The state of the Cubs' bullpen ahead of their NLDS matchup with the Brewers

To kick off the 2025 post season, the Milwaukee Brewers got to bypass the Wild Card Series, while the Chicago Cubs played three games against the San Diego Padres. For the Brewers, one advantage of this schedule is that their manager Pat Murphy won't have any bullpen restrictions in Game 1, while opposing skipper Craig Counsell will be dealing with a taxed staff, especially when it comes to his high-leverage guys.

The Chicago Cubs' high-leverage arms saw heavy usage prior to their NLDS showdown against the Milwaukee Brewers

During their three-game series against the Padres, the Cubs leaned heavily on key bullpen arms. Andrew Kittredge appeared in all three games, throwing 39 pitches in total. Brad Keller threw a bullpen-high 50 pitches, including 37 on Thursday, and Daniel Palencia logged 39 pitches across two outings.

Keller, who was called on to close out Game 1, could potentially be unavailable for Saturday’s NLDS opener due to his recent workload. However, he’s expected to play a key role later in the series, as he’s been one of Counsell’s most trusted arms this season, posting a 2.02 ERA over 69.2 innings.

Meanwhile, Kittredge took on a variety of roles during the last series. He acted as the bridge to Keller in Game 1, served as the opener for Shota Imanaga in Game 2, and earned the save in the decisive Game 3. His 3.32 ERA in 23 appearances during the second half of the season suggests that he will continue to pitch important innings throughout the NLDS.

Lastly, there’s Daniel Palencia, who handled closing duties for much of the season before a shoulder strain in early September sidelined him for 16 days. He made two appearances leading into the postseason and is coming off outings of 17 pitches on Tuesday and 22 on Thursday. While he’s likely available, as he still managed to touch 100 mph on the radar gun Thursday, his recent injury and potential fatigue are potential factors weighing on Counsell’s mind as he manages the bullpen in the NLDS.

Beyond the above-mentioned arms, left-handers Drew Pomeranz and Caleb Thielbar each made two appearances during the Padres series, throwing 24 pitches apiece. Taylor Rogers also got work in, tossing 13 pitches on Wednesday. All three southpaws should be available and in the mix for Game 1 of the NLDS.

With the Cubs turning to Matthew Boyd on just three days’ rest for Game 1 of the NLDS, another bullpen-heavy game for Chicago seems likely on Saturday. Boyd threw only 58 pitches over 4.1 innings on Tuesday, but if the Brewers work his pitch count early, as they’ve done so effectively all season, long relief options like Colin Rea, Aaron Civale, or Michael Soroka could be called upon sooner rather than later.

This sets up a prime opportunity for the Brewers to apply early pressure on Chicago’s pitching staff by further wearing down an already heavily-used bullpen. Doing so would be an ideal outcome for Milwaukee, and one that could set the tone for the rest of the series.