The Cubs’ Bullpen Keeps Derailing Their Season 

The Chicago Cubs have 65 losses this season. 

30 of them are blown saves. 

Nearly 50% of their losses trace directly back to a bullpen that can’t finish games. 

That’s not a slump, that’s a structural failure.

A Bullpen That Can’t Hold the Rope

Chicago has spent the season hovering around contention, but every late‑inning stumble pulls them back down. Since mid‑August, Cubs relievers rank 23rd in ERA, have given up 16 home runs, and continue to collapse in leverage moments. For a team built on pitching depth and defensive efficiency, the bullpen has become the defining weakness.

A Closer Situation That’s Gone Off the Rails

Jacob Webb wasn’t meant to be the closer, and the results show it. His overall numbers look fine, but the recent trend is brutal: 3 straight blown saves, including a 9th-inning homer to Jackson Chourio on September 8th. Over his last six outings, he’s allowed three late‑inning home runs, each one flipping momentum.

He is the ONLY MLB pitcher since the save became official in 1969 to allow a game‑tying or go‑ahead homer with two outs in the ninth in three straight save chances.

Chicago doesn’t have a closer. They have a reliever trying to survive in a role he was never built for.

Middle Relief Is Overworked and Breaking Down

The bridge arms are talented, but exhausted.

• Trent Thornton has been a stabilizer (2.63 ERA), but heavy usage has led to volatility.
• Caleb Thielbar has carried a massive workload, and the extra‑innings loss to Milwaukee showed the strain.
• Ryan Rolison has quietly been excellent (2.85 ERA, 8 wins), but he’s constantly pushed into multi‑inning roles he shouldn’t have to shoulder.

The middle‑relief core isn’t bad. It’s simply overextended.

The Back End Has Become a Liability

Daniel Palencia’s return was supposed to help, but he’s been hit hard, 7 earned runs in 6 outings. Ryan Zeferjahn hasn’t found a rhythm, posting a 6.23 ERA since joining Chicago.

When the back end is unpredictable, managers lose flexibility. The Cubs are living that reality every night.

Bright Spots Aren’t Enough

Aaron Civale has been outstanding in relief (1.27 ERA). Javier Assad continues to be a dependable swingman.

But long‑relief stability doesn’t fix late‑inning collapse. They can keep the Cubs in games — they can’t close them.

The Real Issue: No Identity

Chicago lacks:

• A true closer
• A consistent eighth‑inning arm
• Reliable matchup control
• Defined roles for new additions
• Enough swing‑and‑miss to survive leverage

This bullpen was built for flexibility. Right now, it’s just stretched thin.

Why It Matters

The Cubs have a competitive rotation, a young core, and an offense that can manufacture runs. None of it matters if the bullpen keeps giving games away.

Late‑season baseball is decided by margins. Chicago is losing those margins nightly.

Until the Cubs rebuild the bullpen with clarity, durability, and real late‑inning firepower, every close game will feel like a coin flip — and lately, the Cubs keep landing on the wrong side.

With the season winding down it’s looking more likely this Cubs team will be traveling to Philadelphia to face the Phillies in the first round of the NL playoffs. 

Their 3-headed monster of Christopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, and Zack Wheeler will be difficult enough for Cubs hitters, but having to face Schwarber, Harper, Turner, etc. with a shaky bullpen is a recipe for disaster for the Cubs.