Since May 14, the Chicago Cubs bullpen has emerged as the most dominant in Major League Baseball. Over their last 24 games, Cubs relievers have surrendered just eight earned runs in 87.2 innings, boasting an incredible MLB-best 0.82 ERA during that span.
Even after a rough outing against the Philadelphia Phillies, much of the NL Central chatter continues to focus on Chicago. With a 41-27 record, the Cubs lead the division, holding a five-game advantage over the St. Louis Cardinals.
This impressive stretch has coincided with a rash of injuries in the starting rotation—most notably, ace Shota Imanaga has been out with a hamstring injury since early May.
In Imanaga’s absence, the Cubs have relied on fill-ins like Cade Horton, Ben Brown, and Colin Rea, who’ve managed to hold things together despite each having an ERA over 5.00. Imanaga’s eventual return remains a key piece moving forward.
Before Wednesday’s game, the Cubs bullpen had been on a roll. But Philadelphia’s offense unexpectedly came to life, jumping on Brown early with three runs on three hits in the first inning. The Cubs couldn’t recover and ultimately fell 7-2.
Chicago will look to regroup as they begin a four-game home series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.
Shota Imanaga Set For Rehab Start
Shota Imanaga took an important step in his recovery this week, making his first rehab appearance in the Arizona Complex League. He struck out four batters over two innings, throwing 40 pitches in total, followed by a bullpen session.
According to The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma, Imanaga is set to pitch again this Saturday in Arizona. If all goes smoothly, he’s expected to make a start for Triple-A Iowa before the Cubs consider bringing him back to the big-league roster.
While his extended absence hasn’t derailed the team—thanks largely to the bullpen’s dominance—his return is currently the most significant storyline at Wrigley Field.
Before landing on the injured list, the All-Star left-hander posted an impressive 2.82 ERA across his first eight starts.
Getting Imanaga back into the rotation will give the Cubs’ front office a clearer picture of their pitching staff as they approach the July 31 trade deadline.
Cubs Expected To Be Aggressive At Trade Deadline
In the meantime, the Cubs’ front office remains active in seeking potential upgrades to the starting rotation ahead of the trade deadline. If Shota Imanaga returns to his early-season form, Chicago could be well-positioned to control the NL Central during the second half of the year.
Still, challenges remain. The offense has been inconsistent at times, and questions about rotation depth persist.
Right now, however, the Cubs are in a strong position. Their bullpen has become a source of frustration and uncertainty for division opponents—and with Imanaga nearing his return, the team could be poised to elevate its game even further.