Coming into the 2015 season, reliever Justin De Fratus had thrown more than 30 pitches in an appearance six times in 130 games spanning 114 innings. This season, he has already done so three times in nine appearances spanning 10 2/3 innings. Indeed, manager Ryne Sandberg has been unusually taxing on his bullpen in the early going and De Fratus is only one example.
On Tuesday, Jake Diekman threw 52 pitches over two innings in St. Louis against the Cardinals. It set a new career-high by a landslide, exceeding the 40 he threw against the Braves in 2012.