Ryan Brasier DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

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.