CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs are in the midst of a bullpen crisis, the only guy left from the 2016 team had to be IL’d for his own benefit, the defense is mid, their lineup is muddled … and did I mention their bullpen, which gave up six runs in one inning Monday night?
So how are these guys good again?
Well, timely hitting, some good fortune, the magic touch of Craig Counsell, and you know, starting pitching always plays.
The starters are not only keeping the Cubs (21-15) near the top of the division during a tough spring stretch but it also has people wondering just how good this team can be when, and if, they get right.
It’s one thing to have Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga start the first two games of a series in early May. But think about it in October. … OK, enough daydreaming. It’s the first week of May and the Cubs bullpen is more flammable than a dumpster full of cooking oil.
And yet …
To come off a weekend series in which three starters threw at least six scoreless innings and then have Steele and Imanaga ready to go, it’s not a bad thing.
“Obviously, it’s fantastic when you have a really good No. 1, No. 2,” Cubs president Jed Hoyer said Monday. “But I do think that setting us up so each turn through we have a chance to win every single night, I think that’s really what we’ve done pretty well.”
Justin Steele’s first start coming off the IL:
4.2 IP | 3 H | 2 K | 0 R pic.twitter.com/KTrcQFOOxR
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 7, 2024
In his first start since the season opener on March 29, Steele allowed no runs on three hits and a walk while striking out two in the Cubs’ 6-3 loss to the San Diego Padres on Monday. Relievers Richard Lovelady and Daniel Palencia gave up all six runs on five singles, a walk and a double in a fluky sixth inning. It was as if everyone’s bullpen paranoia was seeping into the ivy.
Bullpens are always volatile and often the cause for consternation for teams hoping to contend. But the Cubs have stayed relevant thanks to a deep rotation.
Javier Assad is 3-0 with a 1.66 ERA in seven starts. Jameson Taillon, after starting the season on the IL, is 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA in four starts. Ben Brown, who is going back to the bullpen, had a 2.84 ERA in four starts, and Hayden Wesneski has a 0.87 ERA in two starts (along with two scoreless relief appearances).
Wesneski, Taillon and Assad each threw six scoreless innings (Wesneski actually pitched 6 1/3) against the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend, segueing into this series.
“The rotation has been almost flawless as of late,” Steele said. “You tip your hat and it’s a testament to the depth we have.”
The Cubs didn’t fall apart when Steele left the season opener with a hamstring strain. After the organization’s previous failures to develop pitching, the Cubs have been more successful and it’s given them the depth to handle injuries. That’s the good news. The bad news is the bullpen.
Hoyer said Monday he doesn’t think the trade market will start early just because the Miami Marlins dealt Luis Arraez to San Diego already, so he might have to bank on relief coming from within (Brown) and down on the farm, where top prospect Cade Horton is starting for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, along with other pitchers who have options to come up and mix and match.
Considering that last year’s closer Adbert Alzolay has already been demoted from his role — the Cubs have eight blown saves — Hoyer might have to make some moves now and again later in the summer to shore things up.
But getting Steele back Monday was key. He was on a limit and a 22-pitch third inning helped hasten his departure after 68 pitches, but Steele still got a standing ovation when he left the scoreless game with two outs and a man at first in the fifth inning.
“I thought Justin pitched very well,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “We need to build up his endurance. But he delivered a great performance. It was exactly what we needed and a great first step.”
Steele was penciled in as the Cubs ace going into the season, while Imanaga, signed in the offseason for what looks like a bargain deal of $53 million over four years (with some flexibility), was a bit of a mystery. They knew he’d be good, but not this good.
He’s clearly the man of this rotation … so far. Imanaga is 5-0 with a 0.78 ERA in six starts going into Tuesday. In four of those starts, he didn’t give up an earned run and he’s only walked four in 34 2/3 innings.
Shota Imanaga is the 14th pitcher in the last 100 years to allow just 3 earned runs or fewer over his first 6 starts in a season.@Cubs | #YouHaveToSeeIt pic.twitter.com/4XCJJou18p
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) May 4, 2024
“It’s been fun to watch him pitch,” Counsell said. “He has exceeded expectations because anybody who pitches like that would exceed your expectations.”
“Fun” is a simple and repetitive way to describe the Imanaga experience so far. It’s also an honest one.
“Obviously, he’s had a lot of success so far, but I also think the way he pitches is really fun to watch,” Hoyer said. “He’s excited, he pumps strikes in there, he’s aggressive with how he pitches and he has an appealing style. I think that resonates.”
Getting Imanaga to talk about himself isn’t easy. At least for me. When I asked about his start through his interpreter Edwin Stanberry, he praised the infielders, the outfielders, his pitching coach, the support staff, on and on. The only people he left out were scoreboard operator “Quick Rick” Fuchs and radio color guy Ron Coomer. When I pointed out that he’s a big reason for his own success, he sloughed it off.
“I’m more of a side character,” he said through Stanberry. “I can be of full effect when I’m a side character and not the main guy.”
Having Steele back and dealing will certainly help deflect some of the attention, but Imanaga outings are close to becoming events, like when Mark Prior or Kerry Wood started. And if he keeps pitching like this, the spotlight will only get brighter.
After the way Monday’s game unfolded, the Cubs definitely need Imanaga to be the main character Tuesday and beyond. If the Cubs are going to really matter this season, it looks like the starters will have to lead the way.
(Photo of Steele: Kamil Krzaczynski / USA Today)
