Cubs get a key bullpen piece back from the IL, DFA Ty Blach to open a roster spot

Reinforcements are at hand. Veteran left-hander Caleb Thielbar is back from the injured list, giving Chicago Cubs manager a reliable bullpen piece just in time for Tuesday night's tilt against the rival Milwaukee Brewers.

Thielbar, who suffered a hamstring injury back on April 23, returns to a bullpen that's overcome injury after injury and somehow kept its collective head above water. Chicago relievers enter Tuesday with a 3.75 ERA that ranks 12th in MLB, but it's clear the circle of trust is a pretty exclusive club right now.

With Daniel Palencia still being watched closely after missing time with an early-season injury, Counsell has been placed in some unsavory spots of late. With the Cubs losers of seven of 10, Thielbar's return couldn't come at a better time.

Prior to the injury, the southpaw pitched to a 3.12 ERA in 11 appearances, although a 5.30 FIP and 5.2 BB/9 paint a slightly less encouraging picture. Even so, Thielbar is a known commodity with a history of delivering results for the Cubs - which is more than most of the guys who've run through the revolving door in the pen can say.

Cubs have used a staggering number of relief pitchers already in 2026

Counsell has used more than 20 pitchers out of the pen already this year. Hopefully, now that he's back, Thielbar can bridge that gap from the middle innings to Palencia and continue delivering the results that prompted the Cubs to bring him back last winter, despite the fact he turned 39 in January.

Blach, meanwhile, tossed three scoreless frames on Monday against the Brewers in his first MLB appearance since 2024. The pen is inching closer to full strength, but given Phil Maton's continued struggles and Hunter Harvey being on the 60-day IL, the Cubs are plowing ahead without two of its biggest bullpen additions from last offseason. That makes a healthy (and effective) Thielbar more critical than ever if Chicago is going to maintain top billing in the National League Central.

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