Jacob

Webb

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.

Webb got the call to close out Saturday’s contest against the Mariners with a two-run lead in the ninth. He retired the first two batters, then gave up a run on a double and a single, leaving a runner on for Randy Arozarena, who took Webb deep for a walk-off, two-run homer. It was his fifth charged blown save, but his first since June 20. Webb had been pitching well as the team’s closer and could still get the next opportunity as the Cubs work Daniel Palencia back in his return from the injured list.

Palencia has been out since mid-June. He had a 2.70 ERA in 16 2/3 innings, striking out 19, before being sent to the injured list. Jacob Webb will likely remain in the mix for saves given how strong Webb has been this year, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Palencia eventually got the job back after he proves himself healthy and in good form.

Counsell added that Palencia has wrapped up a minor league rehab assignment, but won’t be activated prior to Tuesday’s game against the White Sox. Jacob Webb has been an unexpected revelation for Chicago and will likely remain in the mix for save chances, even when Palencia is back from the injured list. The hard-throwing 26-year-old has been out since mid-June with elbow inflammation.

Webb walked Munetaka Murakami to start the inning but then struck out three straight batters... or so he thought. Braden Montgomery challenged the pitch that appeared to finish the inning and got it turned into ball four with Webb halfway to the dugout. Webb, though, recovered to induce a groundout from Tristan Peters afterwards. It went as his 22nd straight scoreless appearance.

Webb allowed a leadoff hit to Iván Herrera but settled in to make quick work of the rest of the middle of the order, including a strikeout of Jordan Walker. Webb hasn’t been scored upon in his last 15 outings, where he’s saved five games with a 0.72 WHIP and 14 strikeouts. He’s becoming a bit of a stretch run find for those hungry for saves after surviving the trade deadline with the closer’s role.

Webb wiggled out of a jam in the eighth inning with two outs, and then blanked the Nationals over the ninth to procure his eighth save of the 2026 campaign. The 32-year-old had a total of six saves in his entire career before this, but he’s become an important part of the Chicago bullpen, and it might be hard to remove him from the role even when Daniel Palencia is ready to go.

Webb needed just 13 pitches to get through this one and struck out two of the three batters he faced. The righty continues to be as reliable as they come out of the pen. He hasn’t allowed an earned run since June 20th, and is a perfect five-for-five in save opportunities since July.

Caleb Thielbar and Ryan Zeferjahn combined to give up two homers and five runs in the eighth to turn it into a tight game, but Webb was undeterred. He retired Tommy Edman, Kyle Tucker and Mookie Betts in order to end the contest. It’s his 18th straight scoreless appearance, and barring a letdown, he might just hang on the closer’s role after Daniel Palencia’s return.

Thielbar got the ninth after Jacob Webb, the Cubs’ current favorite for saves, pitched a scoreless eighth. Thielbar’s previous two saves both came in a four-day span in April. He’ll stay in the late-game mix for now, but the Cubs would surely like to add a quality reliever prior to the deadline. They also might get Daniel Palencia back in 2-3 weeks.