The Cubs' pitching flaws are being exposed as the team goes through a pivotal nine-game stretch against division rivals. They've led to a pair of disastrous results at a most inopportune time.
The bullpen has faltered late in back-to-back losses to the Brewers this weekend, suboptimal outcomes that left Chicago tied with the Brewers and a game behind the Cardinals for first place in the crowded NL Central. The Cubs will play the Brewers once more at Miller Park on Sunday and then head to St. Louis for a three-game series before hosting the Brewers for three next weekend. These games could have a large impact on the remainder of their season.
On Friday, a controversial decision by manager Joe Maddon to pull starter Kyle Hendricks after five shutout innings was followed by relievers Steve Cishek, Brandon Kintzler and the struggling Pedro Strop surrendering three runs after David Bote's home run had given Chicago a two-run lead.
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It was more of the same Saturday: The starter — this time, Jon Lester — again didn't allow a run, only to have the bullpen to fail to shut the door. There was a chance that Lester — who had only thrown 94 pitches — could start the eighth, but he was getting over an illness and asked to come out of the game.
Lester: “Not too many times I go up to Joe or Tommy...but tonight was one of them. I was gassed. The sixth and seventh inning got to me.”
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) July 28, 2019
“Today was my last day of Z-pack.”
Cishek once again couldn't get out of the eighth unscathed. He has appeared in six of the team's last eight games and is tied for fourth in the National League in appearances.
"That was going to be Cishek's inning, very simple," Maddon told reporters after the game. "Cishek was ready to go tonight, so once we got through the seventh and we were in that position, it was going to be all Cishek at that point."
Things were briefly looking up for the Cubs when Albert Almora Jr. gave them the lead with a 10th-inning home run, but Craig Kimbrel allowed two home runs and three runs total in the bottom of the 10th, making it multiple blown leads Saturday and leaving team executives Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer at a loss.
Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer after watching Christian Yelich tie the game and moments before Keston Hiura hit a walk off home run. pic.twitter.com/QIeTT0cCrT
— Cubs Live (@Cubs_Live) July 28, 2019
The Cubs' bullpen has been a mixed bag this year. The group is fifth in the NL with a 4.17 ERA but has struggled mightily of late. Its eight blown saves in July lead the NL and several big-time relievers haven't contributed much. Carl Edwards Jr., who started the season as a setup man, was recently sent to Triple-A for the second time this season. Brad Brach (6.05 ERA, 1.76 WHIP) is having the worst season of his career.
There have been some positives, however. Brandon Kintzler has bounced back after a tough 2018 and left-hander Kyle Ryan has impressed. The Cubs acquired Derek Holland from the Giants on Friday in the hope that he could be a weapon against left-handers, who are hitting just .179 against him. He retired Christian Yelich, the only batter he faced, after relieving Cishek on Saturday.
With the July 31 trade deadline approaching, the Cubs haven't been linked to the bigger relief names on the market, such as Will Smith and Ken Giles, meaning this could be the group they go with the rest of the way.
MORE: Joe Maddon explains Carl Edwards' demotion, faith in Pedro Strop
There are impressive resumes within the confines of the Chicago bullpen. Kimbrel is potential Hall of Famer, and Strop, Cishek and Kintzler have proved their worth in the late innings the past few years, so better production from them is possible. That said, losses like these two to Milwaukee are shots to the heart.
Clearly, the NL Central is up for grabs and the Cubs are in the thick of the postseason race. The bullpen becoming sturdier in the late innings could be the difference between them playing into October and not.