The Cubs' Bullpen Woes Continue
The Chicago Cubs' bullpen struggles were on full display again Tuesday night. Heading into the ninth inning with a slim 2-1 lead in the first game of a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Cubs appeared poised to snap their recent losing trend. Unfortunately for Chicago, their nominal closer, Hector Neris, had a meltdown that culminated in surrendering a three-run walk-off home run to Brandon Lowe, handing the Rays a 5-2 victory.
Chicago has now dropped 13 of its last 18 games, and the bullpen's performance has been a significant factor in their recent struggles. The current bullpen ranks a dismal 25th in ERA (4.47), 26th in WHIP (1.37), 22nd in strikeout-to-walk rate (2.23), and 27th in win probability added (-0.66) this season.
The Critical Inning Failures
During this painful 5-13 stretch, the Cubs have notably lost three games despite holding leads in the sixth inning or later. Additionally, they lost another game that was tied in the seventh inning. If the bullpen had managed to hold onto these leads, we might be discussing a frustrating 8-10 stretch rather than the disastrous 5-13 record.
Signed to a one-year deal worth $9 million in the winter, Hector Neris has experienced a seesaw season. Entering Tuesday's game, Neris sported a respectable 2.63 ERA, but his underlying numbers suggested potential signs of trouble. He had walked 17 batters, nearly as many as he had struck out (22). Performance estimators like a 4.11 ERA and 4.75 xERA pointed to the possibility of regression. With Tuesday's collapse, Neris is now 9-for-12 in save opportunities.
The Offense Needs to Step Up
Compounding the bullpen issues, Chicago's offense has struggled to provide much-needed support. The Cubs managed just two runs on Tuesday and have averaged only 3.89 runs per game during this dismal stretch. The offense needs to do its part in easing the burden on the relievers by scoring more runs. With their current form, it feels like the Cubs have no margin for error every night, especially with a shaky bullpen and inconsistent offensive output.
Despite the team’s struggles and a 5-13 record in the last 18 games, there remains a silver lining. Chicago is only one game out of a wild-card spot in the National League, where mediocrity is widespread and there is still plenty of time to turn things around.
The Road Ahead
Tuesday's loss dropped the Cubs to a 32-35 record on the season, matching Tampa Bay's identical 32-35 record. The schedule doesn’t get any easier for Chicago as they continue their series with the Rays. In the coming weeks, the Cubs face matchups with several strong teams, making any hope for a wild-card spot contingent on rapid improvements in both bullpen performance and offensive output.
Falling short of expectations has led to growing impatience among the fan base, with the margin for error shrinking rapidly. The Cubs are at a critical juncture, and the bullpen’s struggles have spotlighted larger issues that extend to the entire team's performance. However, there still remains time for a turnaround.
Whether the Cubs can seize this moment and avert a mid-season slide remains to be seen. Fans remain hopeful, but realism dictates that without swift corrections, the aspirations of a postseason berth may soon fade.