Edward Cabrera’s big move to the bullpen for the Chicago Cubs? Yeah, it absolutely blew up in their face on Tuesday night. The dude just served up a two-run homer in the ninth inning against the Braves, and suddenly, their bullpen problem isn’t just a nagging issue. It’s a full-blown, fire-breathing emergency, and they’ve got less than two weeks to figure it out before the MLB postseason kicks off. Talk about coming up short when it matters most!
Cabrera’s Messy Transition Is A Disaster
Man, the Cubs thought they had a real gem on their hands picking up Edward Cabrera over the offseason. They banked on him being that “difference-maker” at the top of their rotation, the ace. But let’s be real, it just never clicked. He only put up a rough 5.68 ERA in 15 starts, constantly battling an onslaught of injuries: blister issues, adductor and hamstring strains. The guy simply couldn’t gain any real momentum. So, what’s a team to do? They tried to pivot. After he finally came off the injured list on Saturday, they shifted him into the bullpen, hoping he could be that late-game weapon, a “Roki Sasaki for the Dodgers last October” type shutdown guy. But nope. His “first outing did not go smoothly,” to put it mildly. Tuesday’s performance was only his third appearance ever as a reliever in his entire six-year career, and it painfully showed. Giving up that crushing two-run bomb when you’re supposed to be a “weapon”? That’s not the kind of impact Chicago fans were hoping for.
The Bullpen’s Urgent Clock Is Ticking LOUD
And it’s not just Cabrera’s rough patch; the entire Cubs bullpen is a giant, anxious question mark. Jacob Webb? He’s been shaky, allowing at least two runs in three of his last five outings. That’s just brutal when every game feels like it matters, and you’re trying to keep things locked down. The whole point of a reliable bullpen is to bridge that critical gap, a solid connection between your starting pitcher and your closer, Daniel Palencia. Right now, the Cubs’ bullpen feels more like a gaping, unpredictable chasm than a dependable bridge. They’re clearly attempting to put the puzzle pieces together, trying anything, but the results haven’t been pretty thus far. This isn’t just about winning games; figuring out which relievers are best to be on that potential postseason roster should be the absolute top priority for the Cubs. Time is definitely ticking loud, with less than two weeks to go, and their relief situation is anything but settled.
So, what’s the game plan now? With less than two weeks left to clean up this absolute mess, the Cubs are in a full-blown scramble to find some reliable arms. Can they actually figure out who can consistently get outs and stop the bleeding for good before the postseason arrives? They *have* to, or it’s gonna be a super short, super frustrating October for Chicago.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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