Former All-Star Drew Pomeranz Gets Another Big League Shot with the Cubs

The Cubs are giving Drew Pomeranz another look, and honestly, it makes sense if you squint at the situation right.

Before Friday’s game against St. Louis, Chicago selected the lefty reliever’s contract and sent Jordan Wicks down to Triple-A. Pomeranz was an All-Star once, back in 2016 with the Padres when he had a 2.47 ERA across 102 innings mostly as a starter. That version of him hasn’t existed in a while. But what he did last year with the Cubs actually turned some heads.

In 2025 he put up a 2.17 ERA over 57 appearances for Chicago. That’s not a small sample fluke. He was legitimately effective, mixing a mid-90s fastball with a curveball that still generated whiffs. But the 2026 season started differently. He signed with the Angels and got knocked around for a 5.01 ERA in 25 outings before they let him go.

So why bring him back now?

The Cubs rotation and bullpen have been absolutely chewed up by injuries this year. Justin Steele has missed time. Jameson Taillon went on the IL. Adbert Alzolay is out. The list goes on. Chicago needs arms and Pomeranz is a known commodity who already proved he can handle Wrigley pressure. The move is low risk, possible high reward. If he’s toast, they DFA him. If he’s back to his 2025 form, they got a veteran setup guy for nothing.

The Cubs are 49-38 right now, five games behind the Brewers in the NL Central. They just torched the Padres 23-3 on Wednesday, which clinched a three-game sweep and their fifth straight win. That kind of offensive explosion masks a lot of pitching problems. But it also shows the ceiling on this roster. They’re inconsistent, sure. They’ll look lost against a backup pitcher one night and hammer a Cy Young candidate the next. But the pieces are there for a real playoff push.

At minimum they should grab a Wild Card spot. The division is still plausible if Milwaukee stumbles. Pomeranz won’t be the reason they make or miss the postseason. But if he eats some innings and keeps runs off the board, he’s one more stabilizer in a bullpen that needs all the help it can get.

Friday’s game against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field starts at 4:05 PM EST. The Cubs are riding momentum. Pomeranz will have a chance to contribute to it.