The Cubs bullpen has been bailing out its starting pitchers.
And they’ve done it without Brandon Kintzler or Craig Kimbrel, both nursing injuries.
Monday night’s 8-2 victory over the Reds was the latest example of the bullpen’s major contributions to the Cubs’ five-game winning streak.
Relievers Steve Cishek, Alec Mills, Rowan Wick, Kyle Ryan and David Phelps held the Reds scoreless over the final 5? innings, after starter Cole Hamels lasted only 3? innings.
(On Sunday, starter Jose Quintana lasted only 2? innings.)
Mills, who earned his first major league save with three innings of one-run ball in a win Friday over the Pirates, pitched two scoreless innings to earn his first major league win Monday.
“What he did (Monday night), he gave the game form,’ said Maddon, crediting Mills for pitching effectively against left and right-handed batters. “Every time he shows up, he does something good for us. And he does it in very quiet, professional manner. He’s outstanding.”
The Cubs’ bullpen allowed three hits and two walks Monday, and they’ve posted a 1.21 ERA during this five-game win streak.
Most impressive to Cishek is that many of the contributions have come from pitchers like Mills, Wick and Ryan —– none of whom made the opening day roster but pitched effectively at Triple-A Iowa.
“They’ve done great,” Cishek said. “When you play for the Cubs organization, there are high expectations. I know the guys in the minors feel that. In spring training when they get sent down, they know they have a chance to make an impact.”
Maddon scoffed at a suggestion that victories such as Mills’ on Monday are not undervalued.
“To certain people it’s a devalued stat,” Maddon replied. “Ask any pitcher what he thinks about it, or any team.
“RBI or win, I don’t understand why people don’t get into it.”
After Mills blanked the Reds in the fifth and sixth, Wick tied his career high with two (scoreless) innings for the fourth time and lowered his ERA to 2.61 in 28 appearances.
“There are a lot of complementary pieces right now,” Maddon said. “Rowan Wick has made it all work right now. Rowan Wick has been this linchpin to the resurgence to the bullpen.”
Kintzler has been diagnosed with a mild left oblique strain that bothered him last week in San Diego.
“We’re waiting for it to dissipate to where we can use him,” Maddon said.
