Emilio Pagan Pitched Through a Hamstring Injury and the Reds' Bullpen Looks Unstoppable Right Now

Cincinnati's relief pitching is firing on all cylinders heading into Saturday's middle game against Minnesota in Minneapolis, and closer Emilio Pagan just proved he can gut it out through pain. After getting dinged up on the final pitch of Tuesday's win over San Francisco, Pagan took the mound Friday night and threw a clean 1-2-3 ninth inning in the Reds' 2-1 victory over the Twins. He needed just 13 pitches to get it done, eight of them strikes, and he's making it look easy.

Pagan Is Playing Through It and Winning Games

The hamstring injury could have sidelined the closer, but Pagan is not backing down. "I'm getting through it," he said after Friday's win. "As long as I can do my delivery on the mound and not have to change any of that, I'll be fine." On the final out of the game, a grounder to second, Pagan had to run to cover first base and felt it tighten up. But he's confident: "Just trying to get off quick, a natural reaction on a ball hit that way, I could just tell that it was tight, but as long as I can do my delivery ... I like my chances."

The numbers back up the toughness. Pagan has blown just one save opportunity all season, in the Reds' second game. Over his last seven outings, he's posted seven innings with no runs allowed and just one hit. He's struck out 10 hitters in 10 1/3 innings. On Friday, he was joined by Connor Phillips (2.25 ERA), Graham Ashcraft (1.64 ERA), and Tony Santillan (0.00 ERA) as Cincinnati's bullpen held Minnesota to two hits and zero runs over the final 3 2/3 innings.

Abbott Takes the Hill Saturday Against Bradley

Cincinnati will counter with left-hander Andrew Abbott (0-2, 5.85 ERA) for Saturday's start. Abbott got roughed up his last time out against the Angels, giving up a career-high-tying seven runs on eight hits in just over three innings in a 9-6 loss. Minnesota will send Taj Bradley (3-0, 1.25) to the mound, fresh off a five-inning performance in an 8-2 win over Toronto on Sunday. Bradley struck out seven against the Blue Jays while surrendering one run on five hits and four walks.

Luke Keaschall and the Twins are frustrated after dropping Friday's game on just five hits. Keaschall struck out looking with the bases loaded to end the third inning, then grounded into a double play with runners on the corners in the fifth. The No. 3 hitter is batting just .211 with one homer and nine RBIs, and he's 0-for-7 over the past two games. But he's not throwing in the towel: "Every day we have to treat it as its own. We are ticked off, it's going to change soon." Minnesota needs Saturday to be that day.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.