Zeferjahn notched a save against the Pirates on Saturday by striking out the only batter he faced.
Chicago took a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth inning and began the ninth with Ryan Rolison, who had already completed one frame, on the mound. Rolison gave up an infield single followed by two outs, and manager Craig Counsell then turned to Zeferjahn, who struck out Bryan Reynolds on six pitches to slam the door shut. The save was Zeferjahn's second over his past three outings dating back to Sept. 5, and no other Cubs reliever has logged a save during that stretch. Jacob Webb and Daniel Palencia have both had their share of struggles of late, so Zeferjahn could be sneaking into the closer mix late in the campaign, though it's too early to say he's the team's primary ninth-inning option.
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Cubs' Ryan Zeferjahn: Records first save with Cubs
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Zeferjahn tossed 1.2 scoreless innings of relief to earn the save in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Marlins. He walked one and struck out one.
With regular closer Jacob Webb (forearm) remaining out of action, Zeferjahn recorded his fifth save of the season and first since Aug. 2, when he was still a member of the Angels before getting traded to Chicago a day later. The righty reliever hasn't been particularly sharp with the Cubs yet, as he's recorded a 5.68 ERA across 12.2 innings with his new team. Zeferjahn still misses plenty of bats, and he should be given chances to turn things around down the stretch as a key member of Chicago's bullpen.
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Cubs' Ryan Zeferjahn: Takes first loss with new team
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Zeferjahn (4-4) allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk while retiring two batters to take the loss in Friday's 6-5 extra-inning defeat to the Mariners.
Zeferjahn was tasked with working the bottom of the 10th inning in a 5-5 game, and he ended up serving up a walk-off single to Leo Rivas. It was the righty's first loss since he joined the Cubs at the trade deadline, with his last defeat coming back in May when he was with the Angels. Zeferjahn has struggled a bit with his new team, as he now has a 5.87 ERA and 1.96 WHIP across 7.2 innings in eight appearances. He does at least have a strong 12.9 K/9 in a Chicago uniform.
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Cubs' Ryan Zeferjahn: Lands with Cubs via trade
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The Cubs acquired Zeferjahn from the Angels on Monday in exchange for catcher Moises Ballesteros and right-hander Mason McGwire, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Zeferjahn will bolster a Cubs bullpen that desperately needed help. Given the current complexion of the Cubs' relief crew, Zeferjahn could serve as the closer, though the Cubs could make further additions leading up Monday's deadline. Additionally, Daniel Palencia (elbow) appears to be close to beginning a rehab assignment and moving toward an eventual return from the injured list. Zeferjahn holds a 3.66 ERA and 75:32 K:BB over 51.2 innings for the Angels this season, logging four saves along the way. He's under team control through 2030.
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Angels' Ryan Zeferjahn: Secures five-out save
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Zeferjahn allowed two hits and struck out four without walking a batter over 1.2 scoreless innings to earn the save in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Brewers.
Zeferjahn came in during the eighth inning after Sam Bachman (arm) was lifted due to fatigue. While it wasn't quick and tidy from there, Zeferjahn threw 24 of 30 pitches for strikes and worked around a pair of singles to preserve the lead. He's given up three runs, nine hits, two walks and two hit batsmen while striking out 21 over his last 12.1 innings, adding two saves and three holds in that span. Zeferjahn is at a 3.66 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 75:32 K:BB through 51.2 innings this season. He has held onto a high-leverage spot for most of the campaign, collecting four saves and nine holds for the worst team in the majors.
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Angels' Ryan Zeferjahn: Picks up second save
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Zeferjahn walked one and struck out one without allowing a hit or a run in one-third of an inning to earn the save in Friday's 4-3 win over the Rays.
Mitch Farris worked in long relief despite this being a close game, but he ran into trouble in the ninth inning. He left runners on the corners after Jonathan Aranda's RBI single, and Zeferjahn was brought in. Zeferjahn walked Junior Caminero but struck out Cedric Mullins to end the threat. Over his last 12 outings, Zeferjahn has allowed nine runs (eight earned) across 10.1 innings with a 12:14 K:BB in that span. Kirby Yates has struggled this season and blew his most recent save chance, and though he remains the most likely Angels reliever to receive save chances, the bullpen is far from set in stone. On the year, Zeferjahn has 5.06 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 41:25 K:BB with two saves, five holds and two blown saves over 32 innings.
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Angels' Ryan Zeferjahn: Notches save Tuesday
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Zeferjahn earned a save against the White Sox on Tuesday, issuing two walks and striking out three batters over 1.1 hitless and scoreless innings.
Zeferjahn entered with two outs and a runner on first base with a one-run lead in the top of the eighth inning. He struck out Munetaka Murakami on three pitches, then remained in the game for the ninth. The right-hander was much less steady in that frame, hitting one batter with a pitch and walking two others to load the bases. However, Zeferjahn was able to wiggle out of the jam by getting Edgar Quero to ground out to end the contest. Overall, Zeferjahn threw just 16 of 33 pitches for strikes, though it's notable that he picked up the Angels' first save since Jordan Romano, who has since been released, notched a save against Atlanta on April 6. It's also notable that Kirby Yates, who was activated from the IL on Tuesday and is the most experienced closer in the team's bullpen, wasn't called upon with a late lead Tuesday. The Angels have the league's second-worst record, and their ninth-inning situation is as ambiguous as any in baseball, so fantasy managers may be wise to avoid reading too much into Zeferjahn's save Tuesday unless he follows it up with additional closing opportunities.
