The 2025 MLB season has brought fresh challenges to some of baseball’s most dominant relievers. Names like Emmanuel Clase, Devin Williams, and Ryan Pressly have all encountered tough stretches, leaving fans and pundits alike searching for answers. Let’s explore what’s happening on the mound, why these struggles are surfacing, and what could help these All-Star relievers regain their form.

Unpacking the Early Toughness for MLB’s Elite Relievers

Major League Baseball’s 2025 season started rocky for several closers. Cleveland Guardians’ Emmanuel Clase, who put up historic numbers in 2024, saw his ERA balloon to 5.51 through April (ESPN analysis). Clase gave up more hits in the opening month than he typically allows in half a season, leading some to question whether his dominance was fading.

But Clase has plenty of company. Devin Williams, traded to the Yankees, lost his closing job after a disastrous opening stretch. Ryan Pressly, now in Chicago, experienced one of the worst relief outings in recent MLB history. Even Raisel Iglesias of the Braves, last year’s model of consistency, has struggled with the long ball.

These relievers are not rookies—they’re established MLB stars. Yet, early results show that no one is immune to slumps, especially under the relentless schedule and spotlight of major league baseball.

Digging Into Emmanuel Clase’s Specific Challenges

What makes Clase’s 2025 struggles especially puzzling is how different they appear compared to his prior campaigns. After a brief rest due to shoulder fatigue, Clase has bounced back with some success, but inconsistencies remain (cleveland.com update). Guardians’ manager Stephen Vogt opted against the injured list, instead giving Clase a short eighth-inning “rehab” before restoring him as closer.

Performance numbers highlight the volatility: Clase’s velocity is fine, his swing-and-miss rates are still above league average, but his location has betrayed him. Pitches have been left over the plate more often, allowing harder contact and elevated launch angles. This year, hitters are making solid contact, and more balls are finding holes, a theme noted by experts across the MLB landscape.

The Defensive Factor: How Team Fielding Amplifies Struggles

Pitchers depend on their defense, and the Guardians’ infield is not what it was in 2024. According to a FanGraphs deep dive, Cleveland’s defensive metrics have plummeted, especially in Outs Above Average (OAA). Last season, Clase benefited from elite fielding behind him, but in 2025, the gloves are letting him down.

Clase also exposes one lesser-discussed reality about MLB relievers—luck and defense play a major role. Many of the balls put in play against him are finding gaps or bouncing just past fielders, a result of both weaker team defense and natural variance. Clase himself has also struggled on comebackers, failing to field his position cleanly at times.

Bright Spots and Recovery Paths

Despite the rough start, there are reasons for optimism. Clase has shown flashes of dominance when healthy, posting a string of scoreless, high-leverage outings since returning from shoulder fatigue. Williams and Pressly, too, have had short but encouraging stretches. Sometimes, the solution is as simple as regaining confidence and fine-tuning mechanics.

It’s also still early in the season. Advanced stats suggest that some of the struggles are driven by small sample sizes and unusually bad luck. With improved location and even average defense, many believe these MLB relievers will soon resemble the closers fans have come to trust.

Conclusion: MLB’s Bullpen Rollercoaster Is Nothing New

The 2025 MLB season reminds fans that even the game’s best relievers can run into trouble. For Emmanuel Clase and others, a combination of mechanics, defense, and plain old baseball luck are all in the mix. As the season unfolds, look for these talented arms to make the adjustments needed for a turnaround—and for the ongoing storylines that make MLB relief pitching so endlessly fascinating.

For a deeper look at Emmanuel Clase’s season and bullpen trends, check out ESPN’s MLB relievers analysis and the insightful breakdown of defensive impacts on FanGraphs.