Examining Cubs, Reds, Tigers, Royals, and Blue Jays

This week, the column visits the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, and Toronto Blue Jays bullpens to determine what is going on and where each of these teams might go from here.  We start in Wrigley.

With the Chicago Cubs Opening Day closer Adbert Alzolay (RHP, CHC) on the 60-day IL with a flexor strain, and Julian Merryweather (RHP, CHC) also out for the foreseeable future, Craig Counsell has been patchworking together the middle innings between starters and Hector Neris (RHP, CHC). It has not been great. Here are the skills to-date:

CHCSVHDIPERAxERAWHIPK%K-BB%HR/9
Neris, Hector8323.02.744.931.5220%3%0.4
Leiter Jr., Mark0823.13.473.011.2432%24%0.4
Alzolay, Adbert IL4117.14.674.721.4417%9%3.2
Miller, Tyson02

Almost!

You’re just a few clicks away from accessing this feature and hundreds more throughout the year that have a singular goal in mind: Winning your league. Subscribe to BaseballHQ.com here!

Already a subscriber? Sign in here

More From Relief Pitchers

Buyers and sellers at the deadline always disrupt bullpens. Here are some potential teams to watch.
Jul 19 2026 3:06am
The relievers in this article are the ones most likely to have 20 or more holds at the end of the season.
Jul 12 2026 3:06am
This column examines the RPs who have at least a 20% K%-BB%, no more than a 1.0 HR/9, and no more than a 3.50 xERA as of July 1.
Jul 5 2026 3:09am
Returning closers and ineffective closers--this column has both and what to expect.
Jun 28 2026 3:07am
This column gets away from closers and looks at relievers who are being used in leverage by their teams. They are divided into groups by current xERA.
Jun 21 2026 3:07am

Tools