MILWAUKEE -- What’s wrong with Chicago Cubs set-up man Pedro Strop? Strop has struggled over his last four appearances, seeing his ERA rise from 1.59 to 4.26. He came into Friday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers in the eighth inning with two on to protect a 5-2 lead and promptly gave up a run-scoring double to Khris Davis before striking out Martin Maldonado with the bases loaded.

“I feel like my fastball doesn’t have that life that I need,” Strop said.

Strop stopped short of blaming overuse on his recent struggles, but the fact is he’s on pace for about 93 appearances after pitching in 16 of the Cubs’ first 28 games.

“I don’t want to say that,” Strop said. “I’m kind of used to that. It’s early in the season. I don’t want to use that as a complaint.”

Strop was lights out last season in appearing in 65 contests for the Cubs. He gave up just 40 hits and 25 walks in 61 innings. He and Hector Rondon formed a dominant 1-2 punch at the end of games but both struggled on Friday night, nearly giving the game to the Brewers in the final two innings. It’s part of a larger trend.

“We’re (the bullpen) scuffling a little bit but we’re right there,” Strop said.

Manager Joe Maddon has said previously that good teams use their top relievers more often as they’ll protect more leads in the long run. But no pitcher should get anywhere near 93 appearances.

“You have to figure out a way to be in a better position through the struggles,” Strop said. “Trying to be as tough as I can.”

But if Strop is admitting his fastball doesn’t have much life right now, what can the Cubs do? Less use is the only answer at the moment. At least he got out of the jam on Friday with his biggest pitch of the season, a nasty slider to Maldonado.

“That was huge for me,” he said. “I was all focused and talking to myself. Saying a bunch of stuff you don’t want to know. I was saying to myself, ‘You have the ball, you have command of this game. It’s your game, make a pitch right here.’”

Strop made the pitch, but will he make the next one?