Chicago Cubs have a dramatic run-scoring problem lately

Chicago Cubs: Banking on the bullpen is a huge gamble

But earlier in the season the Cubs were frequently coming back to win games that they trailed in early. Recently it feels that they are nearly incapable of coming back. This isn’t because the Cubs can’t hold it together and play good baseball to prevent the game from getting away. Its because they are unlikely to score enough runs to comeback from even a modest deficit.

“After it gets past four/five, it really falls off a cliff a bit,” Maddon said. “We really have to get the bottom part playing.”

Developments in the bullpen will make it even more difficult to win close games down the stretch.

Pedro Strop‘s injury means he will miss at least the rest of the regular season. Brandon Morrow still isn’t back and is just one minor setback from being ruled out for the season too. Carl Edwards Jr. is going though one of his stretches when he can’t find the strike zone. Steve Cishek seems to battling his intense workload as his earned run average continues to climb. After a stellar season, all of those innings and appearances seem to finally be catching up with the right-hander.