Crosstown Classic Highlights Urgency For Cubs Pitching Help

Despite a frustrating series loss to the Chicago White Sox in the Crosstown Classic over the weekend, the Chicago Cubs still find themselves with a 29-18 record and a 1.5-game lead for first place in the NL Central.

That's not a bad place to be on May 18. Only one team in the National League has more wins than the Cubs right now. That's impressive enough on its own, but it's even more surprising when you look at the number of injuries the Cubs have dealt with this season.

Justin Steele remains on the shelf. He's not coming back anytime soon. Cade Horton is lost for the season after having Tommy John surgery following just two starts. Matthew Boyd was an All-Star for the Cubs in 2025, but he had a 6.00 ERA through five starts before landing on the 15-day IL with a meniscus injury.

The starting rotation has been completely depleted, and many of the bullpen pieces acquired in the offseason haven't lived up to their sticker price.

If losing a series to the White Sox for the first time since 2022 taught us anything, it's that this Cubs front office can't wait around for pitching to get healthy or for struggling arms to find their groove. They can't wait until the trade deadline at the end of July before making additions to a contending team. Pitching is costing the Cubs games, and if they plan on staying atop the standings in the NL Central, reinforcements are needed.

Jameson Taillon has allowed 16 home runs in nine starts this season. That's the most of any pitcher in baseball and is already closing in on his career high for home runs allowed. He has a 4.97 ERA, and he completely took the Cubs out of Saturday night's game when he allowed eight earned runs to the White Sox on five home runs.

Colin Rea was never supposed to be part of the starting rotation. He's at his best in a long relief role, and while he got off to a decent start, Rea now has a 7.04 ERA over his last five outings. The Cubs can't keep sending him out there every fifth day and expect different results from a 35-year-old who is currently in the third percentile in average exit velocity allowed.

The bullpen is its own mess.

Phil Maton had a 2.79 ERA in 63 appearances in 2025, but after signing a multi-year contract with the Cubs, he has a 9.49 ERA in 14 appearances. He gave up a three-run home run to Triston Peters on Sunday afternoon, which gave the White Sox a late lead.

Ryan Rolison was off to a decent start after getting an opportunity with the Cubs, but the depth in the bullpen has become so thin that Craig Counsell is leaning on Rolison to pitch in three consecutive games against the White Sox, sometimes in high-leverage spots. That included Sunday afternoon, when Rolison surrendered the walk-off two-run home run to Edgar Quero.

Trent Thornton and Ethan Roberts have both been good in limited action, but can either one of them be counted on long term? The Cubs just called up 35-year-old Ty Blach, who last pitched in MLB in 2024, when he had a 6.94 ERA for the Colorado Rockies. That's where the pitching situation is right now.

With all of this in mind, it truly is remarkable that the Cubs are 29-18 and sitting in first place. But they've now dropped three consecutive series and have a team ERA that is 15th in baseball and moving in the wrong direction. The NL Central might be the most competitive division in baseball this season, and if the Cubs want to win it, a below-average pitching staff isn't going to get the job done.

It's time to learn from your mistakes, take notes about what the White Sox did to you over the weekend, and make some moves if you're Jed Hoyer and the Cubs front office. If you don't, you'll come to regret it when the Brewers pass you in the standings.