Welsh said fantasy players scrambling for saves should grab Emilio Pagan immediately because the veteran has effectively seized Cincinnati’s ninth-inning role after Alexis Diaz was optioned. Pagan is already sitting 96-97 with a splitter that carries a 35 % whiff rate, and he has converted each of his recent chances while limiting walks— historically his biggest problem—to just 5 % this year. With the Reds offense surging and manager David Bell publicly praising Pagan’s "stabilizing presence," Welsh believes 25-plus saves are within reach the rest of the way and predicts his roster percentage will jump from 28 % on ESPN to over 70 % by the weekend.

Chris Welsh predicted Emilio Pagan has "locked down that gig" in Cincinnati after Alexis Diaz was optioned to Triple-A. Pagan already owns multiple saves, and Welsh expects his CBS roster rate to jump from 60% to the mid-70s once fantasy players process the news. The Reds called up fire-baller Luis Mey but Welsh emphasized that manager Bryan Price now appears committed to Pagan in the ninth. With Pagan’s 95-97 mph four-seamer and splitter generating strikeouts at a 28% clip, Welsh advised grabbing him in every season-long league that values saves before Friday’s FAAB rush.