2:07PM: Wicks will actually start today’s game, as the team informed reporters (including Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune) that Javier Assad will now start Sunday instead of today.
10:13AM: The Cubs are set to call up left-hander Jordan Wicks, according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers (X links). There had been plenty of speculation that Wicks was on the verge of a call-up, and now the southpaw (who turns 24 on September 1) will get an early birthday present Sunday when he makes his MLB debut in a start against the Pirates.
Wicks was the 21st overall pick of the 2021 draft, drawing Chicago’s attention after a standout collegiate career at Kansas State. That success has translated into a pretty quick rise through the farm system, as Wicks has now reached the majors a little over two years since his draft date. Making his Triple-A debut just this past June, Wicks has a 3.82 ERA, 22.2% strikeout rate, and 9.8% walk rate over the limited sample of 33 innings for Triple-A Iowa.
This was enough to earn Wicks at least one start at the big league level, as it is possible he might be quickly ticketed back to Triple-A after helping the Cubs get through an extended stretch of games. Marcus Stroman’s injury seemed to herald Drew Smyly’s return to the rotation, but Chicago has instead decided to keep Smyly in the bullpen, creating the need for a new starter on Sunday. Wicks has pitched beyond the fifth inning only once in his 20 minor league games this season, so Sunday’s game might be more of a piggyback situation, with Smyly or other relievers stepping in before Pirates batters can face Wicks for a second time.
Still, even a cup of coffee in the majors is a huge moment in Wicks’ career, and it can serve as an audition for a longer look once rosters expand in September, or going into next season. Stroman can opt out of his contract and the Cubs might not exercise Kyle Hendricks’ club option, leaving some possible rotation spots open heading into Spring Training. Wicks has an opportunity to turn some heads and get himself into that conversation, with his minor league resume already standing out.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel ranked Wicks 51st on his preseason top-100 listing, though Wicks has yet to crack the top 100 for either Baseball America or MLB Pipeline in their preseason or midseason rankings. BA places Wicks as the eighth-best prospect in the Cubs’ farm system and Pipeline has him 10th, and all of the pundits feel he can become a big league-caliber starter in the middle or back of a rotation. Wicks’ outstanding changeup is the highlight of his five-pitch arsenal, though his slider is the only other offering that shows above-average potential. For more on Wicks’ development, James Fegan of the Chicago Sun-Times published a piece today with quotes from Wicks and Triple-A pitching coach Ron Villone about the youngster’s approach on the mound.
Jordan’s back in Chicago for the Domination Station!
All the best in your debut. Should be an easy 6+ as the Bucs aren’t a good team. Bucs strikeout about 9 times a game so I could see him get 6-8 in his debut.
It’s the right move. Get the kid some MLB experience. I just hope it’s not a one and done. Leave him in there no matter what.
Uncle, I’m happy that they’ve been giving Assad opportunities lately. Hopefully he’ll continue to make the most of them and show he is capable of being a #4 or 5 in next year’s rotation. TBH I am not expecting Wicks to be as ready, as Assad – although I hope I am totally wrong. Sure would be nice to also have Wicks in that 4,5 conversation for 2024.
My biggest wish though, is I would love to see Mervis and Canario come along to Chicago. Nothing against Wisdom and Mastro, but they must have some embarrassing pictures of Ross or Hawkins.
Nobody has anything against Wisdom or Mastrobuoni but they both need to be gone by next year… And if they can get a solid 5 innings out of Wicks, that’s a victory.
Wisdom has been awful this season but Mastrobuoni has provided value. Solid defense, good base running, perfect on steal opportunities and when he was filling in for Madrigal, he was actually hitting well.
When you have versatility like the Cubs have, adding weapons to the bench is vital. Mastrobuoni has ability to play all over the diamond and can fill in as a defensive replacement in the event Morel is starting in the infield or would be an ideal pinch runner/guy on second in extras.
I agree that Wisdom needs to go, it’s either a HR or KO, and majority of the time it’s a KO. But that said, Wisdom still is a good teammate and I do think he’d be a great coach or maybe a future manager. Just my thoughts.
I’m glad you were wrong. He was brilliant. The fox announcers wanted the cubs to lose so badly. They blew their 2nd call in as many games with a challenge. Not sure how the runner was allowed to score from 1st on a ground rule double.
Because Suzuki kept the ball in play before it went out of the stadium. By people not teaching him the stadium’s ground rules. Hard to fault him for trying to make a baseball play.
