After a thrilling 8-4 win against the Phillies in Game 2, the Cubs had momentum on their side. But despite their strong standing in the NL Central, the final game tore the curtain down on a harsh truth: the Cubs’ bullpen is cracking.

With Ben Brown taking the mound fresh off two excellent outings, expectations were high for the starting pitcher. But unfortunately, he stumbled hard- one of the key reasons the series slipped right back into the Phillies’ hands. And after a collapse like that, there was no way the manager could stay calm.

For the Phillies, it was a sigh of relief—a much-needed series win that finally snapped their frustrating wait. They went on to get a 7-2 win over the Cubs on Wednesday at Citizen Bank Park.

When the Cubs handed Brown the opening, the 25-year-old was expected to deliver a bit more than usual, but he just returned to being the shaky starter. Giving away runs early is never ideal, but a three-run first inning? That’s a rare sight for the Cubs, and manager Craig Counsell didn’t hold back afterward.

“He just wasn’t sharp today. I don’t think he ever got to a place where he, you know, felt good with his fastball and his breaking ball and it just kind of led to, you know, a general kind of lack of command,” Counsell said while taking questions about Wednesday’s loss.

The manager also pointed out Brown’s struggling execution. “We see he clearly has the stuff to be successful in the league. But you know, it’s a fine line. And if you’re not sharp and if you’re giving hitters free pitches, then you’re not executing,” he added.

Well, Brown’s lack of command was on full display in the finale, and Counsell’s disappointment is only natural. He threw 100 pitches, surrendering eight hits and six runs. He did manage to strike out 5 players, but after that shaky start Cubs couldn’t find footing.

As Counsell said, “It just wasn’t crisp today in terms of execution.” Brown now has a disappointing 5.71 ERA and 1.47 WHIP, and the game marked his total of 12 ER against the Phillies this season. But unlike the skipper, he remained hopeful after the game,

“I wouldn’t say it was a panicked outing; it was just hard baseball,” Brown said to Marquee Sports Network. And for the team, this only reveals their deep rotation struggles.

Injuries have taken out the best from their rotation. Whenever a game ends up like this, everyone is reminded of the season-ending injury of Justin Steele. To add to that, even Shota Imanaga was placed on IL last month.

Even with Imanaga nearing a return, the Cubs aren’t in the clear. Each passing game makes one thing increasingly clear: the Cubs need a real solution to fix this issue. Some fresh arms might just be the fix, and the President seems to know exactly what to target.

Cubs set sights on pitching depth

It’s no secret the Cubs’ bullpen is still a work in progress, and with October dreams in sight, a serious shake-up feels more urgent than ever. Ever since their star pitcher Steele went down with UCL concerns, the pressure has only piled on. And to fill that huge void in the rotation, the Cubs have actively tested different options. But the president, Jed Hoyer, knows exactly what the team needs to steady the ship.

As the trade deadline nears, the Cubs are looking to add more pitching arms to their arsenal. “I think we’re going to be looking for pitching both rotation and in the bullpen, and that’s not a secret. That’s not a knock on the guys we have. But I think in today’s game, you’ve got to keep building depth,” revealed Hoyer in conversation with the NY Post’s podcast, The Show.

It is the only sensible move for the team at this stage. The rest of the bullpen may be holding the fort, but games like the Phillies finale are a reminder.

“I think our guys have done a really good job of stepping up,” Hoyer added. He’s not wrong—pitchers like Cade Horton, Colin Rea, and Chris Flexen have all stepped up and delivered when it mattered. But they can’t afford to put off building their depth any longer.

The trade deadline clock is ticking. The window’s open and the arms are out there. Now, the only question is: will the Cubs make the move?