Cubs Fall 9-4 to Brewers as Cabrera Tests Bullpen Role
Chicago lost game two of its four-game set with Milwaukee 9-4, a night after Edward Cabrera opened a rehab assignment out of the bullpen.
The Brewers Series Result
The Chicago Cubs lost 9-4 to the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday evening, dropping game two of a four-game set between the two National League clubs.
Heavy reports the defeat followed what it described as a Monday night explosion on offense by Chicago. MLB.com reports Milwaukee scored eight runs after the sixth inning began.
The bullpen carried much of the damage. Daniel Palencia, still working his way back after missing time with a right elbow injury, was charged with two runs while recording just two outs, according to MLB.com.
Bullpen Numbers and Edward Cabrera
MLB.com reports the Cubs entered Wednesday with a 6.62 bullpen earned run average over their previous 10 games. Manager Craig Counsell's staff is trying to strengthen its pitching depth for September.
Right-hander Edward Cabrera, acquired by Chicago in an offseason trade, began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday night. He allowed a solo home run to the first batter he faced, then retired the next three, including two by strikeout, on 17 pitches.
It was his first appearance since going back on the injured list. MLB.com says the move came on Aug. 17 with another blister on his right middle finger, while Heavy describes it as a 15-day injured list stint with a blister on his right hand and his third such trip this season.
A Possible New Role
The Cubs originally acquired Cabrera to start, but blister trouble has interrupted his first season in Chicago repeatedly. He owns a 5.68 earned run average across 15 starts.
Heavy adds that over 76 innings he has 67 strikeouts, a pitching wins above replacement figure of minus 1.2, an ERA+ of 74 and a walks plus hits per inning pitched mark close to 1.500, with 15 home runs allowed.
Counsell was measured after the rehab outing. "Nothing, no big observations," he said Wednesday. "He threw [17] pitches. He's going to pitch again on Friday, I believe." Counsell added that the club is giving Cabrera multiple outings because relieving is new to him, but said he is "certainly open to it being something that's impactful."
Other Arms at Iowa
Veteran right-hander Shelby Miller, working back from right elbow surgery, also pitched for Iowa on Tuesday and threw a scoreless inning around two hits and a walk.
Left-hander Justin Steele made his Iowa rehab debut on Wednesday, his first game action since he last pitched in the Majors in April 2025. He allowed three runs, one earned, on four hits over one and two thirds innings, striking out two without a walk.
Steele threw 26 of his 36 pitches for strikes, with his four-seam fastball averaging 90.3 mph and his sinker 89.7 mph. When any of the three might join the Major League roster is not yet known.
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