The ball should’ve been ruled out of play at soon as it touched the wall in foul territory. There was no reason to let the runner from first score. This was on the umps not Seiya
Dogbone – you need to see the trainwreck below in regards to Hendricks and the rotation. If you have any thoughts I’d be interested to hear them.
Time to start bringing up these guys this pitching staff is running on fumes, should have started about 6 Smiley and Stroman starts ago
Dealer, hoping that Stroman returns to good health. That could be all that’s needed. And it’s also becoming more of a likelihood that he’s back in Chicago next year – for that final year of his contract.
Smyly on the other hand, has been a good pitcher, teammate for a long time – but as we all know, Father Time has a way of catching up to us all. Might not be much left there.
Gotta keep Smyly in the Bullpen.He could be a nice weapon in the playoffs. Leiter Jr, Merriweather and Alzolay have been amazing all year.
I would love to see the Cubs bring up Luke Little before September. He has been real good!
It’s a bit ironic a man who is 6’8” has the last name Little. The Cubs need bullpen help, and Little is also a lefty so I think it’s worth a try. Couldn’t be worse than Palencia and Cuas.
He looked great, albeit against the Pirates
Let the kids play!
PCA and Little need to be up now and let’s have some fun!
Oh, no reason not to pick up Kyle option next year.
Yeah I’m starting to think Hendricks’ contract will be picked up for next year. He’s not pitching that great, but he’s still good enough and worth the money. Also, with another offseason and time to be recovered from his injury, I suspect he might pitch even better next year especially with the motivation to earn one last bigger contract. Also, I could see a lot of value in Wicks having many conversations with Kyle on the bench about the pitching approach and the change up.
Hendricks had an era under 4 and that is heavily skewed by a stinker against the Braves. He gives the Cubs a chance to win nearly every time he takes the ball.
The Cubs hold a 16 million option with a 1.5 million buy out, show me a better pitcher that can be had for 14.5 million on a one year contract, I’ll wait.
I’m curious to know where PCA is supposed to play? Bellinger is the teams MVP, Tauchman contributes to play well, Madrigal is one of the best defenders in the game at third and Candario is at first. Not to mention Suzuki all the sudden decided to play like an mvp.
I don’t see much of a reason to “start his clock”. Sure there may be an argument to give Bellinger some days off from the field but we still have Tauchman there to spell him.
I don’t disagree, but cherry picking stats and removing the outlier bad starts doesn’t really paint the picture of who he is these days. He’s not who he was 7 years ago, but he’s still much better than many options for a third or 4th starter in the rotation.
PCA may see a September call up but he’s not coming up before that unless there’s a catastrophic injury such as when Baez went down and they brought Hoerner up.
No one is cherry picking stats, I’m stating a fact. He had one horrible start, I think another he was tagged for 5. Typically he goes deep into games and gives us a chance to win.
Nico… “removing the outlier bad starts doesn’t really paint the picture of who he is these days.”
In the analytics world, removing outliers is exactly what you do in order to show a “base”. When a guy gives up 0-3 over 16 starts and then 5/7 in the other 2, that’s exactly what a GM does today when evaluating a guy like Hendricks
Again nothing against Hendricks but the fact is he’s not winning games. he has a losing record. So let’s spitball here and say the Cubs make the playoffs. I’m willing to bet that Hendricks isn’t even on the Playoff Roster. Steele, Hopefully Stroman and Taillon, Assad are valuable either as starters or relievers. Wesneski and Thompson as relievers hopefully too. Hendricks has no place. As for next year it’s Steele and Taillon for sure and looking more like Stroman will opt in. So now you have Assad, Brown, Wicks, Killian, Wesneski and maybe even Horton in play. So what you do is Rotate them up and down with Iowa To let them get their feet wet and control their innings. Hendricks is the Elephant in the room. I’m sorry, But he’s the square peg in the round hole, The Past not the future. The Cubs have better PITCHERS coming. Hendricks would be an expensive mistake just like Happ. Yeah Happ is doing OK, But has anyone watched what PCA and Canario are doing at Iowa? Canario is back to destroying the ball and now has nowhere to go. Sad
“Fact is he’s not winning games”
Hendricks “lost” four games where he gave up three or less and made quality starts in those games. He has five no decisions where he gave up less than three as well, three of those no decisions he gave up only 1 run and one he gave up 2. Somehow you believe the Cubs inability to score in those games falls on Kyle?
