Some stalwarts in the Cubs’ bullpen might be regressing to the mean, and they sure picked a lousy time to do it.
After starter David Peterson gave the Cubs a chance to win, allowing two runs in five innings, Trent Thornton all but removed it, yielding five runs in the sixth in an eventual 10-8 loss to the Reds at Wrigley Field.
Thornton hadn’t allowed a run in August, a span of 10 innings in 11 games. But his ERA went from zero in the month to 4.22 with the two-thirds-of-an-inning outing, in which he allowed a two-run home run to light-hitting catcher Jose Trevino and a three-run blast to Tyler Stephenson.
‘‘He made some bad pitches, and they hit them,’’ manager Craig Counsell said. ‘‘Trent’s been really, really good for a good stretch here, but he made some bad pitches today.’’
Thornton, who didn’t make himself available to talk, wasn’t alone. In his third outing since returning from elbow inflammation, Daniel Palencia turned a one-run deficit in the ninth into two by allowing a homer to TJ Friedl, who looked very proud of his fourth round-tripper of the season.
All of this follows closer Jacob Webb’s implosions on the Cubs’ painful 2-4 road trip to Seattle and Phoenix. After not allowing a run in 24 consecutive appearances, Webb allowed five in two, each capped by a walk-off homer.
Before that run of success, he had a 3.90 ERA through 33 outings. He brought it down to 2.21 with that run. Now it’s on the way back up, perhaps an indication of fatigue as he inches closer to matching his career high in innings pitched (66). He’s at 58⅔.
Counsell said there are no plans to give Webb a break.
‘‘Relievers that have good years, that’s what happens — they get to that point,’’ he said. ‘‘We’re going to need Jacob to be good to accomplish our goals. You’re always monitoring workload; it’s a daily thing. I think Jacob’s in a good spot.’’
What about Ryan Zeferjahn? After looking good for the Angels, he has looked anything but for the Cubs since coming over before the trade deadline. In nine games for his new team, Zeferjahn has a 6.75 ERA.
Left-hander Caleb Thielbar isn’t close to the reliable reliever he was last season, when he had a 2.64 ERA in 67 games. This season, he’s at 5.09 in 48. Perhaps the only reason Colin Rea has been spared is because he hasn’t pitched in a week. Counsell said that has been because of game situations and not about Rea’s health.
Lefty Ryan Rolison, who’s sporting a 2.82 ERA in 47 games, best beware. He might be the next to regress. He had a 7.02 ERA in 31 games last season, though it came with a Rockies club that lost 119 games, two shy of the 2024 White Sox’ major-league record.
The loss moved the Cubs a half-game closer to the furthest they’ve been from the first-place Brewers all season — eight games. It’s looking more and more as though those seven games in 10 days against the Brewers, beginning Monday, only will serve to extend the distance between them.
Peterson wasn’t great — he allowed six hits and three walks — but Counsell pointed out he gave the Cubs a chance, handing a 3-2 lead to the bullpen. He had thrown 88 pitches but said there was no discussion of going out for the sixth.
That honor went to Thornton, who looked nothing like he had, adding to the bullpen’s struggles. Aaron Civale allowed two runs in the seventh, though both were unearned, thanks to an error by third baseman Alex Bregman.
Even a 13-hit performance, including a two-run homer by Michael Busch and a three-run blast by Pedro Ramirez, couldn’t make up for what the relievers wrought.
‘‘We gave up 10 today,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘It’s going to be tough winning games giving up 10.’’
