The Chicago Cubs’ bullpen has been a major storyline to follow so far this season. Chicago entered the 2026 season with high expectations due to having one of the more talented rosters in the National League. Last year, they had a successful season and then bolstered their starting lineup when they shockingly signed third baseman Alex Bregman. Then, they improved their starting rotation when they traded for Edward Cabrera. Overall, in 2026, the team has overcome slow starts by its stars to remain competitive. In the MLB’s newest power rankings, the Cubs were ranked third best. But this could be in danger if the Cubs bullpen can’t rebound.
The Cubs Have a Major Bullpen Issue
Cubs Bullpen Injury Issues
Injuries have been an issue for many teams this season, and for the Cubs’ bullpen, this has been no different. Their list of injuries continues to grow, as at this point, it is easier to think of who is actually healthy. As of now, some of the notable names injured are lefties Riley Martin and Caleb Thielbar. Both of these players had been off to solid starts, which severely affected the bullpen.
Additionally, righties Porter Hodge and Shelby Miller both were hurt before the season and will miss the entire year. Hunter Harvey has also joined the list of injuries, and his return is unknown at this point. The other issue with this is that it is stretching the rest of the bullpen out due to them being relied on so much.
A Stretch of Poor Performances
In addition to the injuries, the Cubs’ bullpen has seen a lot of inconsistent performances. Coming into the season, there were a few players who were expected to be relied on heavily. Harvey was one of the key additions, but before his injury, he struggled with a 6.75 ERA in four innings. Phil Maton was another key addition who has struggled heavily. In 12.1 innings, he has a 9.49 ERA. These two have been severely disappointing and are arguably two of the weakest bullpen options now for the rest of the season.
The rest of the Cubs bullpen has not been as bad but has still been inconsistent. Jacob Webb has a 3.20 ERA, and 20 hits allowed in 19.2 innings. He has shown promise but needs to keep it up to be reliable. Ryan Rollison is another similar option. He was not expected to have a large role; however, due to injuries, it looked like he would step up. This has been partly the case but has also been heavily inconsistent recently. He now has a 4.38 ERA in 12.1 innings. A majority of other options have done the same thing, looking solid at points but struggling to keep it up.
Positive of the Cubs Bullpen
On the bright side of things, there have been a few bright spots. Daniel Palencia came into the season after being named the closer. Despite an injury, he has looked good. In nine innings, he has three saves and a 2.00 ERA. Thielbar was alright before his injury, with a 3.12 ERA in 8.2 innings. He is also expected to return from his injury soon, which gives the Cubs a good high-leverage group. Hoby Milner gives the Cubs bullpen a third great reliever, with a 2.08 ERA in 21.2 innings.
Milner has been one of the biggest breakouts out of the Cubs’ bullpen. However, Ben Brown has been the biggest surprise. He has a 1. 60 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 33.2 innings heading into his start against the Brewers. He had been a strong bullpen presence that was forced into the starting rotation, which has helped the rotation show promise. If he does return to the bullpen when starters come back, then it helps solidify the unit.
Earlier, it was brought up that the Cubs’ bullpen has seen some promise, but many of the options have struggled to show consistency. There have been a few guys who have given the team valuable help. Ethan Robert has been elite since joining the Major League roster, as he has a 0.96 ERA in 9.1 innings. Trent Thornton has also been lights out, not allowing a single run in five innings. If these two can build on this success, then they will help form a formidable bullpen.
The Cubs Bullpen
The Cubs’ bullpen has all the promise to be great. The combination of established stars and breakout players makes the team look strong on paper. The issue is that they need to find a way to maintain consistency to translate that into success. A majority of the struggles could very well be due to injuries; however, it is not wise to count on everyone returning in strong form.
There is still plenty of season left for Chicago to build stability, and the truth is, there are always times when pitchers struggle. With this in mind, though, you still need to have plenty of arms that you can count on. At this moment, the injuries are taking a massive toll, which is impacting the team’s record. The team has still had a strong start to the season, but if the Cubs bullpen struggles, then the team will have a hard time keeping up the success.
Main Photo Credits: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
