'We are nasty out there': Cubs' revamped bullpen steps up again

CHICAGO -- Following a pair of rain delays that disrupted the second inning on Saturday afternoon, Cubs manager Craig Counsell had a decision to make. He could either allow lefty Justin Steele to warm up and continue his start or hand the ball over to Chicago’s relief corps with seven innings to go.

“We just didn’t think that putting him back out there after two delays was good,” Counsell said. “Both for now and the rest of the season and in the future. That’s essentially the decision. And I’m very comfortable with it.”

Part of Counsell's comfort stems from the fact that the Cubs have been operating with one of the Majors’ top bullpens for the past two-plus months. The group kept its recent run going against Toronto, holding the line after Steele’s abbreviated exit and guiding Chicago to a 3-2 victory at Wrigley Field.

In the wake of 55 minutes' worth of delays, the Cubs used six relievers to quiet the Blue Jays’ bats. That performance secured a series win for the North Siders as they try to gain ground in the National League Wild Card picture.

“We saw the whole gamut of the Cubbies today,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said.

The win over Toronto pulled the Cubs within four games of the third NL Wild Card spot, pending the result of the Braves’ game against the Angels on Saturday evening.

With only three active relievers remaining from the Cubs’ Opening Day roster, the current group looks a lot different from the start of the season. That is not uncommon for a big league bullpen, but the wave of injuries, performance issues and turnover early in the year led to a reconfigured cast that has since found its footing.

The Cubs headed into the day with the best bullpen ERA in the Major Leagues dating back to July 1 (2.13) and June 1 (2.74). Since the start of July, Chicago’s relief corps ranked second in WAR (2.1 via Fangraphs), and third in left-on-base rate (81.1%) and opponents’ average (.209).

“From the young guys to the veteran guys, we’ve tried to be prepared for the most important point of the season,” Cubs reliever Jorge López said. “Being available every day -- that’s something I know Counsell wants. I know we are nasty out there and have been doing a really good job through the summer and through now. We’ll just keep focused.”

After Steele departed following his 36-pitch effort, the North Siders’ bullpen limited Toronto to two runs on seven hits with four walks and seven strikeouts. It was not pristine, but the relievers completed the job under unexpected circumstances.

“When you’re asking for that [many innings], a lot of guys are going to have to pitch, and you need everyone to pitch well for it to work,” Counsell said. “And that’s what happened. Those guys are doing a great job.”

Nate Pearson -- acquired from the Blue Jays ahead of the Trade Deadline last month -- took over for Steele and logged a pair of scoreless innings. Tyson Miller, who was acquired from Seattle in May, lowered his ERA to 1.34 in 32 games with the Cubs this year with his one scoreless inning of work.

A key setup man for the Cubs in 2023, Julian Merryweather returned from the injured list on July 23. He handled the sixth inning without incident on Saturday. Lefty Drew Smyly, who entered the day with a 1.65 ERA dating back to the start of June, was charged with one run in the seventh, exiting with two on and one out.

Rookie righty Porter Hodge, who has a 2.15 ERA in 26 appearances for the Cubs since getting his first taste of The Show in late May, took over for Smyly and escaped jams in both the seventh and eighth to keep the Cubs ahead.

López (signed to a Minor League deal ahead of his return to the Majors on June 28) allowed a leadoff homer to Addison Barger in the ninth, but then he struck out the side to seal the win and pick up a save.

“For them to come in and cover so many innings and do it as well as they did, for me, I just tip my cap to them,” Steele said. “They’ve been doing a hell of a job down there. I feel like not just me, but everyone in the locker room is kind of expecting it.”