Major Overhaul, Similar Problems: Only one reliever, Julian Merryweather, remains from the Cubs' 2024 Opening Day bullpen, yet early results mirror last year's struggles.
Costly Meltdown: The bullpen surrendered an eight-run lead in the 8th inning against Arizona on Sunday, turning a potential win into a loss.
Individual Woes: Caleb Thielbar issued key walks, Eli Morgan allowed six earned runs while getting only two outs, and closer Ryan Pressly had a shaky save Saturday, nearly blowing a three-run lead.
Merryweather Sidelined: High-leverage reliever Julian Merryweather was unavailable Sunday after warming up multiple times Saturday without pitching, reportedly not recovering well.
Control Issues: The bullpen is averaging five walks per game, an unsustainable rate highlighted by throwing only 101 strikes in 168 pitches during Sunday's game.
Why This Matters: A volatile bullpen jeopardizes the team's ability to hold leads and win games, putting pressure on the offense and starting pitching. Addressing this is crucial for the Cubs' aspirations to contend in the NL Central.
The Cubs entered the season hoping a revamped bullpen would solidify late innings, but the early returns have been alarming. Comparing the 2024 Opening Day roster (Almonte, Alzolay, Cuas, Leiter Jr., Little, Merryweather, Neris, Smyly) to 2025's (Hodge, Keller, Merryweather, Morgan, Pearson, Pressly, Rea, Thielbar) shows a near-complete turnover, yet the theme of inconsistency persists.
Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks served as a stark example. Starter Matthew Boyd exited after five innings and 92 pitches, leaving four innings for the bullpen. The lead evaporated in the eighth when Caleb Thielbar walked the first two batters, followed by Eli Morgan's disastrous outing where he yielded six runs on six hits and a walk, recording only two outs. Even the previous day's win involved tension, as closer Ryan Pressly allowed a two-run homer and loaded the bases before securing the final out on a baserunning mistake.
Adding to the concerns is the status of Julian Merryweather. His unavailability Sunday due to poor recovery after warming up multiple times raises flags, particularly given his injury history. This pattern of warming up relievers without using them has been noted as a recurring issue.
The underlying problem appears to be a lack of command, evidenced by the high walk rate (5.0 BB/game) and inefficiency (only 60% strikes thrown Sunday). This inability to throw strikes consistently puts pressure on the defense and often leads to high-scoring innings.
Potential Solutions & Impact:
Internal Options: The Cubs could look to their Triple-A Iowa roster, which includes pitchers like Gavin Hollowell, Caleb Kilian, Luke Little (if healthy), Jack Neely, Daniel Palencia, and Ethan Roberts.
Free Agency: Veteran relievers like David Robertson remain available on the market and could offer experienced help.
How to Prepare: Fans may need patience as the team works through these issues. The front office must act decisively, whether through roster moves or tactical adjustments, to stabilize the situation. Improving pitch command is paramount for the current roster.
Who This Affects Most: The entire team feels the impact – starters see leads disappear, the offense faces pressure to score more, and the team's overall standing in the competitive NL Central is threatened. Fan confidence also takes a hit with repeated late-game collapses.
Q: Why is the Cubs bullpen struggling again despite offseason changes?
A: A combination of factors including poor command leading to high walk rates, key reliever unavailability (like Merryweather), and underperformance from pitchers expected to fill important roles (Thielbar, Morgan, Pressly) are contributing to the early struggles.
Q: What are the Cubs' options to fix the bullpen?
A: The team can promote pitchers from their Triple-A affiliate in Iowa, sign a free-agent reliever (veteran David Robertson has been mentioned), or hope that the current group improves its performance and control quickly.
Q: Is Julian Merryweather seriously injured?
A: There's no confirmation of a serious injury, but he was unavailable Sunday because he "didn't recover well" after warming up multiple times without entering the game Saturday. Given his past injuries, it's a situation worth monitoring closely.
The bullpen is the Cubs' most significant early-season weakness and requires urgent attention.
Monitor news for potential call-ups from Triple-A Iowa or signings of free-agent relievers.
Pay attention to walk totals in games – it's a key statistic reflecting the bullpen's current command issues.
While concerning, some analysts still believe the team has the potential for a successful season if the bullpen can be stabilized.
What moves do you think the Cubs should make to fix their bullpen? Should they call up prospects, sign a veteran, or stick with the current group? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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Bleed Cubbie Blue: Analysis on Cubs' bullpen needs (Based on article by Al Yellon)
670 The Score: Mully & Haugh: Cubs have a bullpen problem (target="_blank")
Athlon Sports: Cubs-Rays Trade Lands Chicago Much Needed Left-Handed Reliever (target="_blank")
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