The Chicago Cubs are riding high after a weekend series win over the Cincinnati Reds, keeping them four games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central. With a 37-22 record, Chicago holds the second-best mark in MLB, trailing only the Detroit Tigers.
Much of the early-season praise has focused on the Cubs’ explosive offense, featuring stars like Kyle Tucker, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Nico Hoerner, Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ, and the rising Matt Shaw. This potent lineup has kept the runs coming, easing pressure on the pitching staff.
Bullpen Turnaround Powers Chicago Cubs’ Success
But the real story has been the Cubs’ bullpen, which started the year as a glaring weakness. Through April, Chicago’s bullpen ERA sat at a troubling 4.76, ranking fifth-worst in the majors. Walks piled up (59), and the Cubs blew seven saves, resulting in an underwhelming 18-13 record by April’s end.
May brought a remarkable turnaround. Chicago posted the lowest bullpen ERA in MLB at 2.37, despite throwing the seventh-most relief innings. Their bullpen went 8-for-9 in save chances, helping the Cubs finish May with an impressive 18-9 record.
Key contributors include:
- Daniel Palencia, the new closer, with a 1.74 ERA in 19 appearances, allowing a .127 opponent batting average, and securing five saves, including five straight in his last five outings.
- Brad Keller, the setup man, who boasts a 2.22 ERA over 28.1 innings and went 15.2 scoreless innings in May with 28 strikeouts.
- Ryan Pressly, despite losing the closer role, has been solid with only one earned run allowed in 20 outings since April.
With this bullpen resurgence, it complements an already dangerous offense. The Cubs are shaping up as serious contenders for the National League World Series title this summer.
How well do you think the Cubs will perform going forward? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
