Edward Cabrera’s Struggles and Challenges with the Cubs

The Chicago Cubs targeted Edward Cabrera long before acquiring him from the Miami Marlins in January. Despite their belief in his potential, his first season hasn’t fully lived up to expectations. As of Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Cabrera owned a 4.06 ERA and a 94 ERA+. He exited that game with a trainer after just one pitch in the fourth inning, due to a blister on his right middle finger. The Cubs faced a disappointing 5-0 loss, resulting in a sweep by the Brewers.

Manager Craig Counsell addressed the team’s current slump, stating, “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 had a prior history with blisters on the same finger, having missed initial weeks of his 2025 season due to the issue. Before Wednesday’s start, the blister was manageable, but flared up during the game. Cabrera expressed confidence in his recovery, through an interpreter, “Once the blister’s there, everything’s difficult: control, velocity. I’m not worried. My mentality is in five days I’m going to go out there and pitch again.”

During the game, a notable moment involved Nico Hoerner sliding into third base, initially called safe but later overturned. Counsell expressed uncertainty regarding Cabrera’s ability to make his next start, highlighting concerns due to his exit from the game. The Cubs, with a current record of 29-21, suffered more errors than hits, including a critical error by Pete Crow-Armstrong, contributing to the Brewers’ scoring.

Crow-Armstrong faced challenges beyond fielding errors, starting with an incident involving a fan during a previous game. He acknowledged his mistakes, emphasizing a mental aspect to physical performance, “One thing I can fall back on is that it’s never really a lack of focus. It’s about trying too hard, trying to make up for my lack of production.” He stressed the importance of personal responsibility in resolving these issues.

The Cubs, dealing with multiple starter injuries, hope Cabrera recovers promptly. After impressive scoreless innings in his first two starts, he now holds a 5.26 ERA over seven outings. Pitching coach Tommy Hottovy identified red flags, including less extension in pitch delivery and decreased velocity across several pitch types. Though minimal, these changes are noteworthy.

Hottovy highlighted Cabrera’s approach, suggesting, “He’s in cruise-control type of delivery right now, allowing for recovery. It’s not about throwing slower; it’s about building confidence as the season progresses.” Cabrera’s changeup remains vital, with small improvements seen in his fastball’s reduced hard contact.

Hottovy aims to optimize Cabrera’s pitch combinations for success, noting the importance of pitch strategy against teams familiar with Cabrera’s repertoire. He emphasized simplifying Cabrera’s approach to maintain effectiveness.

The goal is for Cabrera to develop into a top starter through in-season adjustments. Despite challenges, Counsell expressed hope for improvement, stating, “He has better in him. It’s about getting outs and making pitches consistently.”