CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell isn’t about to start thinking he has all the answers.
“The bullpen changes weekly, monthly, year-to-year, you never — I don’t think you ever say you have it figured out,” Counsell said Thursday as the Cubs returned to Wrigley Field for a 10-game homestand.
Counsell came to Chicago a year ago with the reputation of being a bullpen whisperer. When the Brewers were rolling during his nine-year stint in Milwaukee, a big part of that success was Counsell’s ability to put relievers in the right positions. It helped having a solid string of closers on those teams too.
But last season, Counsell’s first in Chicago, the Cubs bullpen proved to be one of the thorns in the team’s side. For the front office, revamping the bullpen became a top offseason priority.
As Counsell said Thursday, he doesn’t have it all figured out.
“You’ve got to stay on your toes with it,” he said.
But the return on investment over the last month has been apparent. Entering play Wednesday ahead of a 7-2 loss in Philadelphia (during which the bullpen gave up just one earned run), the Cubs bullpen’s 0.82 earned-run average was MLB’s best dating to May 14 — a stretch of 24 games.
“It’s a pretty resilient group down there,” right-handed reliever Brad Keller said. “We’ve had some changes down there, but everyone’s piggybacking off of each other. One guy goes in there, does the job. (We) just want to continue to do that. Put up zeros for the hitters to come alive and go out there and win ballgames.”
Keller, whom the Cubs signed on a minor-league deal ahead of spring training, hasn’t allowed an earned run since April 22. He’s one of those offseason additions who has paid dividends. After spending his first six years primarily as a starting pitcher with the Kansas City Royals, Keller has found a home in the Cubs bullpen.
He leads all Cubs relievers with 31 2/3 innings pitched and has a 1.99 ERA to show for it while striking out hitters at the highest rate of his career.
The bullpen success has eased the burden for a rotation that has had to weather injuries to Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga and Javier Assad.
“We’ve just been excellent down there,” Counsell said. “They’ve just not given up runs and I think it also means that they’re getting their outs, somebody’s not getting up (to warm up), they’re getting more rest, they’re getting the best matchups for themselves and for the next guy. All that carries over and I think it has an effect and it’s a credit to them, they’re working as a unit.”
Counsell credited his relievers for carving out their own roles within the bullpen. Keller has emerged as a late-inning weapon, while Daniel Palencia has stepped into the closer role since Porter Hodge went down with an oblique injury last month.
The challenge, of course, will be keeping the hot streak going over the course of a 162-game regular season.
“Obviously you play a lot of games,” Keller said. “You don’t want to overreact after a couple weeks. Guys just trying to get their feet wet. Early in the season it’s really cold. It’s no excuse, we’ve got to go out there and win games and stuff, but I think everyone’s settled into their role pretty nicely. Continue to go out there, stay available, stay healthy and go after guys. It’s been fun.”
Shota Imanaga inches closer to return
Imanaga threw a bullpen session Thursday and will pitch for a second time in the Arizona Complex League on Saturday. Imanaga threw two scoreless innings on Monday in Arizona. That was his first game action since suffering a left hamstring strain on May 4.
Counsell said that if all goes well Saturday, the next step for the lefty starter would be an outing with one of the Cubs’ minor-league affiliates.
Meanwhile, Assad is scheduled to throw a bullpen session over the weekend. Assad injured his oblique in February and has not pitched in the big leagues this season. He had been on his way back before suffering a setback during his second rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on April 22.
Additionally, Hodge will pitch Friday with Iowa. The right-handed reliever has been out since May 17 with an oblique injury.