How Cubs' 'pen evolved into major strength -- with support from old friend

MILWAUKEE -- In the buildup to the Cubs’ first postseason series in five years, Brad Keller fired off a text to veteran Ryan Pressly. This was going to be Keller’s first time stepping into the high-pressure environment that October presents, and he wanted some advice on how to not let a moment become overwhelming.

Pressly has not been with the Cubs since July -- he was brought in as a possible ninth-inning option, before his struggles led to his release -- but the veteran has had a lasting impact. The way he handled his personal situation early on this year set a tone for the current group’s willingness to take on any role. And his experience, a lengthy postseason resume that includes the final out of the 2022 World Series with Houston, continues to serve as a resource.

“I texted him kind of, ‘How do you go about this? How do you handle the anxiousness?’” Keller said. “And he sent me a long text that was really freeing in my mind.”

Keller set the Padres down in order in the ninth inning of Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series, picking up a save in Chicago’s first playoff victory since 2017. It was the first exclamation mark in a dominant run to begin this postseason for a Cubs bullpen that was overhauled in-season and has a pile of great individual stories.

Only three pitchers on the NL Division Series roster as relievers -- Keller, Colin Rea and Caleb Thielbar -- were members of the domestic Opening Day roster. Keller (2.07 ERA) made the team as a non-roster invitee and grew into a trusted high-leverage arm. Rea was signed to offer insurance as a starter or reliever, and spent most of this year helping an injury-riddled rotation. Thielbar (2.64 ERA), 38, joined the fold on a one-year, $2.75 million pact after a rough ’24 to end an eight-year run with the Twins.

“We all have different characters down there,” Keller said. “I think our careers kind of shaped us to who we are now.”

The list goes on, too.

Daniel Palencia (2.91 ERA, 22 saves) began the year at Triple-A and pitched his way into the closer’s role by midseason. There is 36-year-old Drew Pomeranz (2.17 ERA), who had not pitched in the Majors since ’21 and only wound up with the Cubs in late April due to a contract clause that led to the Mariners trading him for cash. Andrew Kittredge hardly stole headlines as one of the Cubs’ Trade Deadline additions. Aaron Civale was claimed off waivers on Aug. 31 from the White Sox.

“Give our pro scouting group a ton of credit and give the coaching staff a ton of credit,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said as the champagne flowed after the Wild Card Series-clinching win over the Padres. “Keller was a Minor League free agent. We got Pomeranz on an assignment clause. Palencia has, by leaps and bounds, done great work. Kittredge has been great. Thielbar was a small one-year sign on a bounce-back year.

“That bullpen was amazing in that series and they’re not high-dollar guys. They weren’t high acquisition costs. Really impressive job.”

Excluding Shota Imanaga’s bulk relief outing in Game 2 against San Diego, the Cubs’ bullpen arms logged a 1.23 ERA in 14 2/3 innings in the series. That includes the one-inning appearance made as an opener before Imanaga’s entrance. Oh, Kittredge also handled the eighth inning in Game 1 and picked up the save in Game 3.

During the Game 1 win over the Padres, Chicago set a postseason record for the most batters faced in a row (14) without allowing a baserunner. In the Game 1 loss to the Brewers to begin this NL Division Series, Civale set a Cubs playoff record for the longest scoreless relief appearance with 4 1/3 innings.

Given how hard the main group worked in the opening round, the effort turned in by Civale and righty Ben Brown provided a three-day break (due to off-days on Friday and Sunday).

“Sometimes I’ll play catch and watch the starter warm up that same day,” Brown said, “and be like, ‘I couldn’t even throw a ball right now. I’m so tired and so sore.’ And meanwhile, these guys are throwing max-effort throws three days in a row. … Top to bottom, our bullpen has been awesome and huge for us.”

From the start of August through the end of the regular season, the Cubs’ bullpen collectively turned in a 3.60 ERA that ranked third in the NL. After Palencia came down with a right shoulder injury in early September, Cubs manager Craig Counsell reverted back to a setup that did not have a closer and, instead, focused on using his “out-getters” in a variety of situations.

Palencia was fully on board with that approach and twice was asked to work mid-game, multiple-inning moments in the Wild Card Series. Ask the hard-throwing righty about that willingness to take on any situation in any inning, he also points to Pressly’s influence.

“He was almost like my dad here,” Palencia said. “He was taking me everywhere and telling me a lot of stuff -- how to relax, how to calm my mind. He always said, ‘My job is making outs.’ If it’s in the fifth inning, ninth inning, it doesn’t matter. Our job is just to make outs and that’s it.”

Pressly also sent Palencia a long message ahead of the playoffs.

“He sent me a text in the morning,” Palencia said. “It said, like, ‘Hey, don’t think too much. Be ready. This is your moment. You can show who you are.’”

Palencia then smiled, and added that Pressly also told him -- with some expletives in the message -- to “be a monster” this month for the Cubs.

“Look, that’s just Ryan Pressly is a good human. That’s what that is,” Counsell said. “That’s just how he has been taught in the game to pay it forward. … He was very willing and happy to pass on knowledge. And the fact that they’re calling him still, means he’s still open to them.”