Kyle or Wicks? Wicks has one really good game. Kyle is posting a 3.80 era, a 3.97 FIP and a 1.141 WHIP with post season experience. As impressed as I was with Wicks, it’s Hendricks all day at this point.
Lastly, it doesn’t look like Stroman will “opt in” either. He’s getting up there in age and this is his last shot at a long term deal. His injury wasn’t something that should effect him next year and even if he doesn’t pitch again this year, he should see a 3 year 45 million floor.
Drascoo- It’s not his fault but the FACTS are that those are EXACTLY the kind of games they will be playing in the playoffs and those are the ones you need a stud to pitch in.In the Playoffs it doesn’t matter how well you did all year but what you are CAPABLE of doing in one game. Stroman’s not stupid. He also sees that the Cubs will have a good team next year and for awhile so to get the big money he needs wins to get what he wants. Like I’ve said with Stroman, Stay-Go it really doesn’t matter to me at all. If Hendricks is on the playoff roster then the Cubs have made another mistake.
Outside of your bias against Hendricks, you have no validation for your opinion.
You wouldn’t have him on the playoff roster despite pitching well against Tampa, San Fran, Phillies, padres, Baltimore and Milwaukee. The only playoff caliber team he mailed it in on was the Braves.
You don’t like Hendricks. So be it. If I remember correctly you were saying Madrigal was terrible all off-season as well.
If Wicks dominates and earns a playoff spot, great. If Stroman can come back and pitch like he did at the beginning of the year, also great but sucks for your luck right now Steele and Hendricks are one/two followed by Assad and then Tailon.
The Cubs will pick up Hendrick’s option. Pull out the 2 poor starts, his ERA is 3.05 over 16 starts. Yeah, zero chance they don’t pick up his option. If nothing else, they’d pick up his option and then trade him.
Win-loss record is probably the worst valuation stat for a pitcher, but I’ll play. Hendricks career record is 92-68. Stroman, 77-75. Obviously Hendricks is vastly superior. Pick up Hendricks’ option, extend him and hope Stroman opts out.
This year Hendricks ERA against Atlanta, San Fran, Philly, Tampa, Baltimore & Milwaukee is 3.60. Take out the Atlanta game his ERA is 2.03 in the other 5 games. The teams record against playoff teams Hendricks has started is 4-2 for those that fancy a pitchers W/L record.
As mentioned, Wicks has 1 game against… Pittsburgh. Hopefully this is just a start to a great career, but I’m old enough to remember Wesneski started out on fire last year. Right now he’s probably closer to Iowa than the playoff roster.
Taillon’s ERA vs playoff teams is 8.55 in 9 starts. Not surprisingly, the Cubs are 0-9 in those games.
Having Taillon on the playoff roster and keeping Hendricks off makes perfect sense.
Yeah Tallion definitely didn’t rise to the occasion but then neither did the rest of the team against Wade Miley. Hoerner and Swanson making errors was bad enough. So saying Steele is good enough to beat Burnes tonight that leaves Puss ball Kyle to try and hope to gain a game against Mil this series. So you better hope you’re right. Tallion actually threw pretty well after the 1st but Ole Kyle gets worse as the game goes on so you better be right or the division just walked away.
You realize it’s easy to look up stats right?
This is what happens when you have a bias against someone, as you do with Hendricks, you remember small bits and pieces but not the entire body of work so let’s look
1-3 4.00 era
4-6 3.57
7-9 3.60
Why can’t you people get it through your heads that The whole key to the Cubs improvement next year will be how much experience Wesneski, Assad, Wicks and I was hoping Killian get this year to prepare them for the future? I mean the bullpen will automatically be better if Hughes and Thompson are ready to go next year. I mean if you’re counting Killian’s 2 emergency starts and stupidly calling him up to be in the bullpen this year for 2 innings as any kind of trial then you’re fools. I wanted Hendricks gone at the deadline. I could lie and say I wanted Stroman gone also but the way he pitched early and as bad as he was at the deadline made that a no go, Plus if they were going to compete at all they probably needed him to stay and be healthy. So now if he picks his option they can trade him in the off season. Might have to eat some it, But it’s better than eating all of it. Wesneski and Assad have gotten much needed experience. I’m willing to take the bad for the trade of them learning. I really hope they don’t do to Wicks what they did to Killian, I don’t care as long as he’s learning. If you’re not paying attention to the Minors you should. There are a lot of really good P’s coming with no place to go. It’s really sad to me.
