When pitcher Edward Cabrera hasn’t been hurt, he’s been ineffective, giving the Cubs little return on the offseason trade with the Marlins that cost them prospect Owen Caissie.

Activated Saturday from the injured list, the Cubs hope Cabrera will take to his new bullpen role in the way the Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki did in 2025. Despite having great stuff, Sasaki struggled last year – his first in North America – before getting hurt and shifting to relief when he returned in September.

That move salvaged Sasaki’s season and helped Los Angeles win the World Series. As a reliever, Sasaki appeared in nine playoff games and compiled a 0.84 ERA in 10 2/3 innings, giving the Dodgers another electric arm to get them through the postseason gauntlet.

Maybe, just maybe, Cabrera impersonates Sasaki for the Cubs, who are desperate for relief help. That was one of the messages the Cubs shared with Cabrera when the bullpen move was decided, and manager Craig Counsell said the idea resonated with the righthander who has struggled to a 5.68 ERA over 76 innings.

“That could happen. That’s an example, that’s a roadmap to how this can be really successful,” Counsell said. “Is that the best result? That was a pretty darn good result. That’s what you keep yourself open to.”

Cabrera, who was out with a blister on his right middle finger, is open to pitching out of the bullpen. During his recent rehab stint with Triple-A Iowa, Cabrera made three relief appearances, allowing six earned runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Perhaps more important than the numbers, Cabrera had to get used to the rhythm of relief. A career starter with only two bullpen appearances, Cabrera had to change his routine. Instead of knowing when he’s pitching, Cabera could theoretically be called on at any time, though the Cubs will likely ease him into his new role.

“My mentality is staying 100% positive,” Cabrera said through a translator. “I see this as another opportunity, another opportunity to be here, another opportunity to help the team out.”

That team, even with its flawed bullpen, still aspires to go deep into October. The Cubs started Saturday tied with the Phillies for the first NL wild card spot and the chance to host the opening best-of-three playoff series.

But even if the Cubs do get the top wild card spot and the right to play at Wrigley Field, their path to a championship will only be slightly easier. The NL playoffs figure to pose challenge after challenge, and to get through that course, players might have to do things they haven’t before.

Counsell recalled that Clayton Kershaw closed out the 2018 NLCS, throwing a scoreless ninth in Game 7 to beat the Brewers 5-1 and send the Dodgers back to the World Series.

Counsell said “we have to accept some discomfort here because you have to do what’s best for the team.” That goes for Cabrera.

"You have to do things you’re not used to doing if you want to do great things. It’s going to call for that,” Counsell said. “This is one example of it – it’s a small example of it in my opinion, it’s one example – but other guys are going to be asked to do the same thing.”

For Cabrera, that will mean another twist in a trying and largely unsuccessful season. A few good bullpen appearances, however, could change how his 2026 is remembered.

“This is all new to me. I’ll be out there ready for any situation whenever they call my name,” Cabrera said. “I’m going to go out there and just be ready for anything.”

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