46 Pedro Strop RP

Strop got off to a late start in spring training but pitched four innings while allowing one run on two hits and a walk, striking out two.

Strop is one of many options for the Reds to help set up Raisel Iglesias, along with Michael Lorenzen, Amir Garrett and Robert Stephenson. His performance last season was hampered by a hamstring injury suffered in spring and a neck injury that sidelined him during the campaign.

Strop signed a one-year, $1.825 million contract with the Reds on Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The Reds continue to make moves this offseason, adding a veteran reliever in Strop to help shore up their bullpen. The 34-year-old struggled to a 4.97 ERA and 1.27 WHIP across 41.2 innings with the Cubs in 2019, though he posted a combined 2.61 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 10.1 K/9 across his prior five seasons with Chicago. Strop figures to assume a setup role in front of closer Raisel Iglesias, though given his late-game experience, he could be a sneaky candidate for saves should an opening arise in the ninth inning.

Strop (2-5) allowed two runs and did not record an out while getting tagged with the loss Thursday against the Phillies.

The Cubs entered the ninth inning up 5-1 but the wheels came off for several relievers in a stunning loss. Rowan Wick started the inning before allowing two hits and a run, at which point Chicago turned to Strop to close things out. The veteran righty was ineffective, however, as he quickly gave up a hit and hit a batter before getting the hook. Derek Holland then allowed a walkoff grand slam to Bryce Harper, saddling Strop and the Cubs with an unexpected 7-5 loss. Strop now has a disappointing 5.46 ERA this season, though he figures to remain in a high-leverage role while Craig Kimbrel (knee) is out.

Strop struck out one and walked one through a scoreless ninth inning to record his 10th save in a 6-3 win over the Reds on Sunday.

Strop allowed a walk, but it was the lone baserunner that would reach as he nailed down his 10th save. With the Cubs dealing with numerous injuries in the bullpen, Strop may get a few save opportunities in the short term. Strop has a 4.85 ERA and a 31:10 K:BB through 34 appearances this season.

Strop (neck) was activated from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Strop was sent to the 10-day injured list July 27 due to neck tightness, but he's been cleared by Chicago's medical staff to return to action. Brandon Kintzler (pectoral) was placed on the injured list in a corresponding move. With both Kintzler and Craig Kimbrel (knee) out of commission, the Cubs may turn to Strop in save situations until their bullpen returns to health.

Manager Joe Maddon said Strop (neck) is "very close" to pitching in games, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Strop landed on the injured list at the end of July with neck tightness, but the fact that he's nearing a return to game action suggests his stay on the shelf won't be a lengthy one.

Strop was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday due to left neck tightness, retroactive to Saturday Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

This move by the Cubs was expected, though it remains to be seen how long Strop will need to return to health. He'll be eligible to be reinstated beginning Aug. 6. Duane Underwood was recalled from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move.

Strop is expected to be placed on the 10-day injured list prior to Tuesday's game against the Cardinals, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

It's unclear as to what kind of injury Strop is dealing with, but his fastball velocity has been noticeably down all season, especially in recent weeks, per Bastian. The club has yet to make the move official.

Strop was the pitcher of record in Monday's 5-4 loss to the Giants after giving up three runs on four hits over his lone inning of relief.

Tasked with protecting a 4-2 lead entering the eighth inning, Strop couldn't get the job done. He retired two of the first four batters and nearly escaped the inning with the Cubs still up a run, but he surrendered back-to-back run-scoring doubles to squander his team's advantage. Strop's fantasy value already cratered once Craig Kimbrel made his debut in late June, and now the veteran right-hander is looking like an untrustworthy commodity in leagues that count holds as a category, too. Strop has blown leads in three of his last six outings, which could prompt manager Joe Maddon to go in another direction the next time a setup chance arises.

Strop allowed three runs on two hits and a walk while retiring just two batters in the Cubs' eventual 4-3 win over the Pirates on Friday.

Strop was tasked with protecting a 3-0 lead in the eighth inning but allowed Pittsburgh to tie the game on a Starling Marte three-run homer. It's been a tough season for Strop, as the 34-year-old has missed time with a hamstring injury and is sitting with a 5.06 ERA through 21.1 innings. He's also been supplanted as the team's closer with the addition of Craig Kimbrel.

Strop pitched a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts to record the save in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Mets.

After allowing two runs and taking the loss in his last appearance, Strop enjoyed a bounce-back effort. The righty now has a 5.17 ERA and nine saves this season, though his end-game opportunities could dwindle as soon as Craig Kimbrel is deemed ready to join the MLB roster.

Strop (1-3) took the loss after allowing a go-ahead, two-run home run in the ninth inning of Tuesday's 3-1 defeat to the White Sox.

It was a rough ninth inning for Strop, who started the frame by allowing a single to James McCann and then the big home run to Eloy Jimenez before departing with one out. The righty's ERA climbed to 5.52 after the subpar outing, and he will get bumped down in the bullpen pecking order soon, once Craig Kimbrel is ready to join the MLB roster.

Strop walked one and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his eighth save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Dodgers.

The right-hander has now converted four straight save opportunities, and Strop will continue to hold down the fort as the Cubs' closer until Craig Kimbrel is ready to join the roster -- a move that seems a week or so away from happening.

Strop got the final out of the game Sunday to pick up the save in a 5-1 victory over the Cardinals.

Called upon to protect a four-run lead after Carl Edwards Jr. walked a pair of batters in the ninth inning, Strop needed only one pitch to retire Matt Carpenter on a groundout and pick up his seventh save. Though he has pitched well as the Cubs' closer this season, converting seven of nine save chances and allowing one run or less in 14 of 15 appearances, Strop figures to move to a setup role when Craig Kimbrel is added to the roster within the next three weeks.

Strop allowed a solo home run but struck out two in an inning of relief and still nailed down a save in a 3-1 victory over the Cardinals on Friday.

Working with a three-run lead, Strop had a big enough cushion to allow a solo shot and still record his sixth save. He retired the other three batters he faced, but the homer didn't help his ERA. Strop is 6-for-8 in save chances with a 4.97 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 13 strikeouts in 12.2 innings.

Strop (hamstring) fired a scoreless ninth inning to record the save in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Rockies.

Strop was activated from the injured list before the game, and any thought that the Cubs would ease him back into action with low-leverage work was tossed out the window when they trotted him out for the ninth inning. The 33-year-old righty recorded 13 saves and posted a 2.26 ERA for Chicago in 2018, and it looks like he'll be the team's top endgame option for now, with Brandon Morrow (elbow) potentially factoring into the mix at some point this season.

Strop (hamstring) was activated from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

Strop had been dealing with a strained left hamstring since early May. He recorded a poor 5.06 ERA in 10.2 innings prior to suffering the injury but should still be in line for a good number of save chances now that he's healthy, as he had four of the Cubs' six saves prior to hitting the injured list. Dillon Maples was sent to Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move.

Strop (hamstring) will make another rehab appearance Sunday for Triple-A Iowa, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Strop was originally expected to make just two rehab appearances but apparently requires a third outing despite pitching quite well in his first two. Regardless, he appears to be close to returning to Chicago and could do so sometime next week.

Strop (hamstring) pitched a 1-2-3 inning at Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, and he has now tossed two scoreless innings with a hit allowed and a strikeout across two rehab outings.

Strop has been efficient in his two outings as well, needing just 13 pitches to get through the two innings. The Cubs originally planned for the righty reliever to make two rehab appearances, so his next time pitching could come at the MLB level. Strop last pitched for the Cubs on May 6.

Strop (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

It was unclear whether Strop would need a rehab assignment before returning to the Cubs. However, given his three-week absence, the team has opted for him to complete a few warmup outings. Assuming there are no setbacks in his recovery, he should be activated from the injured list after making two appearances for Iowa, one on Tuesday night and another Thursday.