Chicago Cubs: Steve Cishek is returning to a reliable bullpen arm

The Chicago Cubs’ Steve Cishek needed to fill several different roles in the bullpen this year, from setup to closer, with varied results. But in a position he’s more comfortable with, he’s pitching well again.

In his 10 year career, the Chicago Cubs’ Steve Cishek has had many roles in the bullpen. In fact, in 2013 and 2014 for the Miami Marlins, he was one of the better closers in the National League saving 34 and 39, respectively. He spent 2016 with Seattle handling the closing duties saving 25 games, but he also blew seven saves. Since then he’s become middle-to late relief but fills in wherever he’s needed.

This season with the bullpen in flux, with Brandon Morrow out until at least after the All-Star Break and Pedro Strop‘s injury issues he’s had to fill the closer role once again. All-in-all, saving 7-of-9 isn’t fantastic–but that’s not his role anymore. He did well enough for the Cubs, and their pen was getting beat up early on.

In his 38 appearances this season, Cishek has allowed runs in only seven of them. On April 24 he allowed three runs to the Dodgers, the second time he had allowed three runs this season. His ERA was 5.79, and this wasn’t typical of Cishek. Carl Edwards Jr. couldn’t be counted on. Morrow was out. And Strop would head to the IL a couple of weeks later. We needed him, and the results weren’t there.

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Now that the Cubs bullpen has begun to stabilize with Craig Kimbrel as the closer, and Strop back as the setup man–Joe Maddon has been able to use Cishek in roles he’s more comfortable with. And Cishek has returned to the numbers we have come to expect of him.

On May 24, Cishek allowed two runs the Cincinnati Reds. That was the last time he’d allowed multiple runs to a team. From May 29 to July 4, Cishek has three saves, four holds and has a 2.51 ERA in 14 1/3 innings.

Opponents are only batting .167 against him in that time, and he’s struck out 15 and walked five. His aLI (average leverage index) is 1.41, which anything above 1.00 is considered ‘high-leverage.’

Maddon needed to insert guys into roles they, quite frankly, weren’t suited for. Was it because the Chicago Cubs didn’t do enough in the offseason? That’s a different discussion. But by going and getting Kimbrel, they addressed their most significant need. As players return from injury, the bullpen will take shape. Unfortunately, there won’t be enough spots for the bodies they have out there.

Again, that’s another point of discussion that we’ll likely to be having shortly after the All-Star break. But for the time being, Cishek has returned to a steady hand in the bullpen; someone Maddon desperately needs right now.