The Cubs' Bullpen Could Be Their Achilles Heel. Who Will Step Up?

Since dropping both games in the Tokyo Series, the Cubs are an exciting 9-3. The club leads the league in most offensive categories, including runs scored (94). What's more, the squad has a blistering combined OPS of .788. In the most simple terms: the batting is making up for the pitching.

This is not to say the starters have let the club down. Fresh off of Justin Steele's first quality start of the year and Jameson Taillon's second, the rotation (outside of Ben Brown's stumble versus San Diego) has been effective. Bullpens often take the most heat from the outside, given that it's they who are ultimately tasked with putting the game in either the win or loss column.

Sometimes, that's unfair. Cubs righty Nate Pearson, however, has not done much to deflect criticism. Tossing just over five innings to this point, Pearson has surrendered six earned runs, good for a bloated ERA of 10.13. Things won't stay that extreme, but he's dug himself a hole deeper than the emotions in an Adele song.

He's not alone in his mediocrity, either. New closer Ryan Pressly has been just as bad. Pressly has labored out of the gate, throwing few first-pitch strikes and allowing runners aboard in potentially game-saving situations. Does he get thrown under a harsher microscope as he was one of Hoyer's offseason prized acquisitions? Of course. But closers are meant to close in a more satisfying way. He's been reluctant to change his style in light of his advancing age and diminishing stuff, but if he doesn't give an inch, ever, he surely will not survive. Hopefully, Tuesday night's walk-free ninth inning is a sign of things to come.

Looking for a way to get more satisfaction out of your Cubs' bullpen viewing? Let me refer you to Colin Rea and Porter Hodge. It's curious that these two hurlers are at such different junctures in their respective careers: Rea the seasoned veteran, and Hodge the shinier, blossoming reliever. Featuring a punishing sweeper and a developing cut-ride fastball, Hodge continues to dominate. Eavesdropping on the conversations of several blue-pinstriped fans around Wrigley, there's already growing support for him to take up the closer role. I'll withhold my opinion on this until I see a bit more, but it's an argument worth having.

When the former Indiana State Sycamore Colin Rea was signed to the Cubs, the first thought that crossed my mind was: "Oh, Craig Counsell managed him in Milwaukee." It felt as though that established connection might lead to desirable outcomes in games. So far, he's validated this notion. His 5 1/3 innings so far have seen Rea hold opponents scoreless. The biggest lament, really, is that he hasn't pitched more often.

The North Siders have sent a message to the rest of the league that those wishing to reach the Fall Classic, had better factor in a stop in Wrigleyville along the way. Gains in the bullpen could practically make it an inevitability. That's only if the team is willing to hear from the messenger, though. They can't cut out or get free of the middlemen. They'll need to get more from them, instead.