During spring training, few would have predicted Brad Keller would be closing a playoff game for the Cubs.
But there was Keller in the ninth inning, three outs away from securing the Cubs’ first postseason victory since 2017. He needed 11 pitches to get the first two outs before freezing Xander Bogaerts with a sinker down and in for the last out of the Cubs’ 3-1 victory against the Padres in Game 1 of their National League wild-card series.
‘‘I told [manager Craig Counsell during spring training], ‘I just want to be on the team, whatever it’s going to take,’ ’’ Keller said. ‘‘When they called me and told me about maybe moving to the bullpen, I was at a point where I wasn’t sure if I was going to play again. Crazy path. Crazy whirlwind of a year.’’
Many of the Cubs’ relievers have traveled a similar path to the team as Keller. Right-hander Daniel Palencia was acquired in 2021 from the Athletics for Andrew Chafin and struggled with command in the minors before having success in the majors this season.
Left-hander Drew Pomeranz had missed the 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons with injuries before the Cubs decided to trade for him in April while he was in Triple-A with the Mariners.
Now they find themselves getting outs for the Cubs in the biggest moments. None bigger, perhaps, than Palencia, who entered the game with a runner on first base and one out in the fifth.
He proceeded to get Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Arraez to line out to end the inning, then returned to pitch a 1-2-3 sixth, striking out Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill in the process.
‘‘To me, that’s the outing of the game,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘[Palencia] throwing five outs in five hitters and going through the top of their lineup … the game made sense to me after that. Credit to [Palencia] for putting the game back together.’’
Palencia wasn’t fazed facing the Padres’ best hitters. Despite some struggles and injuries, he still had a confident demeanor. Relievers often have a spotlight on them because they often pitch in the biggest moments of a game.
Counsell said that his relievers’ resilience gives the Cubs’ flexibility in key moments. The bullpen delivered 4⅔ perfect innings to stifle the Padres’ attack.
‘‘My mindset was just being aggressive because I’m the guy for that situation,’’ Palencia said. ‘‘I know they are great hitters, but I’m a great pitcher, too.’’
In the history of the best-of-three wild-card series, Game 1 winners have won the series 18 of 20 times. The shutdown performance of the bullpen was critical in giving the Cubs an advantage heading into Game 2.
‘‘It was perfect,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘I’ve talked a lot about [the relievers] helping each other, how that group is connected, and today was a great example of it. They got their outs, and they make their matchups the right matchups. Just a brilliant job.’’
