The Chicago Cubs have once again proven to the rest of the baseball world just how tall of a mountain the Brewers are to climb. The Cubs narrowly missed the win on Labor Day, as they made their final regular season return to Milwaukee. While the box score shows a quick back-and-forth of scoring in the later innings, the full picture shines a light on the most glaring thing on the field: the Cubs' dire bullpen problem.
Matthew Boyd was much better than his final line suggests
Matthew Boyd posted another fine day on the mound with 7 innings of one-run ball before going out there in the eighth. It proved to be two batters too many, as Boyd walked the first batter, then gave up a double to Joey Ortiz, placing two runners in scoring position. This was the point that Counsell decided to move to the bullpen, but given that Boyd had thrown 87 pitches through the 7th, it seemed a natural break point for the Cubs Left hander.
Tip of the cap to Matthew Boyd. pic.twitter.com/CEAsBjAZV7
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 7, 2026
Those two runners Boyd left on base scored immediately after Boyd's departure. With those two runs charged to Boyd, and that was the last time the lead changed hands, Boyd eats the loss.
So once again, the Cubs have posted a reliable performance from a starting pitcher, only for the bullpen to give it up in less than five pitches. Those runs from Boyd were earned, and therefore they were charged to the right person. It's irrelevant to point fingers after the fact, but these are avoidable mistakes.
Add in the weight of the Cubs' final series against the Brewers for the regular season. The gravity behind these games in particular have a strong effect on the outcome of the season not only for the NL Central, but also any other team implicated in the Wild Card standings.
The Cubs and Phillies have been locked in a tight race for the top spot in the Wild Card race, with the Diamondbacks only a few games behind. With so few games left, it's rather frustrating to see the Cubs making needless mistakes that could have impacted the Cubs in a big way.
The Post-Season is rapidly approaching, and the Cubs are going to have multiple difficult decisions to make. Just Steele has made a couple separate rehab appearances in the Cubs minors organizations, and they've shown some promise. While it unlikely that Steele returns in time for the Cubs post-season aspirations, it does spark many conversations that it's theoretically possible for a 2026 Justin Steele return.
Whether Justin Steele makes it back or not, the Cubs already have starters capable of keeping them in postseason games. If the bullpen cannot protect the leads those starters hand over, Counsell's rotation decisions may not matter nearly as much as he hopes.
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