Who ya got for the pitching staff?

[Bertz]

Jordan Wicks is presumably making his 3rd rehab start today (maybe Tuesday), which likely puts him back in Chicago against the Reds next weekend.  Daniel Palencia has pitched multiple rehab outings and is probably ready to come back up.  Colten Brewer is also on rehab and could probably come back up in a week or so with Wicks.  Ditto Keegan Thompson.  On the flip side updates on Merryweather, Almonte, and Alzolay indicate all are at least a month out.

So with some reinforcements shortly available, what does your pitching staff look like a week from now?  Who, if anyone, do you pull from the rotation for Wicks?  What swap(s) do you make in the bullpen?

[Bertz]

For me, I pull Brown from the rotation for Wicks. I know some people will howl about this, but Ben does not have the innings in his arm to stay in the rotation the rest of the year, and he's also the best suited to thrive in relief and help an ailing bullpen. I would use Ben like we used Keegan Thompson at his best, 1-2 times a week working 2-3 innings of high leverage work, including occasionally taking games all the way to the house.

I also bring up Colten Brewer for whichever one of Smyly/Hendricks it's easier to phantom IL. Brewer is nothing special, but he actually throws strikes and he was pretty death on lefties during his pre-IL stint. We need some help against lefties if we don't want Leiter's arm to fall off by August 1st,

I DON'T swap out Porter Hodge. I like Palencia over Hodge broadly, but given circumstances I think we ride the hot hand. If one of our stuff freaks is currently throwing strikes don't mess with it. Hodge will unfortunately probably lose the strikezone in a few weeks and we swap him if/when that happens.  

I also keep Little up. He's not throwing a ton of strikes but he is death on lefties. I'm comfortable with him in LOOGY duty even when he's not at his best and he can earn his way into more.

[Andy]

Agreed that innings reasons are a thing with Brown. They did say during his last start that his numbers are much better starting then relieving. I don't know how much of that is just noise, though.

[Rcal10]

19 minutes ago, Andy said:

Agreed that innings reasons are a thing with Brown. They did say during his last start that his numbers are much better starting then relieving. I don't know how much of that is just noise, though.

I think if you take out the one bad inning the first time he pitched in relief opening series, his relief numbers are very good too. Hard to get numbers leveled when you have one terrible inning in relief and only pitch 15-20 relief innings total.

Edited June 2, 2024 by Rcal10

[squally1313]

Just go 6 man for a while. Hendricks is basically a wasted roster spot, and nobody beyond shota, who prefers more rest anyways, has stood out enough demand starts over another. Keep them all stretched and wait for the inevitable injury. 

[Jason Ross]

I'd move Brown. I know that's going to be met with resistence, but I think it serves two purposes: 

1. It saves his innings. We know he's a bit more of an issue with injuries than others due to his motion and stuff. 

2. It helps the BP. Ben Brown can add something to a bullpen that has been awful. You start adding Brown, Wesneski to Lieter Jr and you begin to have a small core of reliability. Neris has been better his last 7 appearances; dropping his walk rate down to 7% over that span. If Neris can become reliable, you've got four guys. Merryweather and Almonte are maybe back by the end of the month and you might be up to five or six. Tyson Miller looks like he's reliable, so there's seven. 

The Cubs can start to scratch out some guys they can begin to trust. Injuries will happen, maybe Neris loses it again, or Almonte never gets healthy or something, but there's a small light at the end of the tunnel. It makes a somewhat reliable group of guys so you don't feel like you have to trade for a full need BP.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

6 man with Brown being the guy getting bullpen innings if circumstances/off days make skipping someone practical.  I would also just option Palencia, Brewer, and Thompson unless Hodge stops throwing strikes or you want to stretch out Wesneski in Iowa.

[KCCub]

23 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Merryweather and Almonte are maybe back by the end of the month and you might be up to five or six. 

Just an FYI as you may of missed the news yesterday. Counsell confirmed Merryweather is out until after the all-star break and no time table yet for Almonte.

 

[Jason Ross]

Just now, KCCub said:

Just an FYI as you may of missed the news yesterday. Counsell confirmed Merryweather is out until after the all-star break and no time table yet for Almonte.

 

I did miss that. I saw Almonte was playing catch as of the 21st so still think he could be back by July 1st. Bummer on Merryweather. Life's been pretty busy lately so I've been missing a bunch. 

[squally1313]

Since May 1 the cubs have had the 6th best bullpen in baseball by fWAR, first in K rate, 15th in walk rate, very bad BABIP and underperforming their FIP by about a run. 
 

Agree on needing to limit brown’s innings if we get back in contention and want him around in September/october, but think you can delay that decision another month and keep all the starters well rested (and willing to get an extra inning from them) without being terrified of a brown-less bullpen