ST. LOUIS — Perhaps nothing embodies the state of the Chicago Cubs bullpen through four months more than this: It already set a franchise record for most pitchers to record a save in one season.
Saves have been an official stat only since 1969, but Aaron Civale’s clean 10th inning Thursday secured a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals for the right-hander’s first save of the year — the 13th Cubs pitcher with at least one.
The Cubs at times have been forced into less-than-ideal situations for an injury-tested pitching staff. The trade deadline, which arrives at 5 p.m. Monday, offers a path to upgrade roster shortcomings as the Cubs (62-47) try to chase down the Milwaukee Brewers (67-41), who lead the National League Central by 5½ games.
President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and the front office are tasked with determining how aggressive of an investment they want to make in the coming days to improve a roster that has a strong hold on the top NL wild-card position. The Cubs enter the weekend five games up on the last playoff spot.
“It’s all risk,” manager Craig Counsell said Thursday. “It’s risk for the organization in terms of the future and now, and (Hoyer’s) job is to assess that daily. That’s one of his main jobs, and players don’t like talk about the future or fans don’t like to talk about the future. But he has a responsibility for the future, and so it’s one of the hardest parts about that job.”
The biggest gamble would require giving up some combination of top prospects and likely young players on the big-league roster to land Detroit Tigers ace and soon-to-be free agent Tarik Skubal. Hoyer’s decades in front-office decision-making positions are valuable in these moments, as is seizing an opportunity for a special group that needs pitching help.
“You use the experience, and the experience gives you a more well-rounded perspective of how these things go down,” Counsell said. “And situationally, buyers and sellers and what do rentals get and things like that, and how are people motivated, relationships with decision makers and understanding them, mistakes, success — that sharpens your instincts. So that’s the value of experience for sure.”
The Cubs have one of the most talented position-player groups in franchise history. Since 1901, only four Cubs teams — 1931 (89.2), 2025 (82.8), 1930 (73.2) and 1937 (73.0) — have finished higher than their current 58.1 in the Offense metric, which weighs total ballpark-adjusted value at the plate and on the bases.
The organization should try to capitalize on one of the most dangerous offenses in the game by supplementing the pitching.
The rotation showed during a 5-2 trip to Pittsburgh and St. Louis what it can do at its best. Over the last three weeks, Cubs starters have combined for a 2.88 ERA in 21 games. A good chunk of those runs came against Jameson Taillon, who was designated for assignment Monday; remove his two outings and the rotation has a 1.30 ERA in that span.
“We have a lot of talent in our rotation, and guys continue to build off of good performances to grow and adapt from what we do in a positive way,” Matthew Boyd said after throwing seven shutout innings Wednesday. “It’s been fun to watch all those guys. We have a very good rotation with the guys that are in here. If guys are added, it’s always welcome. It’s going to make us better.”
The last two games of the Cardinals series also reiterated the need for relief help before the deadline.
Injuries have limited Counsell’s options in high-leverage spots the last couple of months. The Cubs have had relievers emerge in those opportunities, namely Gavin Hollowell, Tyler Ferguson and Trent Thornton to varying degrees. But that has come with uncertainty given performance trends.
Cubs reliever Aaron Civale pitches during the 10th inning against the Cardinals on Thursday, July 30, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)
Thornton had a 2.51 ERA entering his 10th-inning appearance Wednesday but has an 11% strikeout rate this season — down 6% from last year and 15% from 2024. The reliance on balls in play for success played out in the wrong direction Wednesday when Thornton couldn’t close out the Cubs’ two-run lead in a 3-2 walk-off loss.
“That’s something we’ve looked at, and obviously it’s a significant drop — he’s been effective, but it’s a significant drop,” Counsell said. “And a strikeout helps, you know what I mean? That’s where the ground ball (Wednesday) night up the middle to start the inning — it’s a good pitch, it’s the result you want — but sometimes when the ball’s in play, that’s what happens.”
Acquiring a high-leverage reliever might not come cheaply, even if it’s an impending free agent. But the Cubs desperately need more swing and miss in their bullpen. Even as closer Daniel Palencia nears a return in August from a flexor strain, they’re missing firepower and experience.
Counsell more often than not has pulled the right lever in big spots.
“It’s just our journey this year with our bullpen,” he said. “Some of it is injury-related. I give Jacob Webb a lot of credit in this thing, how he’s handled whatever has been put in front of him. For the last three months it’s been the biggest out in the game. He’s handled those outs, so I give Jacob a lot of credit in making it possible.”