Cubs (Gausman) vs D-backs (Kelly): 08/24/26, 8:40 PM

[chibears55]

W.....

 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

1 minute ago, Bull said:

Theilbar has to be gone soon, right? When Steele comes back?

Probably. He still has a good K/BB but there's not really anyone else you would dump right now.

[chibears55]

5 minutes ago, Bull said:

Theilbar has to be gone soon, right? When Steele comes back?

Hopefully,  he got 3 outs but damn they were rough ones.

I bet they put him on IL so he can stick around the team 

Edited yesterday at 04:24 AM by chibears55

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

You've got Shelby Miller, Justin Steele, Ben Brown, Hoby Milner, and Edward Cabrera all close to coming back from injury. And then there's Javier Assad, who I assume they want on the roster as well. Even if they go with 14 pitchers after rosters expand, that's 4 guys who could potentially not be on the team soon. That's gonna be weird.

[Geographyhater8888]

Man it would be nice to get another outing like this from Clay Holmes on Tuesday and win back to back games with the 2 deadline additions for the first time as Cubs. 

When is Ramirez supposed to stop hitting? 

 

Edited yesterday at 09:49 AM by Geographyhater8888

[Butch Gernant]

4 hours ago, mk49 said:

Not quite yet.

Tom Rickets picked them.Lol

[Geographyhater8888]

4 hours ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

You've got Shelby Miller, Justin Steele, Ben Brown, Hoby Milner, and Edward Cabrera all close to coming back from injury. And then there's Javier Assad, who I assume they want on the roster as well. Even if they go with 14 pitchers after rosters expand, that's 4 guys who could potentially not be on the team soon. That's gonna be weird.

Any shot we see Wiggins?

[BKHoo]

Winning a game by 7 with PCA doing nada is nice.  

[Jason Ross]

1 hour ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Any shot we see Wiggins?

Zero. His velo hasn't been right, he isn't on the 40 and the Cubs have plenty of other relievers who are ready to come up. 

[Geographyhater8888]

1 hour ago, Jason Ross said:

Zero. His velo hasn't been right, he isn't on the 40 and the Cubs have plenty of other relievers who are ready to come up. 

Figures. What’s your level of confidence in Steele and or Brown being stretched out for multiple innings from the pen at some point?

Edited yesterday at 12:01 PM by Geographyhater8888

[CubUgly]

7 hours ago, chibears55 said:

Hopefully,  he got 3 outs but damn they were rough ones.

I bet they put him on IL so he can stick around the team 

yeah, he got barreled up pretty good.  Last two outing were the right spots to use him and tells you all you need to know about what the Cubs staff and FO think right now. 

[Wilson A2000]

7 hours ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

You've got Shelby Miller, Justin Steele, Ben Brown, Hoby Milner, and Edward Cabrera all close to coming back from injury. And then there's Javier Assad, who I assume they want on the roster as well. Even if they go with 14 pitchers after rosters expand, that's 4 guys who could potentially not be on the team soon. That's gonna be weird.

Why would Shelby Miller force out anyone not named Thielbar?

[Jason Ross]

53 minutes ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Figures. What’s your level of confidence in Steele and or Brown being stretched out for multiple innings out of the pen at some point?

Honestly? No idea. Haven't seen either in a proper MiLB stint yet. Team is mum. But even on one-inning basis...they have the ability to be exciting and to extend out the pen. 

[Jason Ross]

8 minutes ago, Wilson A2000 said:

Why would Shelby Miller force out anyone not named Thielbar?

Because Shelby Miller looks like he's a very good reliever right now. Something clicked for the dude last year, at age-34 (I know). His velocity jumped significantly, his secondaries got much, much better and he struck out 29% of hitters. His ERA was under 3.00, his xERA was 3.50 and he had elite chase and whiff rates. The velo in Iowa is right back where it was last year despite the injury and the short recovery time. 

The goal for the 2026 Cubs is to win the last baseball game they play. To do that, they need to roster the best 26-players in the organization. A healthy Shelby Miller is likely one of those best-26. I realize the name "Shelby Miller" isn't an exciting one based on who he was but I don't believe today he is that guy any more. Which, let me tell you, if you had told me a decade ago I'd be excited about a Shelby Miller return, I'd have been floored. The same for five years ago. But I think we have to place aside what we used to know about him.

[Wilson A2000]

5 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Because Shelby Miller looks like he's a very good reliever right now. Something clicked for the dude last year, at age-34 (I know). His velocity jumped significantly, his secondaries got much, much better and he struck out 29% of hitters. His ERA was under 3.00, his xERA was 3.50 and he had elite chase and whiff rates. The velo in Iowa is right back where it was last year despite the injury and the short recovery time. 

