Statements:
The Chicago Cubs' bullpen struck again Tuesday night.
The Cubs took a 2-1 lead into the ninth inning in the first game of a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Ninth Inning Collapse
Nominal closer Hector Neris melted down, eventually surrendering a three-run walk-off home run to Brandon Lowe, resulting in a 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays (TB 5, CHC 2).
Struggles Continue
Chicago has now lost 13 of its last 18 games.
The Cubs' bullpen now ranks 25th in ERA (4.47).
The Cubs' bullpen now ranks 26th in WHIP (1.37).
The Cubs' bullpen now ranks 22nd in strikeout-to-walk rate (2.23).
The Cubs' bullpen now ranks 27th in win probability added (-0.66) this season.
During this dismal 5-13 stretch, the Cubs have notably lost three games despite leading in the sixth inning or later.
On another occasion, they lost a game that was tied in the seventh inning.
If the bullpen had held those leads, we could be discussing a frustrating 8-10 stretch rather than a disastrous 5-13 run.
Hector Neris: Smoke and Mirrors
Hector Neris was signed to a one-year deal worth $9 million over the winter.
Neris entered Tuesday's game with a respectable 2.63 ERA. However, his performance has shown some alarming trends. Neris had walked 17 batters, nearly as many as he had struck out (22). Various performance estimators indicated some smoke and mirrors: 4.11 ERA and 4.75 xERA.
Despite this, Neris is 9 for 12 in save chances.
The bullpen's issues are glaring.
Offensive Woes
The offense managed just two runs on Tuesday and has been averaging 3.89 runs per game during this 5-13 stretch. The offense could make life much easier for the relievers by scoring more runs. It feels like the Cubs have no margin for error every night.
Silver Lining
Despite the shaky bullpen, inconsistent offense, and a 5-13 record in the last 18 games, there is a silver lining: the Cubs are only one game out of a wild-card spot. Mediocrity is widespread in the National League, and plenty of time remains to turn things around.
Clearly, though, the Cubs have problems that need fixing.
Season Standing
Tuesday's loss dropped Chicago to 32-35 on the season. The Rays improved to an identical 32-35.
The Cubs' schedule doesn’t get any easier as they continue their series with the Rays. Matchups with several strong teams are coming in the next weeks. If Chicago hopes to stay in the wild-card race, improvements need to come quickly in both bullpen performance and offensive output. Fans are growing impatient, and the margin for error is shrinking.
Critical Juncture
The Cubs are at a critical juncture. The bullpen's struggles have highlighted a larger issue that extends to the entire team's performance. There is still time for a turnaround. Whether they can seize the moment remains to be seen.
Quotes
"The Chicago Cubs bullpen struck again Tuesday night."
"Nominal closer Hector Neris melted down, eventually surrendering a three-run walk-off home run to Brandon Lowe."
"Chicago has now lost 13 of its last 18 games."