The Chicago Cubs have pushed Tyler Chatwood’s start after the right-hander experienced tightness in his back, per Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports. Colin Rea will trot in from the bullpen to start on Saturday in his stead (technically, Alec Mills started for Chatwood on Friday, and Rea will start in Mills’ place). Chatwood has continued his streaky tenure this season in Chicago, though the good has outweighed the bad through three starts. The 30-year-old Chatwood put the Northside aflutter with a pair of quality starts in which he yielded 12 2/3 innings, two wins, 19 strikeouts, and just a single earned run. He gave it all back with 8 earned runs in just 2 1/3 innings in his third start against the Royals. The Cubs have a twin bill with the Cardinals scheduled for Monday where Chatwood will step back into the rotation, per Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times (via Twitter).
- Bad news could be on the horizon for the San Diego Padres. Closer Kirby Yates has been scheduled for an MRI to investigate recent elbow discomfort, per Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. The late-blooming Yates has developed into arguably the game’s best closer over the past two seasons. He’s not been himself through 5 appearances this year. He’s currently rocking a cumbersome 10.38 ERA/5.62 FIP with 7 hits and 4 walks to 7 strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings. He does have 2 saves and a hold. An injury would certainly be a blow to a San Diego bullpen already down Andres Muñoz and Trey Wingenter. Even so, the Friars are flush with potential replacements: Emilio Pagan and Drew Pomeranz are likely next in line to secure W’s in San Diego.
- Yoshihisa Hirano is finally on his way back to the diamond after testing positive for COVID-19 early in training camp, per MLB.com’s Greg Johns (via Twitter). After some tune-ups at the alternate site, Hirano could find himself in the Seattle Mariners’ bullpen shortly. Hirano, 36, joined the Mariners this offseason after two years with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He proved himself a reliable arm in the Dbacks’ pen. He owns a 3.47 ERA/3.85 FIP in the states after a successful career in Japan.
Re: Cubs’ Chatwood.
Um… what game were you watching? Yeah Chatwood coughed up 8 runs in a bad start (everyone has them), but he did not “give it all back”. He did not walk anyone in that bad start. For him, that’s HUGE. He was just in the zone too much (maybe related to that bad back?).
He’s caught my attention this year and I am eager to see his starts going forward.
[Now if he has a few bad ones in a row, then we can talk].
His ERA went from under 1.00 to 5.40. Thats what the writer means lol
Tingler does a lot of things right.
Using his bullpen isn’t one of them.
I get it. He wants to send guys out there and give them a vote of confidence. Not the year to do it.
And if you are going to do it, put Hedges back there if he’s not already in the game.
The way the season has gone, and the fact it’s 60 games, he needs to be limiting his pen choices to who’s been effective.
Gotta ride the hot arms.
What happens when they aren’t hot anymore? Just because its a two month season doesn’t mean you don’t have to still act like it isn’t the first month of the season.
Actually, you do.
60 games. Not 162 games.
Giving guys 3/4 of the games workload this year equates to 45 innings
You’re not asking a lot for a guy who typically pitch 60+ to give you 45 or so.
Far as when they cool off? A lot easier to stay hot in 60 than 162. You still give guys work when situations allow it…
But bringing in Guerra last night down 1-0…..not the first choice. Johnson should have been the one or Pomeranz.
This seems like a formula to get guys hurt. I agree to go with the hot arm but guys need rest and tired bullpen arms don’t tend to do well.
Please can the Mariners do better than this guy bullpen shopping in the offseason. Maybe 3 x all better than this guy. Thank you
He has done better in his career than almost all of the Mariners relievers. We can definitely use him.