The Chicago Cubs bullpen has been a major talking point this season. Early on in the year, things were rough. Eventually, they settled down, but recently it has been streaky. Injuries have plagued the pitching staff, making it hard to count on the available options. They attempted to strengthen the bullpen by trading for Ryan Zeferjahn, which at the time was one of Chicago’s best deadline trades. A few weeks after, it seemed like the Cubs bullpen would be getting some injured players back. However, this does not seem to be the case.
Aug 24, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn (56) throws in the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn ImagesBehind the Recent Cubs Bullpen StrugglesOver the past week, the bullpen has been far from great. Jacob Webb had been a trusted reliever on an elite stretch. With Daniel Palencia injured, he stepped into the closer role. However, Webb has blown his last two save attempts. For a team that was looking to catch the Milwaukee Brewers, this was devastating. Speaking of Palencia, he allowed three runs on August 25th in a 5-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. These two were expected to shut down late-game situations, but the situation is unclear now.
Going back to the Zeferjahn trade, it has not turned out how fans hoped. Heading into this weekend’s series against the Cincinnati Reds, he has pitched eight innings. In those games, he has allowed 11 hits, six runs, and four walks. He has seven strikeouts, but that has really been the only positive. Zeferjahn has struggled with his command, which always was a concern. These three relievers arguably have the highest potential on the team. If they cannot find their stuff, though, then the Cubs bullpen could struggle in the postseason.
Ryan Zeferjahn with Angels 51 innings 30 hits 75ks (!!!!!!!!!)
Cubs: 8 innings 11 hits 7 ks (-WAR)
And no, there’s no way the Cubs messed with him or changed his approach this quickly.
— Sam Olbur (@SamOlbur) August 27, 2026
The rest of the arms have been solid, just not game-changing. A lot of them have taken wear and tear over the season due to inconsistent starting pitching performances. This has led to them being overworked. It has been better recently, but still something that could hold them back down the stretch.
Reasons for OptimismDespite the recent struggles, there are still some reasons to be positive. The most important one is the pitchers close to returning. Ben Brown suffered a setback, making it unclear when he will be back. Justin Steele is getting close to returning and could play a valuable role for Chicago. He was one of the team’s top pitchers a few years ago and would bring a needed spark. Even just one of these guys would be a huge piece out of the Cubs bullpen for the playoff push.
Outside of those two, a few other pitchers are in the mix. Edward Cabrera is still hanging around, and when he returns, he is set to come out of the bullpen. As a starter, it has been a rough season, but as a bullpen arm, he could bring extra juice. His first year in Chicago has not gone as well as possible, but the Cubs lack bullpen arms as explosive as he is. For the rest of 2026, this role could serve him well.
The good news does not stop there, as Shelby Miller has been pitching well at Triple-A Iowa. Following surgery, he wasn’t expected to be back this year. Chicago signed him to a two-year deal this past offseason, with the goal that he could boost the Cubs bullpen in 2027. However, to the shock of many, he is back on the mound. The team is still going to work him back slowly, but he has been able to hit 98 MPH and is getting batters to miss swings.
Back-to-Back K’s from Shelby Miller! pic.twitter.com/oDBlJ6ZVwJ
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) August 26, 2026
Now that the starting rotation is getting better recently, the overworked Cubs bullpen has been able to rest more. This is another benefit of having long-inning relievers, like Aaron Civale and Colin Rea. More rest should ideally help manage the workload. Also, if the top arms can get back on track, then everyone can return to their usual roles. Instead of middle-inning guys having to close, they can pitch in a spot they are more comfortable with.
The Last Word on the Cubs BullpenThe Cubs have all the talent in the world. The hitters are streaky but have proven to be explosive. Their defense is elite and has played like the best in the entire league. One of the biggest concerns has been the pitching staff. The Cubs bullpen has struggled recently, but there are some reasons for optimism. With a few key pieces returning soon, it is set to look very different. A strong bullpen would help patch up short starts and could very well lead the team to a deep run in October.
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Main Photo Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
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