While the Cubs worked to find a way to pick up 13 outs from their bullpen Tuesday, a key member of last year’s relief corps set out to Dallas for a second opinion in the hopes of finding clarity.

Adbert Alzolay visited Dr. Keith Meister this week for a second opinion on the forearm strain that landed him on the IL over a week ago. Meister is one of the leading elbow surgeons, having performed Tommy John surgery on numerous major leaguers, including Liam Hendriks, Jacob deGrom and Sandy Alcántara, to name a few.

But the belief — and hope — is that Alzolay won’t follow the paths of that trio. According to a source, the injury is believed to be in the flexor tendon region and not the ulnar collateral ligament (that leads to Tommy John surgery), but the second opinion will help provide clarity.

Manager Craig Counsell didn’t provide much beyond the fact that “Adbert went to get a second opinion, so we’re just waiting on that right now.”

Alzolay entered the season as the team’s closer, stepping into the role and thriving last season. He struggled since Opening Day this season, though. He allowed a game-tying home run in the first game of the year on a home run, a harbinger of things to come.

In 18 games, Alzolay has allowed 6 home runs (after allowing only 5 all last season) and blown 5 saves (he had 3 in 2023). Amid his struggles, Alzolay was moved off the closer role and moved into lower leverage situations. But things never really got better, and he allowed 2 runs on a home run on May 12 while picking up a save in extra innings, his last outing before landing on the IL.

He is one of 7 relievers currently on the IL for the Cubs. Yency Almonte, Colten Brewer, Julian Merryweather, Daniel Palencia, Drew Smyly and Keegan Thompson are all sidelined with injuries.

Smyly pitched 3 perfect innings Tuesday on a rehab assignment with High-A South Bend. Palencia allowed an earned run on 2 walks with a strikeout with Triple-A Iowa. Almonte and Thompson both played catch on Tuesday.