Cubs bullpen injuries forcing manager Craig Counsell to be flexible
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Manager Craig Counsell had mixed news Sunday on the https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" >Cubs’ beleaguered bullpen.
Phil Maton (right knee tendinitis) had a bullpen session Saturday that Counsell said went well.
The next step for Maton, placed on the injured list April 10, will be a live session Tuesday at Wrigley Field.
The update on Hunter Harvey (right triceps inflammation) wasn’t as positive.
Counsell said Harvey, who landed on the IL on April 12, is still in the training room and not on the field throwing.
There are still no plans for Harvey to undergo imaging.
Those issues, combined with the recent absence of closer Daniel Palencia (left oblique strain) have forced Counsell to mix and match relievers.
“When the names are changing quickly, then your plans are a little more flexible and they’re going to change a little quicker,” Counsell said. “We’ve got enough new bodies down there that, day-to-day, roles can change a little bit.”
Counsell has still tried to map out a plan for his bullpen before each game.
Sometimes he can go with it; other times he’s forced to change course.
“Ultimately, you’ve got to go into a game with some structure in your head of how you think the game is going to go and who’s going to be utilized and you’ve got to stick with that,” Counsell said. “It’s not going to work every day with a healthy bullpen, but you have some structure every day going into the game.”
In a pinch
Michael Conforto has two big pinch-hits for the Cubs.
There was Sunday’s game-tying double in the ninth, and his double last Sunday against the Pirates that began their game-winning rally.
Conforto said he’s built a routine and stays loose during the game, making him ready for a potentially big at-bat.
“I’ve had enough practice pinch-hitting over the past year or so to just hone in,” said Conforto, who went 1 for 13 as a pinch-hitter last year with the Dodgers. “You don’t want to do too much, you don’t want to overthink it.
You want to make sure that you’re prepared, you know what you could see and then take a deep breath and be ready to go for pitch number one.”
Conforto’s double followed the https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/18/carson-kelly-moises-ballesteros-craig-counsell-brooks-raley-matt-shaw-ian-happ-freddy-peralta-jameson-taillon-ben-brown-caleb-thielbar" >pinch three-run homer hit by Carson Kelly in the sixth inning of the Cubs’ 4-2 win Saturday.
Wrigley business
The ivy is starting to bloom, but a portion of the right field wall around the 368 ft. sign has noticeably less growth.
That isn’t likely to last.
Over the offseason, maintenance work was completed on the right center field wall and a portion of the ivy was temporarily removed.
When the work was completed, the grounds crew restored the ivy, and the wall is expected to return to its usual look during the season.
Monday is also the 110th anniversary of the Cubs’ first game at Wrigley Field.
On April 20, 1916, playing at what was then known as Weeghman Park, the Cubs beat the Reds 7-6 in 11 innings on a walk-off single by Vic Saier.
Sunday was the Cubs’ 8,620th game at Wrigley.
They are 4,609-4,011 at Clark and Addison.