With the playoffs drawing closer, the Cubs’ bullpen remains the team’s biggest unresolved issue. The lineup can carry plenty of weight in October, but if the relief corps doesn’t settle in, that kind of run support may not matter much.
That’s why Ryan Zeferjahn has become such a focal point. Chicago acquired him at the deadline believing it had added a bullpen arm with real upside, and the appeal went beyond the fact that he’s under control through the 2031 season. His early-season work with the Los Angeles Angels had him mentioned alongside Mason Miller when people were talking about pure stuff.
The first month in Chicago didn’t look like that pitcher. Through his first 11 innings with the Cubs, Zeferjahn carried a 4.91 ERA.
He was still missing bats, but the overall line was messy: a 1.55 WHIP and opponents hitting .289 against him. With chatter building that he could become the team’s closer before the season ends, those opening struggles had plenty of fans wondering whether Jed Hoyer’s deadline move had gone sideways.
That conversation may be shifting now.
Over his last five outings, Zeferjahn has started to look more like the leverage arm the Cubs hoped they were getting. Four of those five appearances were scoreless, and the lone exception came when he entered a dirty inning against the Milwaukee Brewers on September 7.
The walks have still been part of the picture during that stretch, but the strikeout rate has held strong. Zeferjahn has punched out more than 27% of the hitters he’s faced over those five outings, and opponents are batting just .200 against him. It’s not a full breakout yet, but it is a clear step in the right direction.
A pitch mix adjustment may be driving the turnaround. In August, Zeferjahn leaned heavily on his fastball and slider, throwing the fastball 46.7% of the time and the slider 45.1%. His sinker barely showed up at all, used less than 1% of the time.
The Cubs believed more sinkers could be the key, and that has shown up in his recent usage. Over his last five appearances, Zeferjahn has thrown the sinker 37% of the time.
He’s still leaning on the slider more than 43% of the time, but the fastball usage has fallen to 19.2%. It’s still a small sample, but the results have started to match the adjustment.
For a Cubs team under the microscope when it comes to pitching development, Zeferjahn’s recent run is at least a sign that the machinery is still producing something useful when it matters most.
In Other News...
Kevin Alcntara May Have Just Reopened His Cubs Roster Path
Late in the 2026 season, Kevin Alcntara has started getting work at first base for Triple-A Iowa, a move that could give the Cubs another reason to keep him on the radar heading toward 2027. The 22-year-old outfielder has long been viewed as one of the organizations more interesting young talents, but adding a new position changes the conversation around him, especially for a club that values flexibility and needs to keep finding ways to fit right-handed depth onto the roster.
For Chicago, the timing matters. Alcntara is out of minor-league options, so the Cubs cant simply stash him in Iowa again if he shows enough to belong in the majors, and first base is an area where the team may want a capable bench piece behind Michael Busch. With some upcoming free-agent departures potentially thinning the mix, Alcntaras versatility could be more than a side note now, it might be the clearest path back to Wrigley when roster decisions get serious. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Suddenly Have A Matthew Boyd Problem At The Worst Time
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Instead, both pitchers have raised concerns at the same moment. Gausman has struggled to find his footing since arriving in Chicago, and Boyd has faded over his recent outings, leaving the Cubs with a late-season decision that carries more weight than anyone would like. With the postseason approaching, the question is not just who gets the ball after Holmes, but whether the Cubs can trust the rotation order they thought they were building. [Read more 🡒]
Craig Counsell Just Raised The Stakes For Edward Cabrera
Edward Cabrera is back with the club after being reinstated from the injured list and shifting into the bullpen, though the right-hander did not get into the recent series against the Pirates. Even so, his return has already become a talking point because Craig Counsell framed him as more than just another arm in relief, pointing to the possibility of a bigger postseason job if the Cubs need it.
Counsells comparison to Roki Sasakis impact out of the Dodgers bullpen last October gives the idea some real weight, but Cabrera also arrives with questions attached. His recent metrics have been uneven, with a high home run rate and pitch effectiveness trending in the wrong direction, which leaves Chicago balancing the upside of his stuff against the risk that comes with it. [Read more 🡒]