11:09AM: Williams has been officially placed on the 10-day IL, retroactive to May 28. Right-hander Kohl Stewart was called up from Triple-A and will start today for the Cubs.
8:19AM: Cubs hurler Trevor Williams will be out indefinitely after undergoing an emergency appendectomy, per Jared Wyllus of the Chicago Sun-Times. Williams was originally slated to start today’s game against the Padres.
It’s looking like Keegan Thompson will step in for a spot start. The 26-year-old made his first career start in the second game of a doubleheader against the vaunted Dodgers back on May the 4th, tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings. Thompson has yet to surrender an earned run in his young career with 15 scoreless innings over his first nine appearances. He’s done a tremendous job of keeping the ball on the ground so far with a 58.3 percent groundball rate, though that’s not a tendency he displayed as a minor leaguer.
As for Williams, the situation might seem more dire than it is, given the “indefinite” designation of his injury status. Likely, this is simply a matter of wait-and-see, assuming there were no further complications to the surgery.
They will need to replace his production in the meantime. Williams hasn’t exactly been a revelation since joining the rotation from the Pirates – 5.36 ERA/4.76 FIP while averaging less than five innings per start – but if nothing else, he’s striking out batters at a career-best rate of 24.9 percent. He’s also walking more batters than usual with a 10.2 percent walk rate. To his credit, Williams has allowed two or less earned runs in seven of his ten starts, and he’s coming off his best outing of the year, a six-inning, one-earned-run effort against his former club in Pittsburgh.
I had a gut feeling this would happen.
I can’t stomach your pun.
it’s a pandemic to me
I have a gut feeling that yiu are an irrelevant troll
No more irrelevant than you or any other commenter here. Thanks for your awesome insight.
wow,BAD
Unfortunate news for Treveor Williams but I’m excited to see Thompson getting another shot at the rotation.
Thompson’s looked great in his first start against the Dodgers but has taken it to the next level in the pen. Mid 90’s fastball, low 90’s slider and an absolute hammer of a curve.
@dras—-was (and still am) hoping for maybe a Kohl Stewart/Cory Abbott shuttle for a few spot starts. Abott started yesterday so he is out, but Stewart started on the 26th.
The bullpen has been a major strength the last month and I would love to see Keegan stay there and not mess with the depth. Slotting Maples up a spot and out of mop up duty really weakens the pen.
In these days where almost nobody goes six and Ross likes getting out of jams as early as the fifth it’s been nice to have Keegan, Winkler, Tepera, and Chafin leading up to Kimbrel.
Eleven games in the next eleven days against the Padres and Giants——gonna need a lot of bullpen in the next week and half. I’ll take my chances with a spot starter for four innings the next couple/few weeks rather than tinker with a strength too much.
Stewart got the start today and did well. And you’re right. Maples is still an implosion waiting to happen.
I think the Cubs have found themselves a gem in Thompson. He goes to the mound and he just has an attitude about him.
Hoping for a quick recovery and return to action for Williams.
This story reminded me of when Ryan Klesko, then of the Braves, had the same emergency, and I forget who but some publication ran the story under the headline, “Saving Ryan’s Privates.”
I remember when an overweight batter was waiting for his turn in the order and the announcer called him an “up on deck tummy”.
I wonder how many Cubs fans will need surgery after the trade deadline and 2-3 core players are jettisoned if this team is still hanging around 1st? Fools gold in May.
At least there is one more day in May to agonize you, 108. On top of the past six years of contending you must be miserable. Enjoy the trade deadline, soothsayer.
How’s the past 3 yrs not even being competitive in a post season game 127? sing that stale 7th inning stretch with Jim Belushi today enjoying a watered down Old Style.
35th & Shields is a dump as is most of the south side. Nice team though, so all is not lost.
Don’t insult our beer!
Bull Murray dumb ass
You sure know a lot about the team you hate.
I’m sorry you are so insecure in your team that you need to troll the Cubs even while the Sox are in first. Have you been able to sell out Guaranteed Rate Park (Stupid name) yet even with COVID restrictions? Sprry but even if the Sox won the WS they will still be the r MLB team in Chicago.
@jhanley108 Williams had a potentially serious surgery and you’re here clowning on the Cubs fans for it? Jeez get a life you clown
Go troll elsewhere….playing games in october means you’re competitive. Pick and choose individual games if you wish. On second thought feel free to continue to troll here. MLBTR rumors has done a great job weeding trolls out with the mute button. I will continue to read objective opinions.
Most of the clowns on here are irrelevant trolls
Are the Cubs getting any of their injured players back soon? The schedule looks rough the next couple of weeks. Sooner or later, those injuries and the lack of depth because of them, will catch up with you.
Marisnick and Heyward appear close. The infield depth is probably another story. Pretty sure as soon as Rizzo gets back on the field Bryant will see some extended time back at 3b with Hoerner and Bote down for a while.
I’ve missed Marisnick. I actually like him in CF over Happ. Just getting Rizzo back and moving KB to 3rd will help.
Happ has rebounded pretty nicely in May, I also do love Marisnick a lot. He showed some great pop when he was playing. Hoping for Hoerner and Bote to reutrn soon. But I think we’ll be fine, Ortega, Wisdom, Sogard has filled in pretty okay for those losses.
I agree
Looks like Rizz could be back tomorrow. Marisnick & Heyward may be back by end of the week after some minors ABs.
I think going 19-9 in May shows they have plenty of depth.
Depth? I liked their record in May…yes except they played Washington, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cinci and …one series against the Redbirds…. knocking down SD was excellent…let’s wait and see as they might have a more significant challenge coming up…
You left out 3 at the Dodgers in early May, but yes, the schedule is rough the next few weeks. Let’s not get carried away until we see how we can handle it. Ross and the coaching staff has done an amazing job with a team that has had a lot of injuries and starting pitching limitations.
As a Cub fan over 50 yrs, I’m not sure if mocking 0 playoff wins in the last 3 yrs or stating the obvious fact the underachieving core will be broken up this year makes me a troll. But having a sense of humor over the ultra serious game of baseball and the legend of the funniest living Belushi sure helps.
That surgery is no joke. I had one and it took months to fully recover.
An appendectomy isn’t exactly major surgery. He’ll be back in two weeks or less.
Two weeks back to an office job maybe, certainly not a major league ballfield.
Cubs called up Kohl Stewart from Triple A to start for Williams
Cubs have called up Kohl Stewart to start for Williams
My short one game notion – keep Stewart as a starter boasting a zero ERA…leave Wisdom at Third base and send KB to the outfield… pull Happ…
Kohl Stewart was solid today. Veey impressive vs a very good team.