Craig Counsell Pressing All The Right Buttons: New Hero Steps Up in Chicago Cubs Bullpen
The Chicago Cubs have won 14 of their last 18 games, and while they certainly have talent up and down the roster to go on a run like this, you have to consider all the pitching injuries that make the 14-4 stretch even more impressive. This week started with the fan base having had enough of right-handed reliever Jacob Webb, but on Friday, he became the newest bullpen hero for Craig Counsell.
Starter Colin Rea turned in another solid performance against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Friday’s series opener. Rea bounced back from a rough outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers, as he was charged with two earned runs in 5.1 innings. At first, the bullpen move from Counsell backfired when Ryan Rolison walked the first batter he faced, and then after a weird play on a bunt, the Diamondbacks hit a three-run home run that cut the Cubs’ lead from five to one.
So, what looked like a somewhat stress-free afternoon suddenly turned into a one-run game with the Cubs’ bullpen in tatters. Phil Maton made his second appearance since coming back from the injured list, and he had the best inning of his season, retiring the side in order with two strikeouts in the seventh. Then, Counsell made the move every fan was dreading.
Still at 6-5 in the eighth, Jacob Webb entered to protect the lead. He also set down Arizona 1-2-3, including a strikeout of Geraldo Perdomo. Ben Brown and Hoby Milner closed out Wednesday’s game in San Diego, and whether they were simply unavailable or Counsell didn’t like the matchup or a combo of both, the manager surprisingly stuck with Webb in the ninth inning.
After walking the hottest hitter on the planet, Ildemaro Vargas, Webb struck out Corbin Carroll, got a ground ball out off the bat of Ketel Marte, and then recorded the save by striking out Gabriel Moreno.
Prior to his two-inning save on Friday, Webb was giving up a run every other appearance out of the bullpen. He had a 5.06 ERA in 13 games with two blown saves. Hitters are slashing .314/.390/.529 against Webb this season, but for at least one game, he was the hero the Cubs needed.
Webb became the sixth Cubs pitcher to record a save this year. Looking at the stats, it is truly incredible how well Counsell has mixed and matched his relievers to get through this painful stretch of injuries.
That list doesn’t include Brown, who has arguably been the most important reliever for the Cubs this season. The right-handed pitcher has a 1.99 ERA in 22.2 innings this year. He’s been an exceptional multi-inning reliever, getting at least five outs in all 10 of his relief outings to begin the 2026 season.