SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Cubs got here into this spring with an elevated confidence of their rotation depth. Between the established arms in place, the large offseason signing of Shota Imanaga and a gaggle of youthful gamers on the rise, Chicago feels it has the items to assist face up to setbacks.
That’s already being put to the check.
On Sunday morning, Cubs supervisor Craig Counsell famous that veteran right-hander Jameson Taillon may not be prepared for Opening Day. Even when the pitcher’s lower-back harm doesn’t grow to be a severe ailment — Taillon was set to endure additional testing to find out the extent of the difficulty — the event might have an effect on the pitching workers.
“Look, you by no means wish to lose a participant. You by no means wish to even think about it,” Counsell mentioned. “I don’t assume this can be a long-term absence for Jamo, so it’s probably not a type of considerations. However, I believe that is what’s anticipated. I believe we’re in good condition.”
How does this affect the rotation?The Cubs plan on handing the ball to lefty Justin Steele for Opening Day. Behind him, the North Siders have veteran Kyle Hendricks and Imanaga — the latter becoming a member of the fold through a four-year, $53 million pact over the winter. Taillon was set to be the fourth lock for the beginning workers, however his comeback might linger into the season.
Previous to Taillon’s lower-back harm — one which flared throughout his warm-up routine on Saturday and led to him being scratched from his deliberate Cactus League debut — the final rotation spot was up for grabs between Javier Assad, Drew Smyly, Hayden Wesneski and Jordan Wicks. Sans Taillon, two from that group might now be within the Opening Day forged.
Smyly (3 1/3 scoreless innings with 4 strikeouts and one stroll) and Wicks (one unearned run allowed with seven strikeouts in 4 1/3 aid innings) each pitched in Sunday’s 5-1 win towards the Rangers.
“We’ve obtained a bunch of men nonetheless stretched out and able to maintain going,” Counsell mentioned. “We’ve got not dominated anyone out at this level. So, we’ll simply maintain a bunch of men stretched out and see how that performs out.”
Additionally it is value noting that Counsell needs to keep up flexibility with the again of the rotation, permitting for extra days off for members of the workers. That features Imanaga, who’s adjusting to a five-day routine after being on a six-day program in Japan. Counsell has described the state of affairs not as a six-man rotation, however possibly working in a sixth starter every now and then.
Assad, Wesneski and Wicks all have Minor League choices, so they might shuttle between Triple-A Iowa and Chicago as wanted. Smyly can be versatile sufficient to maneuver between rotation and bullpen. Plus, the Cubs have three off-days inside the first 15 days of the season, serving to the staff house issues out for the rotation.
Might this alter the bullpen construction?The principle method the Taillon state of affairs might affect the bullpen can be if the Cubs decide that Smyly ought to keep within the rotation. That would scale back the variety of locks for the aid corps to 5: Yency Almonte, Adbert Alzolay, Mark Leiter Jr., Julian Merryweather and Héctor Neris.
Whereas Assad, Wesneski and Wicks might, in concept, be choices for the bullpen, Chicago’s want to keep up rotation depth on the entrance finish of the season seemingly means the odd males out open as starters for Triple-A Iowa. If one did land within the bullpen, Assad would most likely be the choose.
If Smyly slots into the rotation, there may very well be as many as three aid spots up for grabs. The checklist of candidates on the 40-man roster contains Jose Cuas, Luke Little, Daniel Palencia and Keegan Thompson. The remaining non-roster candidates embody Colten Brewer, Carl Edwards Jr., Edwin Escobar, Richard Lovelady, Thomas Pannone and Cam Sanders.
Is Counsell factoring in handedness?The Cubs have already got a pair of lefties within the rotation (Imanaga and Steele) and two extra southpaws (Smyly and Wicks) within the hunt for a beginning job. Within the identify of steadiness, it appears unlikely that Chicago would function a rotation with 4 left-handers.
Requested about such a situation, Counsell mentioned: “I consider it as, ‘Who’re one of the best individuals to get hitters out?’ It doesn’t have something to do with [being] left-handed or right-handed. Who’s going to get individuals out one of the best? That’s who’s going to pitch.”
If Smyly stayed within the rotation, the Cubs’ lefty bullpen choices proper now embody Little, plus Escobar, Lovelady and Pannone from the non-roster group. The North Siders have NRI contenders on each the pitching and place participant facet, however the present 40-man roster would make it difficult so as to add a number of gamers in that group for Opening Day.