Taillon admitted he was terrible, but I went ahead a pulled his start from last night out. In the other 8 games against playoff teams Taillon and the Cubs are 0-8. His ERA is 9.00. To make matters worse, he averages 4.1 IP per start.
Some advice for you BJ McKay, better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.
I don’t think you really understand how baseball works, I mean you do, you’re an above average poster but still kind of naive when it comes to pitching.
The way I see it, the Cubs need to add one starting pitcher in free agency and open the season with Steele, Hendricks, Tailon and an open competition for the fifth slot. The Cubs, imo, should have one open rotation slot, one open slot for long relief and a couple 40 man slots for spot starters. There is absolutely zero harm is holding a guy in the minors for a spot start/injury replacement until he earns a path. Wicks and Assad could earn their path now, but they haven’t landed it yet.
Wicks and Assad right now appear to have the inside run on the fifth starter role. Brown appears likely to start in AAA as the next man up. I haven’t seen anything from Killian to suggest he can start and Wesneski, as previously slatted looks like a reliever to me with his control issues.
Smyly looks like a DFA waiting to happen, Thompson may have the multi inning role pulled and used as a single inning guy next year similar to best case scenario Alzolay.
Your statements about Hendricks are foolish, he typically goes deep into games giving the bullpen time off, he’s reliable and comes up big when we need him (aside from the Braves game). Not to mention he is a veteran presence who will work with Amaya and has playoff experience.
If you would rather go out and spend millions on starting pitching when you have a bevy of potential arms then it’s you guys who don’t understand baseball or pitching. Because the 64 million they spent last year on Tallion and the Fullmer, Boxberger, Smyly moves panned out great huh? The guys that saved the day were Steele, Alzolay, Merryweather (waivers) , Leiter Jr ( scrap heap) Assad, and yeah Wesneski ( he hasn’t been all bad). So yeah spend some more for absolutely no reason whatsoever big guy. Not sure I’m the one who doesn’t understand.
So angry… don’t take your sexual frustration out on me.
Also, in case you haven’t noticed, Hendricks just tossed another amazing start against a playoff team, guess it’s his fault the Cubs didn’t score again huh?
Fulmer has actually been good, minus the start of the season (more of your bias), never for one second did I like the Smyly move (or Mancini for the matter). I see you noticeably left out Hendricks and Stroman in your”save the day” narrative but that only makes sense because it weakens your argument. And as always you only use things to support your argument and ignore history.
“Puss ball Kyle to try and hope to gain a game against Mil this series…Ole Kyle gets worse as the game goes on…”
It’s almost like you have no idea what you’re talking about.
“The whole key to the Cubs improvement next year will be how much experience Wesneski, Assad, Wicks and I was hoping Killian get this year”
You’re counting on Wesneski that allows lefties to slash .312/.368/.672 – 1.040 OPS and a 10% HR rate. As well as Killian that has been given 4 starts and a chance out of the bullpen with a 12.42 ERA… That’s what you think the Cubs should count on going into 2024…
Again… It’s almost like you have no idea what you’re talking about.
I don’t know why the heck dudes talking about next year when the Cubs are two out in the division and are currently holding down a wild card spot but so be it.
I say the ”key” to next year is re-signing Bellinger or figuring out how to replace him because he’s the only middle of the order bat we have. Wait, let me guess, Canario and PCA because newer is always better.
Let me update Hendricks ERA v playoff teams. In 7 starts his ERA is 3.06 and the Cubs are 5-2 in those games
Pull out that bad start against the Braves and his ERA is 1.70 against playoff teams. AND he averages 6.1 IP per start.
You are one sharp cookie BJ McKay.
Drasco – As far as filling the 2024 rotation you and I are on the same page as just about any educated baseball fan. Cubs should buy 1 TOR arm, then have the minor league arms establish themselves and see where they fit. A team generally needs 8 starters throughout the year, so there are plenty of innings for everyone. 2024 is when the competitive window is open. I would not take the ridiculous suggestion of having tryouts the entire year with Wesneski, Kilian, Assad, Wicks, Ferris, Grey, Powell, Horton and Brown. And moving them up and down the Iowa shuttle until you get the 4 best guys. That’s not a strategy for getting into the playoffs and making a World Series puch. If any of the young arms can push anyone out of the rotation, all the better. But going into ’24, right now Steele and Hendricks are your top 2 arms.
