By Salem Chicago News Staff
CHICAGO — With six games separating the Cubs from postseason play, manager Craig Counsell and his staff are weighing which players must step up for Chicago to make a meaningful October run in a loaded National League field.
Bullpen Questions Loom Largest
The biggest question facing the Cubs is at the back end of the bullpen. Jacob Webb leads the team with nine saves but has allowed 11 runs over his past 7 2/3 innings across nine appearances. Former closer Daniel Palencia recently spun two scoreless innings in one of his most impressive outings of the year after returning from the injured list, but he has struggled overall since his activation.
Counsell has used 14 different pitchers to record saves this season. The Cubs entered Cincinnati converting just four of their past 12 save opportunities.
“We’ve got to pitch better,” Counsell said. “There’s no question. But, these are the guys, man. This is them, so we’ve got to help them get better and we’ve got to get outs.”
Edward Cabrera, who returned Sept. 15 from a recurring blister injury, has shifted to a multi-inning relief role. His first appearance back produced mixed results — two runs in 2 1/3 innings — but he followed with a scoreless inning on just nine pitches Sunday. If Cabrera can thrive in shorter stints, it could stabilize a bullpen that has been Chicago’s most conspicuous vulnerability.
Rotation Uncertainty at the Top
The rotation presents its own uncertainties. Clay Holmes and Matthew Boyd are the clear top two options, but Counsell has not named a Game 1 starter. Holmes posted a 1.55 ERA in five August starts after returning from a right fibula fracture, but he has allowed 16 earned runs in 15 1/3 innings across three September starts.
Crow-Armstrong Carrying the Offense
At the plate, center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has carried the offense for much of the season. He leads the club in batting average (.280), home runs (45), RBIs (107), stolen bases (38), runs scored (118), on-base percentage (.371), hits (170) and games played (156).
“It’s not on one guy to do this,” Counsell said. “A consistent offense takes turns in being productive. Look, if we’re going to play a lot of October baseball, some of these guys are going to have to do special things.”
Shortstop Dansby Swanson echoed that sentiment.
“It comes in all shapes and sizes,” Swanson said. “Especially in October, I think the most common trait is that each guy is pulling the wagon in the same direction. It’s the trust in one another to go have the at-bat that’s necessary for game situation, game moment.”
Chicago needs contributions from Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ, Alex Bregman and Michael Busch beneath Crow-Armstrong in the lineup to generate enough scoring. Busch became the first Cub to reach 30 home runs since 2019, joining a franchise tradition at first base not seen since Anthony Rizzo’s 32-homer season in 2017.
The Cubs have clinched tiebreakers over the Phillies, Padres and Diamondbacks and are positioned to host a best-of-three Wild Card Series at Wrigley Field. Bregman’s facial fractures, sustained Sunday, add another layer of uncertainty to the roster heading into the final week.
Chicago opens a three-game series against Miami on Tuesday at Wrigley Field before closing the regular season at Boston.
