CHICAGO -- Cubs manager Craig Counsell has been consistent in his stance that the key to getting the bullpen back on track in the coming weeks is to continue to lean on and trust the arms that are already in the fold. That does not entirely rule out help coming soon.
Looking at the group of pitchers currently rehabbing with Triple-A Iowa, hard-throwing righty Edward Cabrera appears closest to potentially joining Chicago’s relief corps. Cabrera has been using his latest stint on the injured list due to a blister issue on his pitching hand to convert to a relief role before returning to the Cubs.
Prior to Friday’s game against the Pirates, Counsell made it sound as if Cabrera’s activation could be looming.
“That’s a player that we’ve got to sit down and talk about here this morning or after the game,” Counsell said. “He’s healthy. He’s a healthy player. He’s pitched out of the bullpen three times now. He’s pitched a two-inning outing. He feels good. So we’ve got to sit down and have a conversation about him.”
Cabrera was acquired over the offseason from the Marlins with the goal of being an impact arm for Chicago’s rotation. Multiple trips to the IL (twice due to blister troubles and once due to a hamstring/adductor strain) have hindered his first season with the Cubs. In 15 starts, the righty has logged a 5.68 ERA with 67 strikeouts and 32 walks in 76 innings.
The Cubs opted to use the recent IL stint to move Cabrera into a relief role with the hope that less volume could sidestep the recurring blister issues. In his most recent outing with Iowa on Wednesday, he sat around 98-99 mph with his four-seam and sinker and maxed out at 100.7 mph, per Statcast, in a two-inning appearance.
Cabrera’s high-octane fastballs, combined with his elite changeup, make him an intriguing bullpen option if he can keep the command in check. At the moment, Chicago’s relief corps has been in a rough stretch –- the group had a 5.05 ERA dating back to Aug. 22, entering Friday -- and could benefit from someone who can miss bats.
With roughly two weeks left in the regular season, Counsell said the Cubs are more flexible when it comes to maintaining depth as a part of the decision-making.
“That doesn’t make them easy decisions,” Counsell said. “But depth is not as much of a factor, absolutely. I don’t think saying, ‘We have to protect depth’ at this point, I don’t think that holds a lot of water, necessarily.”
Another pitcher increasingly on the radar is 35-year-old veteran Shelby Miller, who has pitched in 12 Minor League games between Iowa and Double-A Knoxville as part of a comeback from right elbow surgery. Miller signed a two-year deal with the Cubs in February with 2027 as the realistic goal for his comeback. The righty has pushed up that timeline.
“He shortened the time back from this surgery,” Counsell said. “That just means you’re essentially having a lot of perfect days. He’s basically had five months of perfect days to get to this point and to speed up that process since we got him. … His diligence from that perspective and just his pure work ethic is what allows that to happen.”
Counsell noted that “Cabrera’s probably a little closer” than Miller to joining the Cubs.
“What we’re evaluating with guys like Shelby,” Counsell said, “is the seriousness of his injury, and, ‘Are you back to yourself at this point?’ Is he healthy? I think he’s a healthy pitcher. Is he back to himself? I think that’s what we’re trying to evaluate.”
As for Cubs lefty Justin Steele -– also on the comeback trail from elbow surgery -- Counsell said he needs more rehab appearances. Steele has not pitched in the Majors since April of last season and is only three outings into his rehab stint with Iowa.
“Justin’s doing well,” Counsell said. “We’re happy with what’s going on. But, he’s going to need to pitch more.”