The Chicago Cubs’ season took another troubling turn Wednesday as they fell to the Milwaukee Brewers 8-6, completing a series sweep that threatens their playoff hopes. Starting pitcher Kevin Gausman struggled early, allowing six earned runs in the first two innings as Milwaukee built a commanding lead. While the Cubs mounted a late rally with five runs in the ninth inning, they ultimately fell short of a comeback, leaving manager Craig Counsell frustrated with his team’s overall performance across all facets of the game.
Chicago’s postseason positioning has deteriorated dramatically in recent weeks. The Cubs held a comfortable 7.5-game cushion for a wild-card spot just weeks ago but now cling to the second wild-card berth, trailing the Philadelphia Phillies by 1.5 games. With 15 regular season games remaining and a record of 16 losses in their last 26 outings, the Cubs face mounting pressure to stabilize their performance before the playoffs begin. The team maintains tiebreaker advantages over several competitors, but opportunities to gain ground are rapidly diminishing.
Recurring bullpen failures continue plaguing Chicago’s pitching staff. Relief pitcher Jacob Webb, who had posted a lengthy scoreless streak earlier in the season, has collapsed recently, contributing to multiple losses. The Cubs’ relief unit carries the worst ERA in baseball at 5.08 since late August, and manager Counsell acknowledged the lack of defined roles has complicated deployment decisions throughout the season.
Another persistent issue affecting the Cubs involves home runs allowed. The pitching staff has surrendered a league-leading 221 home runs this season—more than the team’s own league-leading 203 homers hit. Club officials, including president Jed Hoyer, identified this concern as a critical area requiring immediate attention moving forward.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
About the Author
