CINCINNATI — Coming into the season, the Chicago Cubs hoped a healthy Julian Merryweather could again be a reliable reliever in high-leverage spots.
The belief that Merryweather would recapture his 2023 form came to fruition early. He allowed two runs, three walks and striking out 10 in 9 2/3 innings (1.74 ERA) through his first 10 appearances.
But Merryweather had been inconsistent over the last month, surrendering 10 earned runs on 14 hits with eight walks in his last 10 outings. His fastball often dipped 2-3 mph below his upper-90s velocity, which became problematic. Merryweather gave up two runs in two-thirds of an inning in Friday’s comeback win against the Reds, ultimately the breaking point for the Cubs to move on.
The Cubs designated Merryweather for assignment before Saturday’s game and called up right-hander Brooks Kriske from Triple-A Iowa.
“Unfortunately, Julian was just struggling a little bit, and, frankly, we just couldn’t come up with answers as to how to reverse that,” manager Craig Counsell said. “And so we made this move, and it’s fresh arm today, and we’ll go from there.”
During the last two seasons, Merryweather, 33, wasn’t able to recapture his 2023 success when he posted a 3.38 ERA and 127 ERA+ in 69 games in his first season with the Cubs. A rib stress fracture in his back and right knee tendinitis, and subsequent surgery on his knee, cost Merryweather most of 2024. He appeared in only 15 games and was largely ineffective (6.60 ERA).
The Cubs used 16 relievers through their first 51 games. Only seven appeared in a game for the Cubs last year, five of whom are currently with Iowa.
“Bullpens, they change every year, and whatever you think going into a season is likely not going to be how you end up a month later or two months later, and that goes for right now as well,” Counsell said. “So we have to be flexible with that. … We’ve had some numerous guys step up in a big way, and I think we’re doing a nice job out of the bullpen, and we step to continue to be flexible.
“The bullpen, it’s a hard place, man, and those guys down there, all they can do is try to be available, answer the bell as much as they can, put their best foot forward. There’s going to be bad outings. Show up the next day and try to be available and put your best foot forward, and I think, largely, we’re doing a really good job of that.”
Kriske, 31, had a 3.38 ERA, 28 strikeouts, eight walks, a 1.13 WHIP and a .191 opponent batting average in 13 games at Triple A. He relies on a fastball-split-finger pitch mix and has appeared in 20 big-league games in his career, most recently with the Kansas City Royals in 2023.
