Chicago Cubs: Steve Cishek’s usage is key in 2019

There’s plenty of question marks to go around for the Chicago Cubs from the offense to the starting rotation, but the biggest question mark going into 2019 is the bullpen.

With Brandon Morrow out at least the first month of the season due to injury, the Chicago Cubs don’t have an automatic closer to go to in the ninth inning. Course, Pedro Strop did excel in that role last season, which means he’ll likely get the first chance at the role come Opening Day in Texas.

After that, it’s a toss-up. The Cubs best-proven relievers after Strop and Carl Edwards Jr. and Steve Cishek. Early on this spring, Edwards is sporting a new method on the bump with a slight pause, similar to Los Angeles Dodgers’ closer Kenley Jansen. In his three innings of work, he hasn’t given up a run or walked anyone. For such a small sample size and the fact that it’s Spring Training, I won’t jump to conclusions, but it is encouraging to see him try to find improvement in his game.

The fact of the matter is Edwards needs to find a way to be more consistent in the strike zone. The last two seasons, we’ve seen him steady in the first half of the season but fall apart at the end, putting him on a short leash for Joe Maddon. Last year, Edwards posted a 5.14 ERA and 5.73 FIP in September. That’s not good.

Unlike Edwards, Cishek was nothing but spectacular for the Cubs last year, but you can argue he was overworked once he reached 60 innings pitched weeks before the season ended. He ended up throwing a career-high 70 innings in 2018. His previous career high was 69 2/3 innings in 2013 with the Miami Marlins.

At the end of August, Cishek had pitched 61 2/3 innings. The Cubs front office would like that number to be reached by the end of September this season I’m sure.

Similar to Edwards, he’s pitched three innings this spring and hasn’t allowed a run. None of it matters and considering he’s a veteran pitcher, he probably only needs a few more appearances to get prepped and ready for the 2019 run. If there is anything that will be looked at by critics this year, it will be how many innings Cishek pitches.

Through August, Cishek had a 1.90 ERA and 3.13 FIP. In September, those numbers rose to a 4.15 ERA and 5.70 FIP. The narrative that the Cubs bullpen was overworked was not just a narrative; it was a fact.

As far as this season is concerned, it all starts with the starting rotation and getting consistent quality starts from all five starters. If the Cubs can get that production, the bullpen won’t get overworked and we’ll likely see more consistent innings from their key bullpen arms. That said, Cishek and Edwards will be key in the late innings as long as Morrow is out. The Cubs season will depend on it.