Shelby Miller is moving closer to a Cubs debut, and the timing could not be better for a bullpen that still needs help.
The right-hander is less than a year removed from elbow surgery, and yet he’s already on the verge of getting back to the majors. That’s a faster timeline than anyone expected when Chicago gave him a two-year deal last offseason, especially since the assumption was that he might not even be a factor during the 2026 season. Instead, the 35-year-old has pushed ahead of schedule and looked strong in his rehab work.
Miller has logged five rehab outings entering the weekend, with one appearance for Double-A Tennessee and four for the Iowa Cubs. The ERA sits at 5.79, but that number doesn’t tell the whole story over such a tiny 4 2/3-inning sample. He has thrown two scoreless appearances, posted an 8:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and, most notably, has been getting his fastball up to 96 MPH.
That kind of velocity matters even more given where he’s coming from. Miller had his UCL reconstructed last October, and the fact that he’s already flashing that kind of life on his heater is a strong sign.
Still, the Cubs are not rushing this. Craig Counsell recently said the club is being extra careful with Miller’s rehab, which makes sense considering he’s returning from his second Tommy John surgery. As reported, the team is being cautious with his recovery between appearances, but he is trending toward being someone who could help in September.
If he gets all the way back, Miller could end up being one of the most important additions the Cubs made last winter - even if it wasn’t the splashy kind of bullpen move they never made at the trade deadline. Chicago could use the help. The relief group has been stretched thin, and Miller has the stuff to fit into a setup role if he keeps progressing.
That reality also says plenty about the state of the bullpen right now. Jacob Webb is the only arm the Cubs can really trust in save situations, and he’s been asked to carry a heavy load. His 57 appearances are already nearing his career high, and he has been used in back-to-back games multiple times in August.
Daniel Palencia is back on the active roster, but his rough minor league outings mean he still has work to do before the Cubs can lean on him in big spots again. Ryan Zeferjahn, the bullpen arm Chicago targeted at the deadline, has not delivered so far, posting a 7.50 ERA in his first seven outings with the team. Phil Maton’s $5.5 million gamble has also not gone as planned.
So while Miller’s comeback is impressive on its own, it also looms as something bigger for Chicago. A healthy version of him could matter a lot when the playoffs arrive, especially with other injured pitchers like Ben Brown and Justin Steele also in the mix.
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The more immediate wrinkle is what this means for the rest of the offseason picture. Wiggins is Rule 5 eligible this winter, so the Cubs will have to decide whether his recent work in relief makes him worthy of a 40-man roster spot. If the bullpen look keeps going well, Chicago could have a real decision on its hands long before the winter meetings arrive. [Read more 🡒]