So this is from the guy who once called me an ” Internet Terrorist” is now reduced to sexual connotations because I don’t agree with his baseball opinions. So be it. But you must be a total pschizo because your opinions turn on a dime. So lets re sign everybody. Then what do we do with the prospects we have now? Trade them for more prospects who will never be good enough for you? When will they be good enough? How do we find out? I’m sure all these guys will be happy to hang around until they’re 30 just waiting for you to call them up someday. Before you start throwing names around maybe you should take a glance in the mirror.
Drasco – I’ll add, it’s given the Cubs will pick up Hendricks’ option. As great as Hendricks looks, I wouldn’t rule out the Cubs renegotiating and extending Hendricks 3/4 years. Maybe $12M a year with another club option in year 4. Pretty sure Hendricks wants to retire a Cub, maybe they’ll work a Kershaw deal; “pitch until you don’t want to” on a team friendly.
Drasco – I don’t think anyone knows what he’s talking about.
“I say the ”key” to next year is re-signing Bellinger or figuring out how to replace him because he’s the only middle of the order bat we have”
Agree, but I’m afraid of the price tag. Without his bat, I’d be afraid of how far the offense falls. I’m not going to back one side or another on this. I want him back, but I’ll understand if Hoyer has to walk away.
PCA can help the team, but he isn’t a middle of the order bat. Canario could take Morel’s DH spot. Can he play 1st? Joking, kinda.
So who would you rather have on your playoff roster, Hendricks or Wicks? Hoerndawg Hendricks is over, Just get used to it. Younger is better. Wicks horrible beginning and fantastic finish prove he needs to play and Hendricks if fine for now but even though he’s not pitching horribly he’s not winning either. Is it all his fault, No. The Cubs should ABSOLUTELY not be buying any FA pitchers and should move on from Hendricks and Smyly. Just my take. The Cubs have great young pitching with options and can rotate them up and down to control their innings. Steele, Taillon and Stroman will be here probably. Hopefully Taillon just has the first year of a big contract blues and rebounds nextbyear and becomes the innings eater he can be.
Sorry my computer spazzed out and these reply’s disappeared and reappeared like they sometimes do here. All the sudden there were 4 so you try to get rid of them and and this is what happens. And then they get moved where they don’t belong.
Hendricks is over, huh?
Washed up…need more Kilian, Brown and Wesneski in the rotation I’m told.
Yeah apparently he should have been traded and his option should not be picked up.
I think he should get the Cy young because he beat the Brewers. Oh wait, No he didn’t. Well he did pitch a pretty good game. Let’s tear up his deal and double his salary. I was completely wrong. By all means lets spend 200 million on Bellinger and give Hendricks 30 million for next year. Yeah that’s the way to go. You’ve converted me. Let’s bring back Rizzo, Baez and Bryant and have a Cohen Payroll. Let’s party like it’s 2016 for the next 5 years and never move on. Yeah it’s like I sit here and root against Hendricks because I want to look good in this column. Me living in your heads, must be sad. Let’s give Madrigal 30 million because Shaw will never be that good. Wow
The Cubs didn’t “decide” to keep Smyly in the pen, they moved him back to the rotation and he continued to get beat like a red headed step child so back to the pen he went.
It’s exciting to see Wicks make his debut, also exciting to see Thompson return to the big league club. Despite his over all numbers, I’m hoping Thompson figured out what was wrong with him and can return to being that dominate bullpen arm.
Not to be confused with Jordan Hicks
They have no other choice. Bad time to experience pitching issues….during a playoff run. Hopefully the kid can make a good first impression and force the hand of the Cubs to keep him in the majors.
I don’t think they called him up for a one-time thru the order start like the writer implies. He’s been starting his whole career so I expect at least 5 innings if he’s effective.
They’re also the clear favorites to sign Yamamoto. A rotation of Yamamoto, Stroman, Steele, Taillon and or Hendricks/Wicks is pennant material.
The kid did not disappoint. Very impressive.
Wicks has a veryyyyyyy good change up. It moves alot. And same arm speed. He needs to talk to Mark Greg Maddox on how to throw a cutter or moving fastball Greg threw were it came back over the plate a very effective pitch
White Sox former picture Mark Bueeley or how ever you spell it