The Chicago Cubs’ precarious bullpen situation means every pitching appearance is under the proverbial microscope.
So, you can forgive Cubs fans if, two batters into Friday’s series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, they started to feel a bit queasy.
Konnor Griffin roped a triple to the right-center gap, then scored on an Oneil Cruz single to left field off Shota Imanaga. With 27 outs to go, the Cubs’ four-game losing streak looked destined to extend. Then, catcher Carson Kelly nabbed Cruz as he attempted to swipe second, and, after a lengthy review, the call was upheld.
That helped Imanaga find his groove.
But Alex Bregman and the rest of the Cubs’ offensive eruption allowed Imanaga to settle into cruise control, which helped give the Cubs a 12-2 blowout of the Pirates at Wrigley Field.
“I think that was huge for us,” Imanag said through an interpreter of Kelly’s caught stealing. “If he hadn’t done that, that game could have spiraled, that inning could have spiraled. So I’m very glad that he got him out, and having Carson here, it’s very reassuring.”
Imanaga worked out of a two-out single in the frame, then escaped a leadoff walk in the second to keep the deficit at one.
That’s when the Cubs offense, which scored 15 runs in their four-game skid (3.8 per game), woke up. They scored three times in the bottom of the second, highlighted by Kelly’s two-out, two-run double. They added a pair of runs an inning later, then Bregman delivered the knockout blow.
Bregman hit a two-run home run that landed in the left-field basket, capping a four-run frame that put the Cubs in control.
“Breggy’s homer obviously kind of changed the game, put it out of reach,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “(Three) straight innings where we just did a lot of good things.”
Photos: Chicago Cubs 12, Pittsburgh Pirates 2
Bregman finished 3-for-4, and it was another impressive performance in the second half for the 32-year-old. His home run was his 25th, and his sixth-inning double was his 30th. That puts him right in line with his career marks.
He averaged 23 home runs, 31 doubles and an .803 OPS in his last four seasons before joining the Cubs. Bregman has an .800 OPS despite having just nine home runs, 15 doubles and a .696 OPS at the All-Star break.
“I think probably like June, kind of just decided like, don’t really care what my numbers look like,” Bregman said. “I care about fixing my mechanics for the rest of my career. I feel like that mentality allows you not to chase hitting seven homers in one at-bat, and it allows you just to take one at-bat at a time and try to win the next pitch and win the next at-bat.
“Stuck to that for the most part. It’s hard. It’s tempting to go up there and try and get it all back with one swing.”
Bregman’s improvement has been a complement to Pete Crow-Armstrong’s incredible season and lengthens the Cubs lineup.
“It’s capable of being the best offense in baseball,” Bregman said. “I feel like we’ve shown that this year, and you just got to be consistent with what we’re doing.”
Cubs catcher Carson Kelly hits a two-run double in the second inning against the Pirates on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
The Cubs hope Kelly’s play and the offensive performance Friday — they finished with 16 hits — can be a spark. They trail the Philadelphia Phillies by a half-game for the top NL wild-card spot after Friday’s win. The Phillies played the Braves later Friday in Atlanta.
“That’s massive, that’s what you need,” Bregman said of Kelly’s first-inning play. “When it’s going bad, you need to stop the bleeding. When it’s going good, you need to keep going and keep riding that out. Felt like that was a pivotal moment in the game.”
Injury updates
Counsell and the Cubs provided a clear timeline on shortstop Dansby Swanson (left oblique) and offered information on other injured players Friday.
Swanson had an on-field workout Friday, will hit off the Trajekt machine Saturday and have another workout Sunday before joining Triple-A Iowa for a rehab assignment Tuesday or Wednesday.
“Then we hope to have him active on Friday in Cincinnati,” Counsell said before Friday’s win. “That’d be the exact plan. He’s far enough along where I think we’re confident that he’s going to get to Iowa.”
Happ left Friday’s win after the fourth inning with some right toe discomfort. He fouled a pitch off his toe on Tuesday in Milwaukee, and Counsell played it safe with the big lead.
“I think if it was a really tight game, we keep him in there,” Counsell said. “But it’s just, got to get him off his feet for four innings and hopefully that just takes a little wear and tear off of it.”
The Cubs will soon decide whether right-hander Edward Cabrera (right middle finger blister) will rejoin the team. He has made three relief appearances for Iowa, allowing six earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. He’s expected to pitch out of the bullpen for the Cubs.
Shelby Miller (right elbow surgery) is nearing a return, too, but the Cubs will be more cautious with him. He has made 12 rehab appearances for Iowa and Double-A Knoxville, posting an 8.38 ERA in 9.2 innings with 17 strikeouts.
“I think what we’re evaluating with guys like Shelby (is) the seriousness of his injury, and are you back to yourself at this point?” Counsell said.
Count left-hander Justin Steele (left elbow surgery) in that category too. He has made three rehab appearances but has not appeared in a major-league game since April 2025, so the Cubs want more volume out of him before a potential return.
“I think Justin’s doing well,” Counsell said. “We’re three outings in, happy with what’s going on, but he’s going to need to pitch more.”
Right-hander Phil Maton was scheduled to have a right knee debridement Friday, the team said. He posted a 6.18 ERA in 31 appearances for the Cubs this season after signing a two-year deal in the offseason.
Andy Martinez is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.