Nate Pearson's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Nate Pearson has been traded to the Chicago Cubs, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com. Pearson has struggled this season with a 5.63 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, and a 17:51 BB:K ratio across 40 innings. The 27-year-old has typically been deployed in the seventh and eighth innings of games. Despite his poor ratios, Pearson carries a strong 28.0% K rate and 28.2% whiff rate which place him in the top 84th and 72nd percentile among all pitchers, respectively. Pearson will likely have a similar high-leverage role in the Cubs bullpen and could earn a handful of save opportunities in the second half of the season.UPDATE: The Blue Jays will receive infielder Josh Rivera and outfielder Yhendrick Pinango in exchange for Pearson. Rivera was considered Chicago's No. 23 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, while Pinango was ranked as the Cubs' No. 29 prospect.

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Nate Pearson managed to secure his first save of the season in Monday's 6-5 win over the Royals. Pearson came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by one. He allowed a leadoff single, got the first two outs on a groundout and a line-out, allowed another single, and stranded the tying run at third with a strikeout. Closer Jordan Romano had pitched in each of the last two days, so Pearson was called upon. The former prospect has a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings of work this season, but his fantasy value will remain limited until he can routinely earn high-leverage situations.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Nate Pearson is working on a new split-fingered fastball in camp as another pitch to complement his arsenal. "We're still working on it, but he threw some really good ones today that could be really effective at the major-league level," pitching coach Pete Walker said. Pearson is competing for a spot in the bullpen at spring training this year, and the Blue Jays view him as someone who could pitch up to three innings for them in relief. The 27-year-old hard-throwing righty has been set back by injuries early in his MLB career and continues to try and find his niche at the major-league level. So far in three seasons in Toronto, he has a 5.00 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with one save and 79 strikeouts in 75 2/3 innings over 52 outings (five starts). Pearson could eventually become a high-leverage reliever, but he can be avoided for now in most fantasy leagues.