The goal for the 2026 Cubs is to win the last baseball game they play. To do that, they need to roster the best 26-players in the organization. A healthy Shelby Miller is likely one of those best-26. I realize the name "Shelby Miller" isn't an exciting one based on who he was but I don't believe today he is that guy any more. Which, let me tell you, if you had told me a decade ago I'd be excited about a Shelby Miller return, I'd have been floored. The same for five years ago. But I think we have to place aside what we used to know about him.

September call up, yes. But not before then.

[Jason Ross]

19 minutes ago, Wilson A2000 said:

September call up, yes. But not before then.

What does that have to do with anything? Shelby Miller is on an MLB-contract that extends into next season. He's currently on the 60-day IL. The second they call him up, whether it's tomorrow or a week from tomorrow for September callups, he goes immediately on the 40-man. He has to force someone off of the 40 to get there if it's full and they aren't going to DFA him later. They will also have to take Justin Steele and Ben Brown off the IL-60 to add them in the next few weeks.

It just doesn't matter what day they call him up. Someone, probably a few people, are about to be forced off the roster. The most likely person to get forced off the 40-man will likely be the reliever he replaces. 

Maybe they want to keep Thielbar around as long as possible, so they just hold off on a week, DFA someone like Jayden Murray and call up Miller, but I'd guess the order of operations will be something like:
1. DFA Thielbar, call-up Miller (whenever it happens)
2. Assad as September 1st addition in the bullpen 
3. Rea, Civale and Thornton, two of which will go when Steele and Brown return. 

[Wilson A2000]

25 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

What does that have to do with anything? Shelby Miller is on an MLB-contract that extends into next season. He's currently on the 60-day IL. The second they call him up, whether it's tomorrow or a week from tomorrow for September callups, he goes immediately on the 40-man. He has to force someone off of the 40 to get there if it's full and they aren't going to DFA him later. They will also have to take Justin Steele and Ben Brown off the IL-60 to add them in the next few weeks.

It just doesn't matter what day they call him up. Someone, probably a few people, are about to be forced off the roster. The most likely person to get forced off the 40-man will likely be the reliever he replaces. 

Maybe they want to keep Thielbar around as long as possible, so they just hold off on a week, DFA someone like Jayden Murray and call up Miller, but I'd guess the order of operations will be something like:
1. DFA Thielbar, call-up Miller (whenever it happens)
2. Assad as September 1st addition in the bullpen 
3. Rea, Civale and Thornton, two of which will go when Steele and Brown return. 

I have more confidence in Assad, Rea, Civale, and Thornton than Miller 

[Jason Ross]

8 minutes ago, Wilson A2000 said:

I have more confidence in Assad, Rea, Civale, and Thornton than Miller 

I mean, have you paid any attention to Shelby Miller over the last two years? If not, probably best just to say you really aren't familiar with new-look Shelby than to say something like "I have more confidence in Aaron Civale" a pitcher who's been awful outside of Chicago for 33 IP over two years. Which, is less than the amount of successful MLB innings that Shelby Miller has put up over the last two years.

And to be clear: I think Aaron Civale has done a good job with the Cubs over those 33 IP over two years. I have no problem with him in the bullpen now, and if the Cubs wanted to not bring back Rea and instead give that spot to Civale in 2027, I'd be just fine with it. The Cubs have clearly identified that he needs to lean on the splitter and the cutter while other orgs have not. But he's been DFA'd from two orgs for a reason, as well. So let's also maybe pump the brakes on being more confident with Civale over Miller.

Miller has better stuff. He was better in 2025 than anything I believe Civale is capable of doing and his stuff since returning this year mirrors his 2025 stuff. 

[Derwood]

11 hours ago, Derwood said:

I had a pretty physical day at work, so I'm pretty beat. I'm sure I'll pass out around the 6th inning

Fell asleep mid-game and missed the back to back homers

[Wilson A2000]

11 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

I mean, have you paid any attention to Shelby Miller over the last two years? If not, probably best just to say you really aren't familiar with new-look Shelby than to say something like "I have more confidence in Aaron Civale" a pitcher who's been awful outside of Chicago for 33 IP over two years. Which, is less than the amount of successful MLB innings that Shelby Miller has put up over the last two years.

And to be clear: I think Aaron Civale has done a good job with the Cubs over those 33 IP over two years. I have no problem with him in the bullpen now, and if the Cubs wanted to not bring back Rea and instead give that spot to Civale in 2027, I'd be just fine with it. The Cubs have clearly identified that he needs to lean on the splitter and the cutter while other orgs have not. But he's been DFA'd from two orgs for a reason, as well. So let's also maybe pump the brakes on being more confident with Civale over Miller.

Miller has better stuff. He was better in 2025 than anything I believe Civale is capable of doing and his stuff since returning this year mirrors his 2025 stuff. 

