The Cubs selected the contract of Steven Brault prior to today’s ballgame, tweets Mark Gonzales. In corresponding moves, Mark Leiter Jr. was optioned to Triple-A and Matt Swarmer was designated for assignment. Anderson Espinoza, meanwhile, is serving as the 27th man for today’s doubleheader.
Brault appeared in the Majors with the Pirates in each of the past six seasons going back to 2016. He owns a 4.77 career ERA/4.67 FIP across 343 1/3 innings. He has served primarily as a starter, but he is no stranger to coming out of the bullpen either.
The 28-year-old Swarmer had some real ups and downs in his short time on the Cubs’ roster. In five starts and six relief appearances, Swarmer posted a 5.03 ERA/7.35 FIP over 34 innings. After giving up just one earned run in each of his first two starts, Swarmer was tagged with six home runs in his third start of the season against the Yankees.
Leiter Jr. is no stranger to the road between Chicago and Iowa. The 31-year-old has logged 38 2/3 innings with the Cubs with a 5.35 ERA/5.00 FIP. He has logged 19 innings in Triple-A over five starts with a 6.16 ERA.
Best forearm tats in the bigs.
Top 10 all time. Mat Latos was impressive too.
It cracks me up, players getting practically their arms plastered with tattoos, but can’t pitch worth a lick
What does one thing have to do with the other? Lots of guys have arm tats who aren’t in the big leagues at all.
343 innings is pretty decent. It’s more than our local hero Mantei. But way less rings
Brault will forever be remembered as a pitcher who will thrill fans for one start, and then get shelled in his next 4 or 5. Will be interesting to see if he has progressed
And yet Norris still has a roster spot
Not anymore!
Too bad the DH is now in the NL. Brault is the rare pitcher that can actually hit.