Jordan Wicks Will Get At Least One More Start

[Brian Kelder]

According to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score, Jordan Wicks will get another chance to prove himself this weekend.

Wicks gave up eight runs in 4 2/3 innings in his first start, but with Matthew Boyd needing a rehab start, Wicks will toe the mound at least one more time. 

His numbers in Triple A Iowa were stellar in 2026: 12 strikeouts in 15 innings while allowing just seven hits and one earned run. The 26-year-old lefty is running out of time to cement a role in the Cubs staff, both this season and long term. He’ll need a good performance to regain momentum against the Cardinals this weekend.
 

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[Outshined_One]

If you can throw 85 mph (or 80 mph lefthanded) and always wanted to be a big leaguer, buy a ticket to his start, because there's a chance your name will be called out of the pen.

[Bertz]

Wicks feels like he's where Brown was coming into the year, where he's clearly in his head every time out and small jams almost always snowball. 

This next start is clearly just a matter of necessity and I'm not expecting great things, but I do think he should stay up after and slide into long relief.  Rebuild that confidence, slowly increase leverage, and hopefully a month or two from now we'll consider him back on track.

[mul21]

47 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Wicks feels like he's where Brown was coming into the year, where he's clearly in his head every time out and small jams almost always snowball. 

This next start is clearly just a matter of necessity and I'm not expecting great things, but I do think he should stay up after and slide into long relief.  Rebuild that confidence, slowly increase leverage, and hopefully a month or two from now we'll consider him back on track.

Yeah, I think the Cabrera injury accelerated the timeline he was on.  I'd bet the plan was to get him another start or two in Iowa to build a little more endurance and refine his stuff a bit but they really didn't have a choice. 

[Stratos]

After the first inning, which could have been jitters, and how it ended the middle innings for Wicks were effective in his start.  I still think he's a below- average pitcher but I guess our options are terrible.

[Rcal10]

43 minutes ago, Stratos said:

After the first inning, which could have been jitters, and how it ended the middle innings for Wicks were effective in his start.  I still think he's a below- average pitcher but I guess our options are terrible.

I would agree that right now he is a below average (5th starter sort of guy) starter. I do believe he could be a very useful MOR starter if he ever stays healthy. He isn’t ever going to be that 1st or 2nd starter on a good team. But he can settle into a solid #3 imo. 

[Brian Kelder]

I think he needs room to develop and some rope, but this team needs success, so the rope is pretty limited.

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, Brian Kelder said:

I think he needs room to develop and some rope, but this team needs success, so the rope is pretty limited.

I agree. But first he needs health. If he is 100% healthy for 10-12 starts and still not very good I will agree he is not very good. As you said, the issue is the team can’t afford to wait around until he figures it out.