Awful outside of the times he’s not which is now. If Civale struggles, sure drop him. But he’s not.

[Bertz]

Wiggins has to be added to the 40 this winter and things appear to be clicking in relief.  I think if the team was still desperate for arms I'd totally expect him to be our September callup.

But yeah I don't think you can add him to the roster with all of the other moves coming up.  The team already has to make some tough choices:

- You can probably only afford to roster one of Thielbar/Milner.  And Milner's 30 day rehab is about to close so you have to make a call I believe by Friday

- You get an extra roster spot next Tuesday, and timing-wise that seems like it'll be Miller or Cabrera.  But I don't believe you're locked into doing either.  Miller gets an extra long rehab window if needed because he had TJ and there's nothing that says Cabrera can't go out on rehab to get a few bullpen appearances under his belt

- With Civale's emergence cutting Rea feels obvious?  Especially for Cabrera who will also give you some length

- Brown and Steele are far enough out (2-3 weeks for the former, 3-4 for the latter?) that that you can assume someone will go down in the interim.  And Steele will be late enough that you can just IL someone to float you to the end of the season.  But you have to do something you don't like for these guys.  Drop the other of Milner/Thielbar (Miller and Webb are reverse split guys, Peterson and Steele will be added to the pen), option Zeferjahn or Palencia, drop Civale or Thornton even though they're finally pitching well...none of these options feel great even though they come with a big carrot

[Jason Ross]

11 minutes ago, Wilson A2000 said:

Awful outside of the times he’s not which is now. If Civale struggles, sure drop him. But he’s not.

We're getting a point where the goalposts are moving, so I'm going to pull us back. This isn't about Aaron Civale in specific. The Cubs have three P's returning and four pitchers (Thornton, Civale, Thielbar, Rea) who are the most likely to go. What prompted all of this was a discussion about Shelby Miller - let's keep it on him. Both can exist on the same roster.

You have yet to provide anything that makes me understand why you're more "confident" in those four than Shelby Miller. My best guess is that it's simple proximity; you see those guys on the Cubs now, and you likely haven't watched any Shelby Miller outings in a long time. That's not a dig, I haven't watched a lot of Shelby Miller prior to the Cubs picking him, and his resurgence has largely gone under the radar. 

But here's the rub: what Miller does those others don't do. Miller has better stuff right now. He's much more of a strikeout artist. If you told me Shelby Miller is healthy and 100% back, he's just got a bigger ceiling right now than the others. I think he's a better reliever than the others in that state. 

If you want an argument for why we shouldn't be as confident. I'll give you one: he's coming back from TJS and I don't know if he can go back-to-back so I'm not confident he's 100% back. If he can't go back-to-back games than it creates a bit of a bind for a team who won't see a lot of off-days and still has a rotation you can't always bank on for eating innings. Especially if you're going to surround him with Ben Brown and Justin Steele both returning from injury.

[Rcal10]

Honestly the 14 man staff once they can bring a guy up isn’t easy to navigate. If Cabrera is ready I assume he would be the 14th guy. But you have Milner, Assad, Miller, and then, mid September, possibly Brown and Steele. Of the first 3 mentioned I think Miller is the most exciting, if he is healthy. So if you add him I would think either Rea or Civale is dropped. I would want that to be Rea on the chance the Cubs have unlocked something with Civale. If they like Milner more than Theilbar that is an easier 1 for 1. I don’t see both in the team. Sadly, to a lot of Assad fans, I don’t see him on the team either. So now when Brown comes back is it Thornton is is it whoever they kept between Theilbar or Milner? If Steele come back I would guess whoever was was left from the trio of Thornton, Milner and Theilbar. With Miller and Webb being reverse split guys they won’t need Theilbar or Milner. They would have Steele and Rolison in they own. All of this moving around and I don’t see where Assad fits in. (Unless they release Civale)  

Note: Thornton has kind of turned it around a little lately. Throwing harder than even and getting some K’s. I’m not is a huge hurry to see him go. I just don’t know what they do if they do get Cabrera, Miller, Milner, Brown and Steele all back. I guess it is a nice problem to have🤷

[gflore34]

Watched the condensed game highlights, man, it would have be frustrating to watch the Cubs flail away in real time as did against Kelly last night.  Kelly' literally got nothing (someone with access to his underlying peripherals can probably back this up) and Busch could not put the ball in play against him, holy horsefeathers that's frustrating.

On the plus side, playing lacrosse last night, I did manage to catch a nice feed right in front of the goal and proceeded to not score. So there's that, shot hit the shaft of the goalie' stick otherwise, might have scored.

[Tryptamine]

Merrill Kelly accusing the Cubs 3B coach of stealing signs and relaying them to the batters. As if that's necessary to hit Kelly this year.