(670 The Score) The Cubs were on the verge of winning their opening series stateside before their bullpen collapsed Sunday.
The Cubs took a 6-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth against the Diamondbacks before their bullpen imploded by allowing eight runs.
Left-hander Caleb Thielbar walked the first two batters of the inning before right-hander Eli Morgan entered to disastrous results, as he allowed six runs, all earned, on six hits and a walk while recording just two outs before exiting.
On their show Monday, 670 The Score hosts Mike Mulligan and David Haugh discussed the state of the Cubs’ dismal bullpen, which was without high-leverage reliever Julian Merryweather on Sunday because he was tired from having warmed up twice Saturday without being used in the game. The Cubs split their four games with the Diamondbacks and are off to a 2-4 start.
“They definitely have a bullpen problem,” Mulligan said.
“That series against Arizona was a continuation of bullpen problems (from 2024). How many guys are you going to walk? … It was awful.”
Beyond that, Cubs closer Ryan Pressly barely held on for the save in the Cubs’ 4-3 win against the Diamondbacks on Saturday. Entering in the bottom of the ninth with a 4-1 lead, Pressly allowed a two-run homer before the Diamondbacks eventually loaded the bases on an infield single with two outs.
Luckily for Pressley and the Cubs, shortstop Dansby Swanson made a heads-up play and tagged the runner out at third base after he overran the bag on the infield single.
“Ryan Pressly does not look good,” Mulligan said. “It’s really early and you don’t overreact to anything, but holy cow.
“The takeaway from the second series of the season … is they’ve got a bullpen issue.”
The 36-year-old Pressly is giving Haugh “major Craig Kimbrel vibes” early in his Cubs career. In 2019, the Cubs signed the future Hall of Fame closer Kimbrel to a lucrative contract, only for him to then struggle by posting a 6.53 ERA that season and a 5.28 ERA in 2020. The Cubs traded him to the White Sox during the 2021 season.
“Why was he available?” Haugh said of the Cubs acquiring Pressly in a trade with the Astros. “He was available for a reason. The Astros tend to know what they’re talking about. I know there was a setup factor for Josh Hader. It didn’t work out last season, whatever the case is. But I’m starting to wonder – why was he available?”