Jun 26, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Porter Hodge (37) throws a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
How's it going, Chicago Cubs fans?
There's no doubt that bullpen issues are part of the reason the Cubs are in the position they're in entering Tuesday night's game — seven games under .500, 11 games back in the division and 5 1/2 back in the wild card. Yes, the offense has struggled to put together consistently strong efforts, but it's also felt like even when they did, the pen couldn't be trusted to hold onto a lead.
The first two months were particularly rough for the bullpen. Through the end of May, the Cubs bullpen had the fourth-worst ERA (4.61) in baseball and tied for the second-most blown saves (12). There just wasn't any comfort when a reliever had to come in for a high-leverage sp...
Unlock Your Full CHGO Experience
This premium content is a CHGO Diehard exclusive.
Join the Diehard community to gain instant access to this article!
As a CHGO Diehard, you'll gain:
Unlimited access to all premium articles
Discounts on CHGO events and merchandise
Access to a community of passionate Chicago sports fans
An ad-free site experience
Upgrade your fandom and transform the way you follow your favorite teams!