Checking in on the Cubs Bullpen - Do We Like How Things Have Started to Sort Themselves? - Bleacher Nation

The Cubs bullpen has performed better than expected despite injuries affecting bullpen availability and rotation call-ups. The bullpen ERA is 3.50 for the season, ranking 12th in baseball. Since May 9, when a losing streak began, the bullpen ERA drops to 2.78, ranking 6th in baseball. This improvement occurred while the team overall was at its worst, indicating the bullpen helped stabilize outcomes. Current bullpen roles are outlined with Daniel Palencia as closer, Caleb Thielbar and Jacob Webb as setup options, Phil Maton as a setup-ish arm, and Hoby Milner handling middle innings and left-handed matchups. Trent Thornton, Ryan Rolison, and Ethan Roberts are described as middle-inning and low-leverage relievers. Injuries to Riley Martin and Hunter Harvey and upcoming rotation returns could shift usage patterns.

"At 3.50, the Cubs actually have the 12th best bullpen ERA in baseball this season. No, that's not much better than average, but would you have guessed they were even at that level without checking? Now for the real kicker: since May 9, the day the infamous losing streak started(!), the Cubs' bullpen has a 2.78 ERA, 6th best in baseball. When the team as a whole was at its worst, the bullpen was performing among the best in baseball! That's wild."

"We're approaching the end of May, and, historically - even going back to the days pre-Craig Counsell - that's when the Cubs seem to have a good sense of their bullpen group. Not only the names on the call sheet, but also their general roles. Do the Cubs have that sense now? Let me throw a bit of data at you first, just for context."

"Here's what that group looks like right now, with some very rough role parameters: Daniel Palencia (closer) Caleb Thielbar (setup) Jacob Webb (setup-ish) Phil Maton (setup-ish) Hoby Milner (middle innings and match-up lefty) Trent Thornton (middle innings and low-leverage) Ryan Rolison (middle innings and low-leverage) Ethan Roberts (middle innings and low-leverage)"

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