There is no question that the Cubs’ bullpen has been a surprise this year. It is filled with little to no big names and was not highly praised going into the year. Although the start of the year was rocky for the arms in the pen, they have turned it around, boasting a 0.82 bullpen ERA since May 14th, which leads the league. Additionally, their 3.30 season ERA puts them in 4th place among National League teams. While this is all amazing, some of the names in Chicago’s bullpen may surprise some people.
The Stars of the Cubs’ Bullpen
For starters, the Cubs’ bullpen has no shortage of veteran pitchers. Caleb Thielbar is thirty-eight years old, Ryan Pressly is thirty-six, and Drew Pomeranz is also thirty-six and had not pitched since the 2021 MLB season before this one. Chris Flexen, Brad Keller, and Daniel Palencia are the other three primary relievers.
While their ages may appear unsettling, the numbers speak for themselves. Both Pomeranz and Flexen have a 0.00 ERA in 15.1 and 17.1 IP, respectively. Thielbar’s ERA is 1.85 in 24.1 innings pitched. Palencia’s is 1.96 in 23.0 innings pitched. Brad Keller may be the most impressive with 31.2 innings pitched and only a 1.99 ERA. Pressly’s ERA is at 3.96, but it is inflated due to an outing allowing 8 ER in 0.0 IP against the Giants. He has allowed 0 runs in 22 out of his last 23 appearances, other than the Giants game. All these numbers appear outstanding and seem to give Cubs fans high hopes. But will these arms hold for the rest of the season and into the postseason?
The Potential Falloff
While no fan wants to admit it, no pitching staff is ever bulletproof. There is the potential for injuries or simply poor pitching for most teams. Do the Cubs have to worry about this? Three of the six pitchers mentioned above are thirty-six years of age or older. The youngest of the group is twenty-five. While knowledge of the game does come with age, so can an increased risk of injury and a decline in performance. Ryan Pressly has shown that he can blow up, and with Thielbar and Pomeranz also being relatively old, they may too.
While the injury bug has stayed in the Cubs’ starting rotation for the most part this year, it can come at any time for any team. Most of the Cubs relievers have had various injuries in the past, some being worse than others. Pomeranz has had numerous issues, primarily an elbow injury that sidelined him for the entire 2023 season. Palencia also had a minor shoulder injury last season. While no Cubs fan wants or even believes that any of these problems could arise this year, they are not entirely unlikely, as it is always a possibility for any team. For the Cubs to have a real shot at winning the World Series, their bullpen must stay healthy and in prime condition.
Main Photo Credits: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
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