The Chicago Cubs roster will be under the microscope for the next few days — and it wasn’t just the reappearance of utilityman Matt Shaw on Friday morning.
The bullpen will be followed closely in light of the potential returns of left-hander Hoby Milner and starter-turned-reliever Edward Cabrera. The Cubs will be able to add a pair of players, including one pitcher, when the calendar flips to September on Tuesday.
But Friday’s 10-8, series-opening loss to the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field was a prime example of why the relief corps will be so vital over the final 27 games of the season. Manager Craig Counsell, pitching coach Tommy Hottovy and the rest of the Cubs brass will want to fine-tune the right mix of eight pitchers for October, and outings like Friday will be another data point for them to analyze when they assemble their group.
Photos: Cincinnati Reds 10, Chicago Cubs 8
The Cubs bullpen surrendered eight runs — with all three relievers coughing up at least one and Trent Thornton’s five-run sixth the difference in the loss. The right-hander hadn’t allowed a run in August, had permitted just four since June 24 and had a 2.32 ERA entering Friday.
“He made some bad pitches and then they hit them,” Counsell said after the loss. “Trent’s been really, really good for a good stretch here, but he made some bad pitches today.”
Thornton’s success highlights the precarious position the Cubs are at with their bullpen. The eight-man group features just three pitchers with minor-league options — right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn, who was acquired at the trade deadline, left-hander Ryan Rolison and right-hander Daniel Palencia, both of whom are key leverage arms for Counsell.
That means the Cubs would have to part ways with one of the other five members of their pen rotation — Thornton, closer Jacob Webb, left-hander Caleb Thielbar or long relievers Aaron Civale and Colin Rea — if they want to add Milner back into the fold.
Milner went on a minor-league rehab assignment July 29 after an appendectomy. A player can be on a rehab assignment for only 30 days, meaning the Cubs must decide before Saturday’s game if they want to activate him from the IL or designate him for assignment. There was a report during the game that stated he had been DFA’d, but Counsell denied that.
“That’s not accurate,” he said after the game. “I can’t comment any more than that, but that’s not accurate.”
Regardless of Milner’s status, the Cubs bullpen figures to have some churn over the last weeks of the season. Cabrera threw a live batting-practice session Friday at the team’s complex in Arizona. If he recovers well, he could go on a rehab assignment after that before returning to the bullpen mix, as the Cubs hope using him in quicker bursts could allow him to avoid the blister issue that landed him on the IL for the second time this season.
“We’re going to do some shorter stints with him, yes,” Counsell said before the game.
Cubs reliever Aaron Civale walks back to the mound after giving up a two-run single to Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz in the seventh inning Aug. 28, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
But even without including Cabrera in the immediate mix, the Cubs are operating with two long relievers: Civale, who allowed a pair of unearned runs in 2 1/3 innings Friday, and Rea, who hasn’t pitched since Aug. 21 and has thrown just three innings since Aug. 9.
“He’s healthy, (it’s just been) game situation,” Counsell said of Rea.
The Cubs offense did receive a boost when Shaw was activated from the IL, with outfielder Kevin Alcántara optioned to make room for the utilityman. Shaw originally landed on the IL on June 29 with a sprained left hand and had setbacks that delayed his return until Friday.
“It was one of those things where I assumed it was going to be quicker. It ended up taking a really long time,” Shaw said before the game. “So it tested my patience, for sure. I’m glad to be back.”
Cubs pinch hitter Matt Shaw hits a double in the eighth inning against the Reds on Aug. 28, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Shaw gives Counsell another option off the bench, able to deploy him across the infield or in the outfield and play matchups late in games.
“We haven’t run into a ton of situations where we need it,” Counsell said before the game. “You don’t know which game you’re going to run into that situation — frankly, most games you don’t for our roster — but there’s going to be some days where we do run into it, and he’s valuable when he’s on the bench.”
Shaw pinch hit in the Cubs’ four-run eighth inning that nearly completed an improbable rally. He doubled after Pedro Ramírez’s three-run home run made it a 9-7 deficit. Shaw scored three batters later on Seiya Suzuki’s double, but the Cubs right fielder was stranded on second as the tying run to end the frame.
“You score eight runs and I think you’re pleased,” Counsell said. “We did a good job. We created some opportunities.
“We gave up 10 today. That’s going to be tough winning games giving up 10.”
Andy Martinez is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune