That was a true bullpen meltdown as three Chicago Cubs relievers joined forces to blow a five-run game on Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays. After Pete Crow-Armstrong crushed yet another home run in the sixth that put the Cubs up 5-0, Trent Thornton, Caleb Thielbar, and Jacob Webb couldn’t even get six outs before surrendering the lead. The 8-6 loss ruined the recent good vibes, and while the timing may be a coincidence, the Cubs traded for another relief pitcher after the bullpen disaster.
The Cubs are currently without their closer as Daniel Palencia was placed on the 15-day injured list earlier this week. It seems like he’ll be out for more than the 15-day minimum, considering Craig Counsell said Palencia will be shut down from throwing for at least one week after an MRI revealed a mild flexor strain in the pitcher’s right arm. So, without their closer, a bullpen that’s been hanging on by a thread is losing resistance quickly.
Jacob Webb has now given up runs in three straight outings and four of his last four. Webb took the loss on Saturday, as he allowed three hits, including the go-ahead three-run home run in the eighth inning. Meanwhile, veteran Caleb Thielbar, who was great in 2025, has already served up five home runs this season in 20 innings and now has a 4.95 ERA after 23 appearances.
Phil Maton has been a disaster, and Hunter Harvey is making little progress in his recovery from an injury after pitching only four games to begin the year, so the Cubs need some luck moving forward if they have any chance to stabilize the bullpen.
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The front office has added several relievers since the beginning of the regular season, and the latest is Jayden Murray from the Houston Astros.
Murray, 29, doesn’t have much MLB experience. The right-handed pitcher made his debut in the big leagues with the Astros in 2025, making nine total appearances for Houston. He pitched well, a 1.54 ERA with an 8K/3BB ratio over 11.2 innings. Murray didn’t have the same luck this year, recording a 7.43 ERA in 13.1 innings.
He features five pitches, but Murray primarily leans on his fastball, which averages 95-96mph, pairing it with a sweeper. Murray’s done well at Triple-A this year, with 19 strikeouts in 15.1 innings, giving up only two earned runs, while recording six saves in 14 total appearances.
Hopefully, Murray can be more successful than the previous ex-Astros relievers, as he’ll follow in the footsteps of Hector Neris, Ryan Pressly, and Maton. Murray still has three minor league option years, so the Cubs can hold on to him for a while if he does become a positive presence in the bullpen.
