Chicago Cubs bullpen is in a happy place, despite Saturday’s collapse

The Chicago Cubs gave the ball to the team’s de facto closer Jacob Webb in the ninth inning Saturday night at T-Mobile Park in Seattle and for the first time in a long time, Webb didn’t come through.

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Actually, the three ninth inning runs allowed—two via walk-off two-run home run by Randy Arozarena—were the first runs allowed by Webb in 24.2 innings.

“Baseball happened,” manager Craig Counsell told reporters after the game. “It just shows you how impressive he’s been. It’s unfortunate when you give up some runs that result in a loss, but he’s been so, so good.

“He’s kind of held this whole thing together for most of the year. He’s been great. He’s having a heck of a season. [Saturday] doesn’t change that. He’s going to be out there the next time there’s an opportunity.”

The veteran, who came to the Cubs via free agency to be a middle-of-bullpen depth piece, earned Counsell’s trust as a high-leverage late-inning reliever after an unprecedented wave of injuries forced him into that role. On the season, even with Saturday night’s poor outing, the right-hander has a 2.65 ERA with 9 saves through 58 appearances.

Two Cubs closers?

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Webb’s emergence and Counsell’s trust in him are creating a bit of a situation when it comes the team’s closer role now that Daniel Palencia is back on the team.

The hard-throwinfg Palencia won the closer’s role last season in the same way Webb won the role this season, by stepping in to fill a spot that needed filling and taking it as his own.

Palencia looked good in his first game since coming off the IL—and his first big league appearance since June 15—throwing a scoreless inning against the Mariners on Friday with 2 strikeouts.

So now, essentially, the Cubs have two closers.

It’s not a bad problem to have. Given the fact that Webb and Palencia are very different types of pitchers, it may also give Counsell added flexibility when it comes to matchups and how he wants to handle certain situations.

But the team doesn’t just have two pitchers with game-closing potential.

Wiggins, Miller, and more

Top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins and rehabbing veteran Shelby Miller could also find themselves in Chicago at some point between next week and the tail end of the regular season.

Neither was in the Cubs’ big league plans until fairly recently, but both could have something to offer down the closing stretch of the season.

Wiggins, after a rough and injury-filled season, is back in Iowa, working one inning at a time and looking quite impressive in that role. So far, the 24-year-old has pitched three scoreless innings in three outings, striking out five over those three frames. With his high-velocity stuff he looks like the prototypical closer, even though the Cubs are hoping to eventually get him back to being a starter.

The 35-year-old Miller, meanwhile, was signed on a 2-year deal this offseason with the full understanding that 2026 would be entirely spent rehabbing from last fall’s Tommy John surgery. But Miller has surprised with his rapid rehab and has already worked himself into a minor league rehab assignment, where he’s looked like his old self.

Both Wiggins and Miller are unlikely to get long looks at the major league level this year—if they make it to the team at all. But they are among the team’s bullpen options, along with rehabbing assets Justin Steele and Ben Brown, who are currently throwing bullpen session and looking impressive. There’s also lefty Hoby Milner who’s just about ready to return from his minor league rehab assignment.

Even trade deadline acquisition Ryan Zeferjahn has the kind of arm and repertoire that makes him a late-inning bullpen candidate, although he’s had some rough outings as a Cub so far.

All in all, the Cubs bullpen seems to be in a happy place. But, as we’ve been seeing all season, that can change in a heartbeat

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