Jacob Webb has given the Cubs a steady answer in the late innings, and that matters even more now that Daniel Palencia is nearing a return from the injured list.
Webb pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning on Tuesday in a win over the Dodgers, then did it again on Wednesday. Those outings extended his scoreless run to 18 appearances, a stretch that has made him the Cubs' most dependable option when the game is on the line.
That development comes at an important time for Chicago. Palencia was sidelined by elbow inflammation in mid June, and his season has already been limited to a handful of games because of two injured list stays. Even as he works his way back, the Cubs are not planning to simply hand him the closer role again the moment his rehab stint ends.
Cubs want flexibility with Palencia
Craig Counsell said Wednesday that the Cubs will be flexible with where Palencia pitches when he returns, and that the right-hander will make more than one minor league rehab appearance before coming back. The goal is straightforward: build up his workload first and sort out roles later.
“Initially, when Daniel comes back, we certainly should be flexible with where he pitches and just get him into some appearances,” Counsell said. He added that if the bullpen eventually gets more defined, that would be fine, but the team is not forcing a set role right away.
Counsell also pointed to the bigger concern with Palencia’s status. “He just hasn’t pitched [much] this year,” he said, adding that the Cubs need to be careful early and get more innings under his belt before putting him back into a more fixed late-inning role.
That leaves Webb in a strong spot. His recent work has allowed the Cubs to use him in the highest-leverage late-inning situations, and that trust is not likely to disappear just because Palencia is close to returning. Even with the possibility of a healthier bullpen in the near future, Chicago appears comfortable letting the situation evolve rather than making a quick change.
What comes next
The Cubs were set to play a makeup game against the Blue Jays on Thursday, with Kevin Gausman's Cubs debut scheduled for Kansas City this weekend. But the bigger bullpen question is still the same one: will Palencia immediately reclaim his old job, or will Webb keep handling the biggest outs?
For now, the answer looks like flexibility. Palencia is coming back, but Webb has earned the chance to stay involved at the end of games.
