Welcome to your cozy late-night indie coffeehouse, where you can sip your beverage of choice—whether it’s a glass of wine after an event or a mocktail ahead of an early morning—as we wind down the week. We’re here all night with your essential Cubs chatter heading into the weekend.
One player catching some attention lately is Cubs reliever Drew Pomeranz. As Josh Timmers noted previously, Pomeranz was a low-cost gamble—a lefty bullpen addition with high upside.
So far, the move has looked smart. After not pitching in the majors since 2021, Pomeranz has returned strong. It’s early—just three innings—but he’s already struck out Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber and has yet to allow a run. That said, small sample size warnings abound.
He’s faced just 12 batters, striking out three, walking one, and hitting another. This mirrors some of his Triple-A concerns earlier this season: great strikeout numbers, but issues with control. In nine Triple-A innings, he fanned 14 but also walked six and hit two.
There’s still a lot of upside, especially if he can rein in the wildness. Analysts like Greg Zumach have highlighted his knuckle curve, which generated a 50% whiff rate in Triple-A—and it’s easy to see why when watching his pitches. He also threw a well-placed fastball past Bryce Harper, reminding everyone he’s more than just a Triple-A story.
Even if Pomeranz doesn’t sustain this level of performance, the Cubs took a minimal financial risk by acquiring him. At the very least, he gives the bullpen a much-needed second lefty, something the team has lacked for years. But if things go right, the upside is real.
So, the big question heading into the weekend: Can Drew Pomeranz keep this up for the Cubs?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments—and don’t forget to clean up after yourselves and tip your servers. Let’s not leave a mess for Josh on Monday.