Chicago Cubs staring down harsh reality after Jacob Webb injury

The Chicago Cubs just can’t seem to catch a break this season and Wednesday’s 9-5 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers was an especially tough one to deal with.

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For one, the team did manage to touch up Brewers phenom Jacob Misiorowski for 5 earned runs over 4 innings pitched. Getting to Milwaukee’s ace should’ve set up the Cubs for victory. But starter David Peterson struggled throughout his outing, ultimately allowing 6 earned runs over 3.2 innings—and then the bullpen once again failed to shut things down from there.

After Trent Thornton and Ryan Rolison delivered 2.1 innings of no-run ball, Daniel Palencia came in and struggled in his fourth straight outing since coming back from the IL, allowing 2 hits and a run in his inning. Then, the Cubs suffered through, arguably, their worst bit of misfortune from the defeat.

Jacob Webb’s injury

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Jacob Webb, working in the ninth inning, was hit in the forearm by a 102.5 mph line drive off the bat of Christian Yelich and had to leave the game.

Later that evening, manager Craig Counsell clarified that his pitcher was hit in the “meat part” of the forearm and that x-rays were negative.

“He’s got a little bit of pain, and he’s got a pretty big bruise — it’s going to be a big bruise — so he’s a little sore, but x-rays are negative,” Counsell told reporters.

The lack of any break or fracture is a positive, but, as of this writing, there’s no word on how long the righty will be out of commission or whether an IL stint is in the works.

The Webb injury gave fans flashbacks to an entire season of pitching injuries that has hobbled the team and forced them into culling fringe arms from every possible source just to maintain a full staff.

Up until recently, the 33-year-old Webb had been one of the few pillars of stability on the pitching staff, working his way into being the team’s de facto closer with a 2.21 ERA as recently as August 21. In recent outings, however, he’s struggled mightily. Over his last four appearances, he has a 21.00 ERA.

Still, losing Webb would take away the possibility of a comeback the Cubs need to see happen in their bullpen, especially with Palencia—and several others—struggling.

The realities facing a struggling bullpen

If Webb is gone for any significant period of time, as the playoffs approach, it will give them one less option for late-inning relief. At this point of the season, though, Chicago is stuck with what they have for the most part and must work at trying to turn things around internally. That means putting their guys right back out there to work through the rough times.

“These are the guys we need to pitch well,” Counsell said before Wednesday’s game. “The way to do that is to get them back out there and have them pitch again.

“You get beat. And it’s no fun, and it stinks. But if you’re not confident, that’s how you get your confidence back. If you’re struggling with something, that’s how you find it. You find it out there on the field, when the competition’s going on and the other side’s trying to get you. These are guys we count on, and we need them.”

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