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Angels' Ryan Zeferjahn: Blows save chance Wednesday
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Zeferjahn blew his first save chance of the season in Wednesday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the White Sox, allowing one run on one hit over two innings. He struck out four without walking a batter.
The right-hander was called upon to get the final six outs with the Angels up 2-1, but Zeferjahn couldn't quite get his team across the finish line, hitting Tristan Peters with a pitch before Sam Antonacci tied the game with a two-out triple. The Halos' closer situation is wide open with Jordan Romano having been cut loose over the weekend, and while it's encouraging that Zeferjahn was entrusted with the save opportunity, he still failed to get the job done. Through 16.1 innings over 11 appearances this season, he's stumbled to a 5.51 ERA despite a 1.16 WHIP, 21:8 K:BB and zero homers allowed. Drew Pomeranz, who got tagged with the loss in the 10th inning, and Chase Silseth are also likely in the closing mix, with Kirby Yates (knee) and Ben Joyce (shoulder) inching closer to coming off the IL and tossing their hats in the ring, as well.
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Angels' Ryan Zeferjahn: Impresses in appearance
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Zeferjahn went 1.2 innings allowing no runs and zero hits while striking out one batter in an 11-9 loss in extra innings to Kansas City on Sunday.
Zeferjahn entered the game in the seventh inning and picked up his third hold of the season. The right-hander was able to maintain the 7-5 lead before Drew Pomeranz blew the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, sending the game into extra innings. The 28-year-old had one of his better outings after previously allowing at least one earned run in five of his first nine appearances this campaign.
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Angels' Ryan Zeferjahn: Worst outing of spring
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Zeferjahn went two-thirds of an inning, allowing three runs, courtesy of two long balls, on four hits while walking one batter in a 7-7 tie against the Dodgers on Monday.
Zeferjahn appeared in eight games this spring for the Angels, posting a 5.23 ERA in 10.1 innings. The right-hander, who made 12 appearances in 2024, completed his first full season with a 4.74 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 62 appearances for Los Angeles in 2025. The 28-year-old will likely be in the mix for high-leverage opportunities immediately given the bullpen depth has been gravely impacted by injuries to Kirby Yates (knee inflammation), Ben Joyce (shoulder surgery rehab), both of whom require stints on the 15-day injured list to begin the new campaign, and Robert Stephenson (elbow), who was placed on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.
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Angels' Ryan Zeferjahn: Placed on IL with knee tendinitis
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The Angels placed Zeferjahn on the 15-day injured list Saturday due to right knee tendinitis.
Zeferjahn recorded two outs in Friday's loss to the Athletics but allowed one run on one hit and two walks with one strikeout. With Zeferjahn off to the injured list, the Angels recalled Chase Silseth from Triple-A Salt Late. Zeferjahn owns a 4.77 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 72:33 K:BB across 54.2 innings this season.
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Angels' Ryan Zeferjahn: Yields five runs in blown save
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Zeferjahn (5-2) was tagged with a blown save and the loss in the Angels' 8-3 defeat to Atlanta on Wednesday. He allowed five runs on four hits and two walks without recording an out.
With two on and two out, Zeferjahn replaced Yusei Kikuchi in the sixth to protect the Angels' two-run lead. That lead didn't last long, as the first pitch Zeferjahn threw was smacked deep to left-center field by Sean Murphy for a three-run homer. Things didn't get better for Zeferjahn, who allowed the next three runners on base before giving up a grand slam, and he ended his outing tossing just seven of 16 pitches for strikes. Zeferjahn has given up at least one run in four of his last five outings and has logged three blown saves in that span. Wednesday's outing ballooned his numbers to a 6.19 ERA and 1.59 WHIP across 32 innings this season.
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Angels' Ryan Zeferjahn: Notches eighth hold
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Zeferjahn recorded a hold against the Athletics on Thursday, allowing one hit and issuing one walk while striking out one batter in one scoreless inning.
Zeferjahn entered in the eighth inning with the Angels up two runs and quickly got into trouble, allowing a walk and a single to the first two batters he faced. However, the righty reliever then induced a double-play groundout before striking out Brent Rooker to escape the jam. Zeferjahn has claimed a high-leverage role in a beleaguered Angels bullpen -- he's registered a hold in five straight outings to move into the team lead with eight this season. His 4.50 ERA and 1.50 WHIP on the campaign aren't great, but he has 26 punchouts (along with 10 walks) in 18 frames while adding two wins and a save.
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Angels' Ryan Zeferjahn: Scoops up win in relief
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Zeferjahn (hamstring) claimed his first win of the season in Sunday's 6-2 victory over the Guardians, tossing a scoreless inning of relief while striking out three batters and giving up one hit.
After being removed from his relief appearance in Friday's 8-6 loss due to a sore right hamstring, Zeferjahn received Saturday off before the Angels made him available for the series finale. Tasked with protecting a 2-2 lead in the top of the sixth inning, Zeferjahn worked around a leadoff infield single before striking out Kyle Manzardo, Jhonkensy Noel and Gabriel Arias in succession. Zeferjahn ended up getting credit for the win after Jorge Soler hit a home run in the bottom of the sixth to give the Angels a lead that they maintained for the rest of the afternoon.
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Angels' Ryan Zeferjahn: Likely unavailable Saturday
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Zeferjahn (hamstring) is likely unavailable Saturday against the Guardians, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Zeferjahn was removed from Friday's game with the hamstring issue. The exact timeline for his return remains unclear, though the Angels' bullpen looks likely to be shorthanded again Saturday.
