Cubs' Bullpen Takes Hit, Search for Closer Begins

0:00It's April 23rd, I'm Cory with the story, and this is MLB News today, your AI-powered baseball briefing. Chicago Cubs bullpen just took another brutal hit with reliever Caleb Thielbar, suffering a leg injury during a ninth inning pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies. He hadn't even recorded an out after allowing a game tying Homer and a walk. This comes right as the Cubs were riding a hot streak. Their relief core was already thin, missing pitchers like Phil Matan, Daniel Palencia, Porter Hodge, Hunter Harvey, Plus Starter's Cade Horton, and Justin Steele. Riley Martin jumped in to push the game to extras, but it's next man-up time in a big way. Thielbar has been a vet road warrior, drafted by the brewers in the 18th round back in 2009 out of South Dakota State, bounced around, Indie Ball and Miners then lit it up with the twins over eight seasons at a 3.38 ERA. He signed with Chicago after last year, posting a sharp 2.64 ERA in 67 games during the

1:022025 season, and holding, steady at 3.12 early this year. Now the Cubs got a scramble for a closer, with guys like Ben Brown or Javier Assad likely getting the first shot until Palencia returns. That injured list keeps growing, testing their depth big time. With the season humming strong so far, Chicago might need to shop outside for bullpen arms to keep the momentum without more setbacks derailing them.