Edward Cabrera’s Challenges with the Cubs
The Chicago Cubs have placed their hopes on Edward Cabrera since acquiring him from the Miami Marlins in January. The 28-year-old pitcher has not yet reached the level of performance the team anticipated. Cabrera began Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers with a 4.06 ERA and 94 ERA+ but had to leave the field abruptly after only one pitch in the fourth inning due to a blister on his right middle finger.
The Cubs suffered a 5-0 loss to the Brewers, marking their first sweep of the season. Manager Craig Counsell commented, “We’re in a funk right now, and it’s up to us to change it. We’re the ones who are going to change it.” Cabrera’s history with blisters on his middle finger is notable, having missed two weeks of his 2025 season with the Marlins due to the same issue.
Cabrera expressed optimism, saying, “I’m not worried. My mentality is in five days I’m going to go out there and pitch again.” However, Counsell was less certain about Cabrera’s readiness, stating, “You take a guy out of a start, the next start’s in question.”
Performance Concerns and Errors
During the game, the Cubs (29-21) recorded more errors (three) than hits (two) in their fifth consecutive loss, the highest of the season. A critical error occurred when Pete Crow-Armstrong missed David Hamilton’s single to center field, allowing three runs to score.
Crow-Armstrong, who typically does not commit more than three errors in a season, admitted to struggling, describing his recent mistakes as “genuinely laughable.” “One thing I can fall back on is that it’s never really a lack of focus,” he stated, “but trying too hard and trying to make up for the lack of production that I’ve given this team and this city, not acting how I should.”
Cabrera’s Performance Insights
Pitching coach Tommy Hottovy pointed out underlying issues in Cabrera’s delivery. Cabrera’s release point extension has slightly decreased, while his velocity on the fastball and other pitches has dipped. Despite throwing at slower speeds, Hottovy believes Cabrera can build confidence throughout the season and improve his performance.
Hottovy emphasized Cabrera’s changeup as a crucial aspect of his pitch repertoire and noted some progress with his fastball. The pitch is producing less hard contact and increased Whiff%, which measures swings that miss the ball.
Hottovy explained the importance of pitch synergy, using breaking balls early in the count to protect the effectiveness of Cabrera’s changeup. Veteran hitters may try to anticipate Cabrera’s pitches, focusing on his fastball and changeup while ignoring his curveball and slider.
Hope for Improvement
As the Cubs deal with rotation injuries, Cabrera’s potential for in-season improvements remains crucial. “I thought there’s a lot of quality for four innings,” Counsell remarked, “and then it kind of fell off a little bit in that fifth inning on the South Side. But I think he would expect better, and I think he has better in him.” The Cubs remain focused on making necessary adjustments for Cabrera’s success.