least.
Monday's 8-7 loss to the Marlins featured Daniel Palencia allowing two earned runs, leading to what was actually the first ninth-inning blown save of the year for the Cubs. Palencia was tagged with the blown save and loss, and seeing that his 24-pitch outing was his third appearance in the last four days he probably won't be available if another save situation comes up on Tuesday.
So, who is Craig Counsell going to hand the ball over to in the next save opportunity for the Cubs? One Cubs analyst believes it'll be Pressly.
Lance Brozdowski, who appears on the Marquee Sports Network, shared his thoughts on who will close out games with Hodge's absence and he believes the veteran righty will get a shot at redemption.
Via Cubs Daily Podcast.
"I kind of think Pressly gets the next shot at a save. His last four appearances have been pretty clean overall. The key thing that I mentioned on prior podcasts was that he was really lacking swing and miss and that is slowly creeping back here, especially on that slider. So, I have a little more faith than I did earlier in the season, when we weren't really seeing Pressly miss any bats and having to sneak fastballs by guys who were good fastball hitters. Now, I think he can pitch back off the breaking balls and get back to where he was in the past."
The Cubs traded for Pressly in the offseason and while it wasn't necessarily guaranteed that he'd begin the season as the closer there was an understanding that he would be first in line for the role. The veteran posted good numbers through May 1, recording a 2.08 ERA in his first 13 games with the Cubs. That stretch included 10 straight scoreless outings.
All seemed good, but then arrived Pressly's 10th inning appearance against the Giants on May 6. The righty entered a 5-5 game in extra innings and after facing eight batters the Cubs were trailing 12-5, and no outs were recorded. Two more runs came around to score, which completed Pressly's pitching line: 0.0 IP, 9 R, 8 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP.
It was a microcosm of Pressly's entire year because despite his good numbers a month into the season he was very much getting lucky on the mound. He had an incredibly low strikeout rate, only 5 K to 7 BB in his first 13 innings, while batters will teeing off, averaging a 91.3mph exit velocity and a 57.1 hard-hit% against Pressly.
Bad. Really bad.
But hey, Pressly has taken some positive steps forward since his demotion.
Ryan Pressly Since May 6
May 9: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 ER
May 13: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 ER
May 16: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 ER
May 18, 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 ER
May 19, 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 ER
Only one extra base hit out of those four hits allowed, while also striking out four and only walking one. Again, baby steps, but Pressly has looked better.
The sad reality is that the Cubs don't really have a clear answer to be the closer. Brad Keller has been great this season, but his performance may give Counsell the confidence to use him in other high-leverage spots earlier in games rather than saving him for the ninth. The same goes for the veteran lefties in the bullpen Drew Pomeranz and Caleb Thielbar, who may be better utilized in different matchups.
Julian Merryweather hasn't pitched well in a few weeks, so I doubt Counsell trusts him to protect a tight lead.
I bet Palencia will get another chance to save games. He was great before Monday night, posting a 1.20 ERA in his first 15 innings of the year. But maybe Counsell does go back with the veteran in Pressly.
Hopefully the Cubs offense scores plenty of runs and we don't have to worry too much about save chances until guys get more consistent up and down the bullpen.
