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It's a new season but the same concern for the Chicago Cubs as their bullpen continues to come into question.
The bullpen imploded during the team's loss to the San Diego Padres on Monday but it was the way that the loss occurred that has many Cubs fans worried as they wake up today.
The Cubs jumped out to 8-0 lead over the Padres on Monday before San Diego scored 9 unanswered points, culminating in a go-ahead two-run home run by Fernando Tatis Jr off Cubs' closer Adbert Alzolay in the bottom of the 8th inning.
We will get to Alzolay in a moment but we must start with the struggles of Jose Cuas.
Cuas showed flashes of being a productive relief pitcher for the Cubs after being acquired by the team in a Trade Deadline deal with the Kansas City Royals but has struggled out of the gate this season. In Monday's loss, Cuas was the first man out of the bullpen following Javier Assad's start. Cuas only was able to record one out while giving up 4 runs (2 earned) on 3 hits.
Cuas' ERA now sits at 9.00 through his first 4 appearances this season With Carl Edwards Jr. returning to the organization over the weekend, Cuas' time with the Cubs may be coming to an end soon.
Prior to the game against the Padres, the Cubs also got bad news on the injury to Julian Merryweather. Originally believed to be a shoulder strain, further testing confirmed that Merryweather is dealing with a rib stress fracture and will be shut down for four weeks before resuming baseball activity.
The Chicago Cubs need to find stability in their bullpen.
The concerns of the Cubs' bullpen are further stressed by the struggles of Alzolay this season. While Alzolay hasn't struggled to the extent that Cuas has this season, he is being hit hard with opposing batters hitting .278 against the Cubs' closer through his first 5 appearances this season. Alzolay's WHIP of 1.29 this season would also be the second-highest mark of his career.
It's early but the closer may be the primary target for the Cubs at this season's Trade Deadline and it can not be the flier type of trade that they made for Cuas last season.