OK, so we’re not getting the Cubs dream scenario in Game 5 against the Brewers, which would have been ducking a rostered player onto the injured list, moving rookie Cade Horton in his place and watching Horton dominate the Brewers to complete a wild National League Division Series comeback. But give manager Craig Counsell credit. We’re still getting potential storybook stuff here on Saturday night: 36-year-old lefty Drew Pomeranz.
The Cubs, in shuffling through their options to start the clincher, came up with a pitcher who, until this season, had not even made a big-league start since 2019, and had not pitched at all in the majors since 2021.
Pomeranz, who pitched for Counsell when both were in Milwaukee in 2019, completed a grueling comeback after injuries nearly ended his career in 2021. But he got back on the mound for the Cubs in April, and went 2-2 with a 2.17 ERA in 57 games.
Pomeranz made five scoreless appearances in the Cubs’ postseason so far, making him Counsell’s choice to face the Brewers in a make-or-break situation.
Drew Pomeranz Liked Pitching for Cubs’ Counsell
It’s been a rocky career for Pomeranz, a former first-round pick who struggled to find his footing in the majors, but eventually worked his way into role as a very good starting pitcher–he was an All-Star in 2018–before arm injuries and decreased effectiveness sent him to the bullpen.
He had two good years as a reliever, but arm injuries again KO’d him and after August 2021, he went through a litany of minor-league contracts, arm surgeries and rehab stints–the Angels, Dodgers, Giants and Mariners all signed him and let him go–before he got a call from Counsell in April.
“It’s always good when he calls and the name pops up on your caller ID,” Pomeranz said earlier this year. “I loved playing for Counsell. I was with him for two-and-a-half months, and that’s probably the best two-and-a-half months I’ve ever pitched, to be honest. I told him, ‘I was pretty good for you last time, so hopefully I can give you something like that again.’”
Cubs Need a Clean First Inning
He has. In fact, Pomeranz did not allow an earned run until July 5, a span of 26 scoreless appearances, a rousing start to his comeback. Now, Counsell is calling on him again.
Pomeranz technically started four games this season, though all were bullpen starts that did not go past one inning. The Cubs were 2-2 in those games, and Pomeranz did not allow a run in three of the four games.
It’s unlikely that Counsell will seek to extend him much past an inning. And it’s clear that Counsell is trying to reverse what the team saw in the first two games against the Brewers in Milwaukee: Chicago gave up nine runs in the first innings of those two games, and Counsell does not want to come out in a similar hole on Saturday.
Drew Pomeranz Story the Big Key in Game 5
Yeah, that leaves the team open to some high-leverage situations without their best setup-innings lefty later in the game. But getting through the first inning matters a lot for the Cubs, and Pomeranz should be able to do that. After him, the team can turn to Colin Rea, who’s capable of giving them three or four innings in a starter-type capacity.
And in the bigger picture, as USA Today’s Bob Nightengale wrote on X/Twitter, Pomeranz to open Game 5 is the real story.
He noted: “Drew Pomeranz’s Cinderella comeback story continues: The 36-year-old left-handed reliever, who had not pitched in the big leagues since 2021 before this year, will be the Chicago Cubs’ starter tonight in Game 5 against the Milwaukee Brewers.”
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