Pagán bounced back from hand soreness with a save on Friday, resembling the competitor he has been in the Reds' bullpen.
In Thursday night’s narrow win over the Chicago White Sox, the Cincinnati Reds did not tab Emilio Pagán for the save in a one-run win. After the game, manager Terry Francona said the team’s closer had been dealing with hand soreness.
Pagán got scans on the sore hand and was cleared to pitch the next day ahead of their series opener against the Miami Marlins after being held out due to precaution the day before. On Friday, Pagán delivered when he was slotted right back into a save situation.
Holding a 1-0 lead in the top of the ninth inning, Pagán shut the door on the Marlins as he retired the side in order, recording his fourteenth save of the season. That hand soreness the day before turned out to be no bother.
In fact, Pagán has become nails in high leverage for the Reds over the past couple of months. In his last 10 outings, he has recorded either a win or a save in each appearance.
Now in his third season with Cincinnati, Pagán has built on a very productive campaign last season, where he had recorded a 2.88 ERA as the team’s closer in 70 appearances.
The Reds have seen smooth-sailing from their closer in their recent stretch. Over Pagán’s last 15 outings heading into Saturday, he has posted a 1.35 ERA over 13 ⅓ innings pitched, while also fanning 18 batters. His command has been sharp, his stuff has continued to look electric and he has been reliable in high leverage for a team that remains distant, but not too far out of reach of an NL Wild Card spot.
The right-hander, now 35 and in his 10th season, has picked up where he left off last year and has bounced back from some early-season struggles this year. He had allowed 10 earned runs in his first 14 games pitched this year, raising some questions about his status as a high-leverage arm early on. Since then, that has changed.
Pagán’s go-to pitch has continued to be his splitter, a pitch he expressed confidence in throwing amidst the soreness prior to Friday’s game. He would go on to produce two outs with the splitter in that outing.
With some injuries to a couple of the Reds’ right-handers in the bullpen this season, Pagán’s resurgence has been a very encouraging sight for manager Terry Francona, who continues to rely on Pagán as the team’s closer and in high leverage moments.
