Chicago Cubs need Brandon Kintzler to return to form

The Chicago Cubs believed they were acquiring a reliable late-inning reliever when they traded for Brandon Kintzler. Now, they need him to live up to expectations.

Over the last few years, the Chicago Cubs have done an excellent job of improving at the trade deadline. This summer was no different, as Jed Hoyer and co. geared up for the postseason with yet another impressive trade deadline haul.

The acquisitions of Cole Hamels and Daniel Murphy have paid enormous dividends, but not all of their trades have worked out as planned. In an effort to bolster the bullpen, the Cubs also traded for veteran reliever Brandon Kintzler. Unfortunately, Kintzler has had a tough time settling into the Windy City.

After being named to the American League All-Star team in 2017 and pitching to a 3.54 ERA in parts of two seasons with the Washington Nationals, Kintzler has struggled mightily in Chicago.

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Through his first 16 appearances as a Cub, Kintzler owns an 8.49 ERA. Incredibly, he has allowed nearly half as many runs as he did a year ago since being dealt to the Cubs, despite pitching 60 fewer innings.

Fortunately, the Cubs have built a deep bullpen and could afford to wait for Kintzler to return to form. They have the second-best bullpen ERA in the National League, after all, even with Kintzler struggling. However, their bullpen depth recently took a significant blow.

Brandon Morrow got off to a great start in his first season as the Cubs’ closer, but his season has since been derailed by injuries. The 34-year-old reliever has made two trips to the disabled list this year and has been out since mid-July with a bicep injury. Now, Joe Maddon has announced that there is barely enough time for Morrow to work his way back and his return is in doubt.

If Morrow is unable to return this season, the Cubs need other relievers to step up and compensate for his absence. Kintzler, in particular, will now have an integral role in determining how far the Cubs go.

Since Morrow has been out, Pedro Strop has gotten the majority of save opportunities. He has filled in nicely and will presumably serve as the Cubs’ closer from here on out, but his setup men have struggled at times.

With relievers playing such a crucial role in October, this should worry the Cubs. If they are going to win their second championship in three years, they need more from their bullpen.

The trade deadline has passed, so the Cubs must rely on what they already have within the organization. Fortunately, what they already have should be enough.

In Strop, Carl Edwards Jr. Steve Cishek, and Justin Wilson, the Cubs have four reliable late-inning relievers. If Kintzler returns to form, which the Cubs have good reason to believe will happen, they will have five quality relievers capable of shortening any game.

Although Kintzler’s time in Chicago has not been pretty, he still has about three weeks to straighten things out. He has been a reliable late-inning reliever for a few years and was pitching at an All-Star level as recently as July, making regression to the mean appear inevitable.

As Kintzler settles into Chicago, he should begin to dominate once again. Until then, Maddon must continue to use him in low-leverage situations and give him an opportunity to figure things out. If he can return to form in time for the postseason, all will be forgiven.

It is no secret that Brandon Kintzler has gotten off to a rough start with the Chicago Cubs, but he is more than capable of being the dominant late-inning reliever he once was. With Brandon Morrow likely out for the season, the Cubs hope Kintzler figures things out sooner rather than later.