The Chicago Cubs are close enough to the postseason that the race itself is barely the story anymore. The bigger question is whether this team can actually survive October with the bullpen it has right now.
The lineup is carrying the club. Chicago’s position-player group has been the best in baseball this season, and that only gets stronger when Dansby Swanson returns.
The rotation got a boost at the deadline with Kevin Gausman and especially Clay Holmes, but even that group still leaves some uncertainty behind it. The bullpen, though, is where the alarm bells are loudest.
Daniel Palencia was supposed to help steady things. Instead, his return from injury has become another problem for Craig Counsell to solve.
When Palencia is right, he’s easily one of Chicago’s best relievers. Last season, he posted a 2.91 ERA with 22 saves in 54 appearances.
That version of Palencia would be a huge weapon in October. The current one looks far less trustworthy.
This year, Palencia carries a 4.70 ERA, and the underlying numbers point in the same direction. The more troubling part is how much his stuff has slipped.
As Bleacher Nation’s Brett Taylor noted, Palencia hasn’t been missing bats the way he used to. In September, he has allowed more walks (2) and as many homers (1) as strikeouts, and he logged just his second whiff of the month in the series opener against the Pirates.
Across his first 75 pitches in September, he has generated only two whiffs. That’s a rough sign, especially with a fastball that’s no longer touching triple digits.
At this point, it’s hard to make a strong case for Palencia as a high-leverage option in October. Maybe that changes if his stuff rebounds over the next week or so, because relievers can turn quickly. But unless that happens, the Cubs have to start planning as if he can’t be counted on in the late innings.
That’s where the real problem starts. There just aren’t many reliable alternatives.
The idea of Shelby Miller, Jaxon Wiggins, or even Justin Steele coming up from Triple-A and saving the bullpen sounds nice, but that’s not something the Cubs can bank on. Webb might sort things out after blowing three save attempts in two weeks, but that’s more hope than plan.
Right now, the only relief arms actually producing in the majors are Aaron Civale and Ryan Rolison. That isn’t enough to get a team through October.
Chicago is going to need someone else to step forward, whether that’s Webb, Ryan Zeferjahn, or even Steele returning from rehab. If nobody does, the Cubs’ postseason run could get short in a hurry.
In Other News...
Cubs Could Finally Face The Front Office Shakeup Fans Want
Carter Hawkins has quietly become a name to watch beyond Wrigley Field, with the Cubs general manager reportedly drawing interest as a candidate for front office openings around Major League Baseball. The timing matters for Chicago, because the landscape around the league is shifting, and recent changes with clubs such as the Astros and Angels have created the kind of vacancies that can pull experienced executives into bigger opportunities.
For the Cubs, Hawkins leaving would be more than a routine personnel move. It could force a broader rethink of how the front office is structured and who holds the final say on baseball decisions, especially if Hawkins is looking for a job that gives him full control. In a sport where executive hierarchy shapes everything from roster construction to long-term planning, his next step could end up carrying real consequences for Chicago. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs May Have Found A Crucial Bullpen Answer For The Stretch Run
The Cubs got a late-season bullpen boost when they activated Edward Cabrera from the 15-day injured list and made it clear hell work out of relief for the rest of the year. His return comes at a useful time for a club trying to steady the back end of games, and it also gives Craig Counsell another option as the pennant race tightens up.
Trent Thornton landing on the injured list with left ankle soreness opened a spot, but Cabreras arrival is the bigger development for Chicagos immediate plans. Counsell sounded encouraged about what the right-hander can bring in this role, and the Cubs will spend the stretch run finding out whether this is the kind of bullpen answer that can matter when every game starts to feel a little more permanent. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Face A Tough Spencer Strider Question This Offseason
The Cubs have been paying close attention to the pitching market under Jed Hoyer, and that means keeping an eye on every creative path other clubs explore to solve a rotation problem. Atlantas willingness to discuss Spencer Strider in a possible deal for Jacob deGrom did not go unnoticed in Chicago, especially for a team that has built a reputation for looking for unconventional ways to address pitching needs.
Striders appeal is obvious, but so are the questions around him, from his injury history to the uncertainty created by his recent performance. The Braves would also be asking for a significant return, and that is where the Cubs run into the real difficulty of matching the price. A trade involving Strider this offseason is not out of the question, but Chicago may have a hard time finding itself in the center of it. [Read more 🡒]