Fastball

Chicago Cubs' Bullpen Leading to Late Collapse in Playoff Race

The Chicago Cubs' bullpen remains a problem in September, and it could cost the team a playoff berth.

Brady Farkas

Chicago Cubs' Bullpen Leading to Late Collapse in Playoff Race
Chicago Cubs' Bullpen Leading to Late Collapse in Playoff Race /
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After losing a crushing game on Tuesday night, the Chicago Cubs lost another one on Wednesday night against the Atlanta Braves.

The Cubs lost 6-5 in 10 innings after surrendering runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to send it to extra innings in the first place.

The loss was a critical one for Chicago, which is now 82-76 on the season. They are now tied for the third and final wild card spot in the National League with the Miami Marlins.

Sadly for the Cubs and their fans, bullpen meltdowns have become a normal occurrence in September, happening at a rate rarely seen in team history.

Per ESPN Stats & Info:

The Cubs have now lost 5 games this month after holding a lead in the 8th inning or later. 

That's tied for their most such losses in any single month over the last 50 seasons (June 1991 & September 1992).

The Cubs are going to have to pull it together if they want to make the playoffs this year. After finishing up the series with the Braves on Thursday, they'll start the final series of the year on Friday with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Brewers have already wrapped up the National League Central so who knows what their motivation level will be in this series. Also, the Brewers are going to play the third wild card team in the playoffs, so if that's going to be the Cubs, the team may not want to show all its cards.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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