Ryan Zeferjahn may be starting to look like the bullpen piece the Cubs hoped they were getting.
Chicago’s trade deadline pickup has been rough in his first 12 appearances with the team, posting a 6.55 ERA. But the stuff has always been there, and now the pitch mix is starting to point in a better direction.
That showed up last Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers, when Zeferjahn delivered a rare scoreless inning and didn’t allow a baserunner in a clean 10-pitch frame. The setting mattered too: it came in a one-run game, with no room for error.
CHGO’s Brendan Miller noted that Zeferjahn leaned more heavily on his sinker in that outing, and the pairing with his slider paid off.
I thought Ryan Zeferjahn's outing in the Brewers finale was his most encouraging one as a Cub.
One goal with Zeferjahn is to throw more sinkers. You can see why.
Here's every pitch from that Brewers outing, and how the sinker and sweeper are quite difficult to pick up. pic.twitter.com/CF6997ZMbj
- Brendan Miller (@brendan_cubs) September 4, 2026
He followed that up Saturday against the Marlins with another important showing, earning a five-out save in a one-run game. Zeferjahn came on in the eighth with the tying run at second, then worked out of the danger by getting two groundouts with his sinker. He used the pitch 12 times in 19 deliveries.
That’s a notable shift for him. Before these last two outings, Zeferjahn had thrown his sinker only about 15 percent of the time. If this is the version of him the Cubs can count on, it changes the picture quickly.
And the timing matters. Chicago needs him to become a reliable setup option and, at times, a closing option too. Jacob Webb can’t handle every high-leverage spot, especially after taking a 100+ mph line drive off his forearm recently.
Webb won’t require an injured list move, but the Cubs still need more dependable arms. Right now, Zeferjahn and Ryan Rollison are basically the only relievers who clearly fit that description, unless Daniel Palencia can get back on track.
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