Good morning, Chicago.

Perhaps nothing embodies the state of the Cubs bullpen through four months more than this: It already set a franchise record for most pitchers to record a save in one season.

Saves have been an official stat only since 1969, but Aaron Civale’s clean 10th inning Thursday secured a 4-2 win over the Cardinals for the right-hander's first save of the year — the 13th Cubs pitcher with at least one.

The Cubs at times have been forced into less-than-ideal situations for an injury-tested pitching staff. The trade deadline, which arrives at 5 p.m. Monday, offers a path to upgrade roster shortcomings as the Cubs (62-47) try to chase down the Brewers (67-41), who lead the National League Central by 5½ games.

President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and the front office are tasked with determining how aggressive of an investment they want to make in the coming days to improve a roster that has a strong hold on the top NL wild-card position. The Cubs enter the weekend five games up on the last playoff spot.

"It's all risk, " manager Craig Counsell said. "It's risk for the organization in terms of the future and now, and (Hoyer's) job is to assess that daily. That's one of his main jobs, and players don't like talk about the future or fans don't like to talk about the future. But he has a responsibility for the future, and so it's one of the hardest parts about that job."

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