Caleb Thielbar’s Challenges This Season
Caleb Thielbar, a 39-year-old left-handed reliever for the Chicago Cubs, maintains humor despite a tough period in his career. Though he has not allowed a walk in his last 15 games since June 29, Thielbar’s performance has suffered in other areas. During this time, he has posted a 7.30 ERA, conceding 10 runs on 18 hits, including five home runs. These struggles perplex many as his metrics match those from his outstanding 2025 season. He continues to strike out batters, with 15 strikeouts in his last 12 1/3 innings, and his fastball speed has increased by 0.5 mph compared to last year.
Thielbar commented, “I’m honestly trying not to dive into it. I know that strikeout rate and walk rate are very well correlated to success, and it’s not happening right now. I guess I’m just trying to hang on until it turns around without losing my mind. That’s kind of the main thing.”
His Batting Average on Balls in Play (BABIP) is now .314, up from .226 in 2025, indicating some bad luck. In a recent game against the Royals, he gave up two runs on three hits in only 1/3 of an inning. While his hard-hit rate has risen to a career-high of 40.6%, nearly 9% higher than last year, he avoided hard-hit balls in that particular outing.
“It’s hard to say that’s a step in the right direction,” Thielbar said, “but at least it wasn’t balls getting pounded all over the yard against some pretty good hitters too.” His focus remains on rest and returning with a positive mindset.
The Cubs need Thielbar to resemble his prior performance when he was a dependable reliever and excelled in crucial situations. The rise in home runs allowed, 10 in 35 2/3 innings this season, has hurt his performance the most. Most of the damage stems from his fastball and slider.
Manager Craig Counsell stated, “So then you go to the softer stuff: Are we calling the right pitches? Are we sequencing things right? What does our command look like? That’s the things we’re trying to unlock.” Despite the challenges, Counsell trusts Thielbar will remain crucial in pivotal moments.
Injury Concerns for Phil Maton
Veteran reliever Phil Maton hopes to return to play this season, but a partially torn patellar tendon in his knee casts doubt on this possibility. Initially dealing with tendinitis, his knee problem persisted, forcing him to the injured list on July 20 for the third time. The Cubs are not planning on Maton’s significant contribution for the remainder of the season.
The knee issue originated in the previous season with the Texas Rangers. Maton regretted not getting imaging done after the 2025 season to identify potential issues. The injury did not noticeably interfere with his offseason training, and he signed with the Cubs in November. However, recurring pain began during spring training; subsequent imaging revealed the partially torn tendon.
Maton received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection on July 21. He expects another week or two before a decision on his return attempt is made. He has managed to throw on flat ground but has not progressed to mound work. By late August, a decision on further physical build-up will be made. It remains uncertain if surgery will be needed off-season to repair the tendon.
Braxton Garrett Embraces New Opportunities
Recently acquired Chicago Cubs pitcher Braxton Garrett is adapting to a fresh start after ten years with the Miami Marlins. Garrett, a seventh-round draft pick in 2016, joined the Cubs on August 3 during the trade deadline. His confidence has increased, knowing that the Cubs’ president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer, highly valued him.
Although not surprised about the trade, Garrett expressed contentment about joining the Cubs. Recovering from Tommy John surgery, he initially struggled to regain his command—a key part of his game. Garrett prefers challenging hitters rather than seeking strikeouts alone, aiming to endure longer in games.
Manager Craig Counsell conveyed to Garrett that his current role offers valuable experience, even though his time in the majors might be brief. Optioned before a recent game to make room for Clay Holmes, Garrett is viewed as a potential long-term asset for the Cubs.
Counsell expressed optimism about Garrett’s capabilities, highlighting his strong performance in Triple-A and potential significant contribution next year.