It’s been the never-ending horror of the 2026 Chicago Cubs season, with yet another pitcher on the injured list. This time, it is right-handed reliever Ethan Roberts, who blew a lead in Friday’s series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers and almost blew the finale on Sunday.
Roberts could not record a single out after the Cubs grabbed a 4-1 lead in the 10th inning and had to be bailed out by Jordan Wicks. Roberts gave up two singles and a walk, throwing nine pitches before Craig Counsell took him out with the bases loaded. In Friday’s game, Roberts came in to pitch after Colin Rea’s start and proceeded to give up a two-run home run and then another run on a triple in the same sixth inning.
The Cubs designated the injury as right forearm inflammation for Roberts, who was on the injured list earlier this season after a freak accident while working out.
Overall, the numbers aren’t crazy bad, a 4.21 ERA in 25.1 innings. However, Roberts has been awful dating back to May 31 against the St. Louis Cardinals. Beginning with that outing, Roberts has allowed 11 earned runs in 10.2 innings, for a 9.28 ERA, while only striking out seven batters and walking seven batters.
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His replacement in the bullpen is another righty, 28-year-old Gavin Hollowell, who has been up three previous times already from Triple-A. It hasn’t been much of a sample size for Hollowell in the big leagues with the Cubs, throwing in four games and 4.1 total innings. He’s given up three runs on five hits, including a pair of home runs.
In the past week, the Cubs have lost three relief pitchers to the injured list. First, Phil Maton with the same knee issue, and then veteran lefty Hoby Milner was surprisingly sidelined during the weekend because of appendicitis. Now, Roberts will be out for at least a couple of weeks. The team has also been without closer Daniel Palencia since June 15.
So, who’s currently in the bullpen?
Current Chicago Cubs Bullpen
Tyler Ferguson
Gavin Hollowell
Trent Thornton
Bryse Wilson
Jacob Webb
Jordan Wicks
Ryan Rolison
Caleb Thielbar
Out of those eight current relievers in the Cubs’ bullpen, only two, Caleb Thielbar and Jacob Webb, were on the Opening Day roster. You cannot emphasize this enough: the Cubs have more than exhausted their pitching depth, and we’re barely past the midway point of the regular season.
