Jacob Webb exits after being hit by line drive

At least the Cubs are learning now that Webb probably shouldn’t be one of their top couple of relievers in October. He’s taken four blown saves since picking up his last save a month ago. Things are definitely looking up for Daniel Palencia, who retired the only batter he faced tonight, but it might be too late to matter much for fantasy purposes.

Palencia is potentially getting closer to returning to the mix for saves. He’s allowed only an unearned run over four innings in his last four appearances. Today’s appearance saw him strike out one and get a pair of soft groundouts.

Webb was not held back for a potential save situation today after blowing his last three chances as the Cubs’ closer, but he helped his cause today by retiring Oneil Cruz with the bases loaded after replacing Clay Holmes in the sixth and then pitching a scoreless seventh. As it turned out, Ryan Zeferjahn got a one-out save in the ninth. Webb, though, could be a candidate to close next time around.

Cabrera will operate out of Chicago’s bullpen for the rest of the season. His stuff should play up in shorter relief stints, and he could emerge as an important weapon over the final two weeks. It’s not out of the question that he could factor into the Cubs’ closing mix with Jacob Webb struggling recently, though that’s far from a guarantee considering Cabrera has never really pitched in relief before. He’s the type of talent who could thrive out of the bullpen if he manages to stay healthy.

Jacob Webb has opened the door for Palencia to work his way back into the mix for saves, and tonight would have been a step forward for Palencia if not for a bad Pedro Ramírez error that put Brice Turang on third after a mere roller to second base. William Contreras then singled in Turang with two outs. Palencia has had a fair amount of bad luck in allowing eight runs in seven appearances since coming off the injured list, but that probably counts for less in September than it might have in April and May.

Jackson Chourio delivered the game-tying homer in the ninth after Christian Yelich singled as a pinch-hitter. It was Webb’s first save chance since he left last Wednesday’s game after getting hit in the forearm by a comebacker. He’s now blown three straight save chances since his last conversion on Aug. 14. The door is wide open for Daniel Palencia to win back the ninth, but since his results have been poor since coming off the IL, the Cubs might choose to mix and match for now. Ryan Zeferjahn would also presumably be in the mix for saves.

Webb was removed from Wednesday’s game against the Brewers after he was struck on the forearm by a line drive off the bat of Christian Yelich. Fortunately, he avoided any structural damage and is only dealing with a contusion and swelling. He’s considered day-to-day.

Palencia took over with a 3-1 lead and two on in the sixth and quickly gave up a run-scoring balk. His bad break came afterwards, as Seiya Suzuki, worried about the wall in Wrigley Field, alligator-armed a fly down the right field line to give Andrew Vaughn a double. That wasn’t at all Palencia’s fault, but the two-run homer that Christian Yelich hit afterwards was. Palencia has surrendered six runs in 3 1/3 innings over four appearances since coming off the IL. The good news is that his stuff is fine, and he could still very much be a key piece in a postseason run for the Cubs. However, since it doesn’t look like he’ll resume closing anytime soon, he’s probably not worth rostering in mixed leagues right now.

Unwanted outfielder TJ Friedl homered off him. Palencia struck out two in a perfect inning a week ago in his return from the IL, but he’s given up four runs in two appearances since. Jacob Webb has opened the door for Palencia to resume pitching in the ninth, but Palencia can’t seem to find it at the moment.

After allows three runs in a blown save against the Mariners on Saturday — his first in over two months — Webb didn’t get the job done again Tuesday. He was able to get the Cubs out of a jam in the eighth, but he allows a walk and a two-run homer to Ryan Waldschmidt to blow the save. Webb likely gets another crack or two, but obviously his job security is waning, and fantasy managers need to be prepared for a switch.