Craig Counsell's bullpen is closer by committee |
The Cubs opened the 2024 season with the intention of Adbert Alzolay being the closer for Craig Counsell’s bullpen.
Alzolay, once a highly touted starting pitching prospect in the Cubs organization, debuted toward the end of 2019 as a starter. He started briefly in 2020 and was handed the ball 21 times as a starter in 2021. But an injury kept Alzolay out all of 2022 until the final month, where he worked out of the bullpen six times and had some success. Because of the right-handers’ success, the Cubs deployed Alzolay out of the bullpen in 2023, and it has become his full-time post. He was primarily used as a multi-inning reliever to start 2023, but some injuries and ineffectiveness gave Adbert Alzolay the ball in the 9th inning on May 6, where he converted a save. Then again, on May 30th. Once again, on June 9th and the 17th. Before you knew it, July came along, and Alzolay converted 18 straight save chances. Before a late-season injury paired with the Cubs’ September collapse, Alzolay had all the makings of an elite end-of-game pitcher. He finished 2023 with 22 saves and a 2.67 ERA. In 64 innings, Alzolay punched out 67 hitters. The Cubs had their closer. It was no surprise that when the Cubs brass was sculpting their roster for 2024 and beyond, closers were not a target. It also makes sense why new manager Craig Counsell gave the ball to Adbert Alzolay in save chances to begin the 2024 season. However, things haven’t gone as smoothly for Alzolay in 2024. Starting with the Cubs' opening day loss to the Texas Rangers, Adbert Alzolay was called on with a lead late and was tagged with his first blown save of the season. I’m sure you all remember the game the Cubs led 8-0 and lost 9-8 to the San Diego Padres. The game-winning run was scored off of Alzolay, who was blown save No. 2. Still on that wild trip out west, the Cubs had a fiery comeback to take an 11-8 lead over the Diamondbacks. Alzolay blew another save that game and the Cubs took another loss in extras, Then against the Marlins on the last homestead, the Cubs held a 2-1 lead before Alzolay entered, and ended up losing 3-2. Alzolay had tallied four blown saves in the first month of the season, more than he had in all of 2024. Craig Counsell said after that game against Miami that Alzolay would not be put out in the 9th inning until he built some confidence back up. He has pitched scoreless innings as a setup man since, and the closer position has been up for grabs. Yency Almonte has had some strong outings lately, which was why one of the save situations against the Astros went to him. In fact, before his outing on Sunday, where he allowed two runs, he had pieced together eight scoreless outings and had five holds and a save to show for it. The other option that has been used a little more frequently in save situations lately has been Hector Neris. The 34-year-old has had success both as a set-up man and as a closer in his 11-year career. Hesetupming off of a stellar season in Houston with a 1.71 ERA in 71 games but has been a career 3.35 ERA pitcher out of the bullpen. Before coming to Chicago, however, he had picked up 89 saves in his career with the Phillies and Astros. So Counsell has given him the ball in three save situations since Alzolay’s demotion, and he is three of three. The Cubs faced an absurd number of injuries early on in 2024 and also lost a handful of winnable games due to ineffective high-leverage pitching. Alzolay is certainly somebody the Cubs hope to get back into higher leverage situations, and trade for bullpen help isn’t out of the question. But the fact is, the Cubs can’t afford to give away any games they should be winning. So, the Cubs need confidence in Neris, Almonte, Alzolay, a potential new player, or whoever else Counsell goes to late in games.
