3 things that went right for the Chicago Cubs during the month of May

Chicago Cubs: Bullpen ranked among the best in baseball in May

While it might not feature a lot of eye-catching or flashy names, the Chicago Cubs bullpen has shown its more than ready to go toe-to-toe with the best in the game.

During the month of May, as a unit, Cubs relievers worked to a 1.59 ERA. It’s been all hands on deck and, seemingly, there has been no weak spots in the chain. From young arms like Keegan Thompson (0.52 ERA in 10 appearances) and Tommy Nance (0.00 ERA in seven appearances) to seasoned veterans like Ryan Tepera (0.61 ERA in 14 appearances) and Andrew Chafin (0.66 ERA in 11 appearances) – this group deserves a ton of credit for the team’s resurgence.

In the ninth inning, Craig Kimbrel continues to dominate, as well. Given he’s heading into his mid-30s and is in the final year of his contract, he’s a prime trade candidate this summer, but, for now, let’s just enjoy what he’s doing in the late innings.

On the year, Kimbrel has a dozen saves to go along with a 0.82 ERA. He’s struck out 36 in just 22 innings of work and he’s regained his footing as one of the top ninth-inning arms in the league. A deal that once looked like a complete bust is looking more and more palatable as the veteran right-hander continues to pitch well.