Cubs' Caleb Thielbar: Absent from wild-card roster
Rotowire
Thielbar is not on the Cubs' roster for their NL Wild Card Series against the Padres, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Thielbar carried a 60:18 K:BB over 50 regular-season innings, but he also had a 4.86 ERA and served up a whopping 11 home runs. The lefty could be under consideration for the NLDS roster, should the Cubs advance.
Cubs' Caleb Thielbar: Takes loss in extras Tuesday
Rotowire
Thielbar (3-4) took the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits over one inning in Tuesday's 8-2 extra-innings loss to the Marlins.
Thielbar worked a scoreless 11th inning before returning for the 12th, but that's when things went south for the left-hander. Thielbar allowed the first batter he faced to drive home the inherited runner at second, and by the time the frame ended, the Marlins had built a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Thielbar's ERA rose to 4.99, and this mark his first outing allowing more than one earned run since Aug. 16.
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Cubs' Caleb Thielbar: Struggles continue Friday
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Thielbar allowed two runs on three hits while retiring just one batter in relief during Friday's 6-4 win over the Royals.
After seven strong innings from new Chicago starter Kevin Gausman in which he allowed just two runs, Thielbar quickly ran into some trouble in the eighth. The lefty got the hook before Trent Thornton finished out the frame to earn a hold. Thielbar has been struggling recently with a 17.18 ERA across his last five appearances, which has pushed his overall ERA up to 5.30. With Thornton, Jacob Webb and Ryan Zeferjahn all seemingly ahead of him in the bullpen pecking order, and Daniel Palencia (elbow) expected back soon, Thielbar doesn't have much fantasy appeal at the moment.
Thielbar earned the save in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Yankees, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning. He did not record a walk or a strikeout.
With Jacob Webb used in the eighth inning against the heart of the Yankees' order, Thielbar was called upon to protect a three-run lead in the ninth and worked around a leadoff single to earn his first save since April 21. The 39-year-old Thielbar owns a 3.97 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 43:13 K:BB to go along with seven holds and three saves across 34 innings this season. He shouldn't be counted on as a reliable source of saves going forward with Daniel Palencia (elbow) nearing a rehab assignment.
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Cubs' Caleb Thielbar: Impressive out of bullpen
Rotowire
Thielbar picked up his second hold Thursday after pitching one scoreless inning while allowing two walks and no hits with two strikeouts in a 7-2 win over Pittsburgh.
Thielbar was called upon in relief for the second straight day and registered another scoreless frame. The 39-year-old entered in the seventh inning, striking out Brandon Lowe and Oneil Cruz to maintain the 3-2 lead, though he made things interesting with a pair of walks. Thielbar has posted a 2.84 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 15:8 K:BB with two saves and two holds in his 10th major league season.
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Cubs' Caleb Thielbar: Reinstated from injured list
Rotowire
The Cubs activated Thielbar (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.
Thielbar wound up being sidelined for nearly a month with a left hamstring strain, but he's been cleared to return after making one scoreless rehab appearance. The left-hander had been serving as the Cubs' closer before he got hurt, but with Daniel Palencia now healthy, Thielbar will slide into a setup role.
The Cubs placed Thielbar on the 15-day injured list Friday with a left hamstring strain.
Thielbar had to come out of Thursday's game against the Phillies early after suffering an injury on the mound, and he'll now be forced to sit out at least another 15 days. The 39-year-old had been serving as Chicago's closer with Daniel Palencia (oblique) on the injured list, but that responsibility could be passed on to Ben Brown for the time being. Vince Velasquez was selected from Triple-A Iowa to fill the open spot in the Cubs' bullpen.
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Cubs' Caleb Thielbar: Blows save, leaves with injury
Rotowire
Thielbar exited with an apparent leg injury in the ninth inning of Thursday's game versus the Phillies, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Thielbar suffered a blown save when he served up a game-tying, solo home run to Adolis Garcia to lead off the top of the ninth inning. Three pitches after that, he appeared to tweak his hamstring and had to be pulled. The Cubs should offer an update on Thielbar's condition shortly. The left-hander has been filling in at closer since Daniel Palencia (oblique) went on the injured list. If Thielbar misses time, the Cubs could turn to Ben Brown to close games. Phil Maton (knee) would also be an option if he comes off the IL soon.
Cubs' Caleb Thielbar: Called on again for save Tuesday
Rotowire
Thielbar retired the last two batters in Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Phillies to record the save.
The Cubs started the ninth with a 7-3 lead and deployed Jacob Webb, but he allowed two hits and only recorded one out. That's when Chicago turned to Thielbar to put out the fire with two runners on. The veteran lefty calmly got the job done on just six pitches, and he now has two saves and a win over the last three days. Thielbar is serving as the team's top option for saves with regular closer Daniel Palencia (oblique) on the injured list, and he's performed well in the role.
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