Chicago Cubs right-handed reliever Ryan Brasier (groin) tossed a shutout inning with Triple-A Iowa in a minor-league rehab appearance on Saturday in his fifth rehab outing, including back-to-back appearances in his most recent games, according to MLB.com. Brasier began his rehab assignment with Iowa on May 7 and should be getting close to being activated from the 10-day injured list. The 37-year-old veteran appeared in the team's March 18 season-opening series in Japan against the Los Angeles Dodgers but then landed on the IL before the domestic home opener at the end of March with a strained left groin. Barring a setback with his balky groin, he should be able to return to the Cubs' bullpen by late May or early June. Given Chicago's shaky 'pen this year, there's a chance Brasier could work his way into a high-leverage relief role when he's back.
Ryan Brasier To Start Rehab Assignment On Wednesday
Chicago Cubs right-handed reliever Ryan Brasier (groin) is scheduled to start his minor-league rehab outing with an appearance for Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday night. Brasier allowed one run in his lone inning of work in Tokyo, Japan, against the Los Angeles Dodgers to kick off the 2025 regular season, but he hasn't pitched since due to a strained left groin. The 37-year-old veteran is now ready to resume pitching in games, though, so he should be able to return to Chicago's less-than-stellar bullpen by mid-May. Brasier missed time due to a calf injury last year but was mostly solid when he was on the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 29 outings (four starts), posting a 3.54 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and only five walks in 28 innings. Because he's not a big strikeout guy, he's unlikely to become a closing option for the Cubs later this season.
ESPN's Jeff Passan reports that the Chicago Cubs acquired right-handed reliever Ryan Brasier from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations, per sources. The Dodgers designated the 37-year-old veteran for assignment last week after they recently signed relievers Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates. It's a nice pickup for the Cubs, who also recently acquired reliever Ryan Pressly from the Houston Astros. Brasier may not be the favorite for saves in Chicago, but he should at least handle high-leverage setup innings, making him a sleeper for holds in fantasy leagues. In 29 appearances (four starts) for the Dodgers last year, Brasier held a 3.54 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 25 K's and five walks in 28 innings. He missed significant time with a calf injury. Brasier has never been a big strikeout guy (career 8.9 K/9), so his fantasy upside won't be significant.
According to Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated, the New York Mets have shown interest in Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Ryan Brasier. Earlier this week, Brasier was designated for assignment to open a spot on the roster for Kirby Yates. However, Brasier was very effective last season. Across 28 innings, the 37-year-old posted a 3.54 ERA with a strong 0.96 WHIP. He struck out 25 batters and posted a strong 4.5 percent walk rate. Under the hood, he generated a 45.0 percent ground-ball and 7.5 percent barrel rates. Across 59 2/3 innings during the 2023 campaign, the Weatherford College product held a 3.02 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP. Fantasy managers should expect Brasier to draw significant interest on the trade market. He will likely operate as a middle-reliever on a competing team in 2025.
The Los Angeles Dodgers designated right-handed reliever Ryan Brasier for assignment on Thursday, according to sources. The move was made to open up a spot on the 40-man roster for recently-signed reliever Kirby Yates. The Dodgers now will have a few days to try to find a trade partner before he's subject to waivers. There could be a market for the 37-year-old veteran relief man after he posted a 3.54 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and only five walks out of the Dodgers bullpen in 28 innings pitched last season. Even if the Dodgers do not find a trade partner, there's a good chance another team looking for additional bullpen depth will claim him off waivers. Brasier wasn't going to see much high-leverage work in L.A.'s stacked bullpen, but he could with another squad in 2025. He missed valuable time in 2024 with a calf injury but should be healthy for spring training.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Los Angeles Dodgers are shopping right-handed pitcher Ryan Brasier. Nightengale noted that the Dodgers need to clear space off their 40-man roster for several new additions. On Tuesday, Nightengale reported that the Dodgers had reached a tentative agreement with right-handed pitcher Kirby Yates. Last season, Brasier was deployed typically out of the bullpen but did make four starts. Across 28 innings, the 37-year-old held a 3.54 ERA and a strong 0.96 WHIP. He showed elite command with a 4.5% walk rate but struggled to generate strikeouts as he posted a modest 22.7% K rate. During the playoffs, he allowed five earned across nine innings of work. If the Dodgers find a trade partner for Brasier, he would likely operate as a middle-relief option with his new club.
Ryan Brasier To Open, Landon Knack Set For Bulk Role In Game 2 Of NLCS
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Ryan Brasier will serve as the opener for Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Monday at Dodger Stadium against the New York Mets, with manager Dave Roberts saying he expects right-hander Landon Knack to take "most of the outs" as the bulk reliever. Brasier served as the opener in the Game 4 win over the division-rival San Diego Padres in the NL Division Series and threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out one. He also went 2 1/3 innings in a traditional relief role earlier in the series, allowing two earned runs on three hits while walking none and striking out one. Brasier obviously isn't a viable DFS play as an opener in Game 2. Knack pitched the final inning of the Game 4 win over the Pads and threw a scoreless frame with a strikeout. The 27-year-old went 3-5 with a 3.65 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 69 K's and 18 walks in 69 innings over his first 15 big-league outings (12 starts) during the regular season.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will use right-hander Ryan Brasier as the opener of a bullpen game in Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday at Petco Park against the division-rival San Diego Padres. This will be Brasier's fifth opening assignment of the year. The 37-year-old veteran reliever allowed just one run in four innings in his previous four opening assignments. In his two relief appearances in the NLDS against the Padres, he's allowed two earned runs on three hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out one in 2 1/3 innings. Brasier probably won't go more than one inning versus the hot-hitting Friars in this one, so DFS managers should stay away. Right-hander Landon Knack will most likely be the Dodgers' bulk reliever in this one as they try to stay alive and force a Game 5 back in LA on Friday night.
Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed reliever Ryan Brasier (calf) is expected to come off the 60-day injured list and rejoin the team in St. Louis on Saturday for their weekend series against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. A right-calf strain has kept Brasier away from LA since April 27. The 36-year-old veteran threw eight scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts and only one walk in eight minor-league rehab appearances, though, and appears to be ready to rejoin the big-league bullpen. It's good news for a Dodgers' bullpen that recently lost Brusdar Graterol to a hamstring injury that could keep him out the rest of the year. Before his injury early in 2024, Brasier had a 4.63 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP and a 12:3 K:BB in 12 outings (one start) for the Dodgers.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Friday that right-hander Ryan Brasier (calf) was playing catch but that he remains "a ways out" from returning from the 15-day injured list. Brasier pulled his right calf muscle while doing some sprinting as part of his regular warmups before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 29 and was put on the IL, retroactive to April 28. An MRI exam on April 30 showed that the strain was mild. Once the 36-year-old resumes throwing off a mound, he'll most likely need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before returning to the Dodgers' bullpen. Before getting hurt, Brasier had allowed six earned runs while walking three and fanning 12 in 12 outings (one start) over 11 2/3 innings. Brasier can remain on the waiver wire in fantasy leagues.
Ryan Brasier
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