A player on the Cincinnati Reds assigned blame after a loss to the Chicago Cubs.
The Cincinnati Reds dropped Monday’s series opener to the Chicago Cubs in what feels like an important early season-matchup in the National League Central.
Cincinnati entered the night looking to keep pace with the division leaders but instead slipped to third place. What made the loss especially frustrating was how close the Reds were to securing a win.
They carried a one-run lead into the bottom of the ninth inning and handed the ball to closer Emilio Pagan, who not only blew the save but also the game.
It unraveled quickly. Pagan allowed a lead-off triple to Pete Crow-Armstrong, who scored moments later on a sacrifice fly to tie the game. One batter after that, Michael Conforto launched a walk-off home run to end it.
After the loss, Pagan took full accountability for the collapse. “I mean, nothing's changed as far as our mindset as a team. We know we're really good. You know, we played a lot of close ball games. And quite honestly, I haven't held up my end of the bargain,” Pagan said while speaking with reporters.
Pagan has clearly not lived up to the two-year, $20 million contract extension he signed this past offseason. Through 14 appearances, he has converted just six of nine save opportunities while posting a 6.43 ERA with only 11 strikeouts across 14 innings. It is a huge drop-off from the pitcher he was in 2025, when he was the most dominant arm in Cincinnati’s bullpen with a 2.88 ERA over 70 games.
Pagan added that he remains hopeful he can return to form. “And so as painful as today is, I feel like I'm getting really close to being who I can be. I made two mistakes today, and they both got hit. Odds are in baseball that doesn't happen every time you get away with some. And so especially with good stuff, and I know I have good stuff. So I will pitch better, I will be better, and we'll get back going in the right direction.”
Whether he keeps the closer role remains unclear. If the struggles continue, the Reds may have no choice but to make a change.
Cincinnati will look to bounce back Tuesday in Game 2 of the four-game set at Wrigley Field. Pagan is now in his third season with the Reds and 10th in the majors after previous stops with the Mariners, Athletics, Rays, Padres and Twins.