Cubs Tie Angels With 25 Lost Leads
Cubs Tie Angels With 25 Lost Leads
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Key Points
1
The Cubs’ projected 28 blown saves would tie for their third-highest total in a season, behind 29 in 2000 and 31 in 2022. They blew 20 saves last season, following 26 in 2024, 22 in 2023 and 31 in 2022.
2
Chicago relievers have had 57 save opportunities in 145 games, or 39.3% of their games. That is slightly below the 58.5-opportunity average for the other 29 teams, indicating the Cubs’ problem is the conversion rate rather than an unusually high number of chances.
3
The Cubs’ next game presents a significant starting-pitching disadvantage: Milwaukee’s right-hander known as “the Miz” enters with a sub-2.00 ERA and a 14-5 record, while Chicago counters with midseason addition Peterson, who is 4-2 with an ERA in the mid-5.00s.
4
Criticism of Craig Counsell is intensified by his history with Milwaukee: Chicago gave him a record-setting contract to leave the Brewers, while his former bench coach, Pat Murphy, has since managed Milwaukee and has been portrayed as repeatedly outmaneuvering him.
5
Matthew Boyd’s seven-inning performance lowered his ERA to 4.03, and the criticism of Counsell was framed partly around the belief that Boyd could still be an important premium starter for Chicago in the postseason despite Monday’s eighth-inning collapse.
The Chicago Cubs blew another late lead Monday, falling 4-3 to the Milwaukee Brewers in 10 innings. The loss extended Milwaukee's NL Central advantage to nine games and exposed a season-long crisis: Chicago has now tied the Angels with 25 blown saves, seventh-most in baseball Reuters.
The Cubs are on pace for 28 blown saves this season—a dramatic jump from 20 last year. Manager Craig Counsell faced fresh criticism for leaving Matthew Boyd in to pitch the eighth inning, where the starter allowed a walk and double that set up the rally CBS News.
Boyd's Eighth-Inning Collapse Sparked Brewers' Comeback
Matthew Boyd pitched seven solid innings with a 4.03 ERA but surrendered a leadoff walk and double in the eighth. Reuters reported that Jackson Chourio then tied the game with a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth. Luis Lara added a bases-loaded single in the tenth to seal the Brewers' 4-3 victory.
Cubs' Conversion Rate, Not Opportunities, Drives Save Crisis
Chicago relievers faced 57 save opportunities in 145 games—39.3% of contests. That's actually slightly below the 58.5-opportunity average for other MLB teams. The real problem: the Cubs convert saves at a much lower rate than competitors.
If the Cubs finish with 28 blown saves, it would rank third-worst in franchise history. They had 31 in 2022, 29 in 2000, and 26 in 2024. Last season they blew only 20, making this year's spike especially stark.
Counsell's Bullpen Moves Face Mounting Scrutiny
Criticism of manager Craig Counsell intensified after he left Boyd in to start the eighth and then made questionable relief decisions. CBS News covered the loss, which highlighted Counsell's recent struggles in close games. Some analysts pointed out that Boyd could still be a premium postseason starter if the Cubs make October.
Cubs Face Steep Pitching Disadvantage Against Brewers
Chicago's next matchup presents a starting-pitching mismatch. Milwaukee counters with a right-hander carrying a sub-2.00 ERA and a 14-5 record. The Cubs counter with David Peterson, who allowed one run on six hits Monday but is 4-2 with an ERA in the mid-5.00s CBS Sports.
Sentiment
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Publishers
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Articles
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Reach
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