Forget Alex Bregman getting beaned by a foul ball, because the real headache for the Chicago Cubs right now is brewing in their bullpen. Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller just laid it out: the biggest worry isn’t Bregman’s injury, it’s a relief corps that looks like it’s completely lost its way. Bregman, who shared social media photos after X-rays and CT scans for the foul ball to the face he took Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds, has an unclear recovery timeline, but Miller says the Cubs should be far more concerned with what’s happening at the back end of their games.
The Bullpen Is A Disaster
The situation with Chicago’s bullpen and closer is a “nightmare,” according to Miller. Seriously, it’s bad. Their former closer, Jacob Webb, is straight-up reeling. We’re talking a 12.91 ERA, four blown saves, and zero successful saves in his last nine appearances. Zero! That’s not just bad, that’s historically bad for someone who used to be *the* guy they called on to shut it down. Miller noted that right now, only “bulk relievers” Aaron Civale and Javier Assad seem to be capable of recording outs for the Cubs as of late. When you’re leaning on “bulk relievers” to just get outs, you know you’re in trouble.
Palencia To The Rescue?
There’s a glimmer of hope, though. Right-hander Daniel Palencia has been lights out lately, not giving up a single earned run in his last six trips to the mound. The dude’s got the heat, and he’s familiar with the closer’s role. Could he be the answer to stop the bleeding and save their season? The Cubs have one of the best offenses in baseball, no doubt, with guys like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, and Ian Happ capable of scoring in bunches. But what does that matter if you can’t hold a slim lead? It’s going to take an “extraordinary offensive effort” from those guys to keep putting up runs if this bullpen can’t lock it down.
The Cubs are staring down a situation where their bats might have to carry them through every single game. Can Palencia really step up and own that ninth inning, or are we going to see this potent offense get wasted by a bullpen that can’t close the door? This team needs an answer fast if they want to avoid a true nightmare scenario as the season winds down.
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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