The Cubs went into the trade deadline looking for pitching help, and they got aggressive about it. Chicago added arms for both the rotation and the bullpen, with right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn coming over from the Los Angeles Angels as part of that relief push.
At the time, Zeferjahn looked like the kind of reliever who could slide into a meaningful late-game role. That plan has started to wobble fast.
Friday’s extra-inning loss to the Seattle Mariners was another rough checkpoint for Zeferjahn, who took the loss for Chicago and suffered his first defeat in a Cubs uniform. It came right after his previous outing, when he picked up his first blown save since the trade.
The bigger concern is that there’s no obvious warning sign in the numbers behind the stuff. Zeferjahn hasn’t shown any drop in velocity or spin rate on his off-speed pitches, which makes the fix less about raw arsenal and more about getting him back to the pitcher he was with the Angels, when he posted a 3.59 ERA.
Chicago has a couple of ways to handle it. One would be a 15-day IL stint, giving Zeferjahn time to reset and sort out what’s gone sideways since the move. Another would be easing him into much lower-leverage spots so the pressure comes down a notch.
Either way, the Cubs need him to get right. If they’re going to make a run past the NLDS for the first time since 2017, a productive Zeferjahn has to be part of the equation.
In Other News...
Angels Suddenly Face A Nolan Schanuel Problem During Stretch Run
The Angels stretch run took a hit when Nolan Schanuel landed on the 10-day injured list with a right intercostal strain, removing one of their more stable pieces at first base just as the schedule starts tightening up. Schanuel had been hurt in a recent game, and the club also lost outfielder Wade Meckler to the 7-day concussion injured list after another recent setback, forcing the roster to absorb two more absences at once.
To fill the openings, Los Angeles recalled outfielder Gustavo Campero and infielder Christian Moore, a reminder of how quickly the margin for error disappears in September. For an Angels team already trying to piece together production and health at the same time, Schanuels absence leaves a real question about how long they can hold things together at first base while waiting for bodies to come back. [Read more 🡒]
Christian Moore Gets Another Angels Shot At A Crucial Time
Christian Moore is back in the Angels lineup at a moment when the roster is getting stretched thinner by the day. Recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake, Moore started at second base and got his first Major League action since June 26, while Gustavo Campero also returned and drew the start in left field as the club shuffled pieces to cover new openings.
Nolan Schanuels move to the 10-day injured list with a right intercostal muscle strain created one of those openings, and Wade Mecklers placement on the seven-day concussion injured list added another. For Moore, this is another chance to make an impression in a situation where the Angels need answers quickly, and the way he handles this latest look could matter beyond just one game. [Read more 🡒]
Angels GM Search Will Show If Arte Moreno Has Really Changed
The Angels are back in familiar territory, sorting through a front-office opening with the season still unfolding and an interim hand on the wheel. John Mozeliak has stepped in after Perry Minasians dismissal, and for now his deal lasts only through the end of the year, which leaves the club facing a question that goes beyond one hire: whether this search is really about finding a long-term baseball chief or simply bridging the gap until the next decision point.
That question sits at the heart of how this process plays out under Arte Moreno, whose management style has long shaped the organizations reputation around the league. There is also the matter of where team president Molly Jolly fits into the power structure, because any meaningful change in the Angels front office will depend on more than just the rsum of the next general manager. The search should reveal whether the club is ready for a cleaner, more stable setup, or whether old habits still have the upper hand. [Read more 🡒]