Cubs need Keegan Thompson in rotation as real ‘weapon’

Wittenmyer: Time is now for Keegan Thompson to start off at first appeared on NBC Athletics Chicago

What is it likely to choose for the Cubs’ greatest pitcher this year to get the possibility to help out a beleaguered rotation and make a commence or two?

An injuries to a veteran? A few of clunkers by the $71 million no cost agent? One more member of the rotation long lasting just 3 innings Sunday due to the fact his command faded as he obtained “tired”?

Test.

Examine.

And, fergawdsakes, check out.

Keegan Thompson has been the most dominant Cubs pitcher 16 games into the period — with 14 strikeouts and just three walks in 13 2/3 scoreless innings throughout four relief outings of at minimum 2 2/3 innings just about every (and that a single was only so shorter simply because he got ejected for plunking Andrew McCutchen).

Ideal Cubs pitcher? This guy’s the best pitcher in the majors.

And you could glance it up.

Through Sunday, Thompson prospects the majors in pitchers WAR (for each baseball-reference.com), the only a single in the major 10 who hasn’t designed a start off.

By comparison, $43-million-a-yr Max Scherzer is 3- with a 2.50 Era in 3 starts for the Mets and fees half the WAR of Thompson’s 1.2.

“Being equipped to bring him in is a real weapon,” manager David Ross mentioned soon after Friday’s lights-out finish in opposition to the Pirates.

Thompson entered with one on and none out in the sixth, trailing 4-2, then obtained a speedy double participate in and completed the relaxation of a scoreless outing with just 13 batters confronted in the four innings.

“Talk about keeping it near appropriate there, providing us just about every possibility to try to make some thing transpire offensively,” Ross mentioned. “An outing like that is incredibly important.”

The Cubs did not do something offensively, however, and shed the sport.

How about this for a weapon: Set your very best pitcher in the rotation and just take a lead into the sixth inning just about every fifth working day a minimal more usually.

How “extremely valuable” would that search appropriate about now — as the Cubs stare at a 5.60 rotation Era with Wade Miley and Alec Mills still performing again from accidents, and highly effective still left-hander Justin Steele “getting tired” through a 79-pitch begin that barely got him as a result of the 3rd inning?

Tale proceeds

Ross mentioned he likes Thompson in the function he’s in now. Thompson stated he’s content to pitch any time and area the Cubs want to use him.

But Thompson also said he prepared all through the offseason to start if required. And when he’s not confident he’s “built up, for every se” because even his four-inning outing was so economical that he’s thrown no additional than 48 pitches in a match, Thompson appears to be prepared to compete for four or 5 innings now as a starter.

Unquestionably, going him into the rotation is no promise of sudden success. But what is specific is that what the Cubs have likely now in a few rotation places isn’t performing.

So have Thompson toss a bullpen session Tuesday in Atlanta, drop him into the rotation Thursday or Friday, flip Steele to Thompson’s function in the bullpen and adjust as need dictates when Mills and Miley are completely ready to join the staff.

There’s your weapon.

Now that we’ve the pitching figured out, about that shortstop predicament …

Free of charge Willy

In the past number of days, the Rockies averted a midseason arbitration hearing with setting up pitcher Kyle Freeland when they agreed to a five-year, $64.5 million contract extension, and the Marlins prevented the similar awkward midseason confrontation with infielder Joey Wendle (1-yr plus mutual solution. $4.625 million).

The Cubs and Willson Contreras?

Hi?

*Crickets*

The sides continue to be on a collision study course for a June hearing, with no talks since figures were exchanged in March ($10.25 million and $9 million), inspite of Contreras’ willingness to keep away from what would be a occupation to start with in his final yr of arbitration eligibility.

But the two-time All-Star starter, who’s off to a productive commence this period, stated he’s in a very good area no matter of the small business at hand, focusing on loved ones (which is with him in Chicago now) and the Cubs’ endeavours on the subject.

Stat of the 7 days

The Cubs are 6-9 when scoring 20 or fewer operates in a game this time.

Maddon science

Considering the fact that intentionally going for walks Corey Seager with the bases loaded in the fourth inning of a match his Angels trailed at the time, Joe Maddon’s boys have gone 6-3 (via Sunday) — going from 3rd place in the AL West, with a shedding report, to 1 game off the finest report in the American League.

Never ever overlook: Have faith in the procedure.

Just expressing.

GDubGrub

Heading to Milwaukee for the Cubs collection this weekend? Program to be stumbling about downtown Friday or Saturday evening with an hunger?

Stumble into Milwaukee’s popular George Webb breakfast and burger diner in the vicinity of 3rd and Wells, just a handful of blocks northwest of Mo’s — but examine the hours initial. Typically open up all night, they in some cases regulate based mostly on staffing, but they say they hope the common hrs with the Cubs in town.

The breakfasts are best put up-Miller Time fare, with a sausage scrambler worthy of any Waffle Residence south of the Ozarks.

But for an absolute can not-miss out on dose of hangover-prevention drugs, grab a scrumptious Bag of Burgers. As in 7 cheeseburgers for $15 additionally tax — two orders of beer-soaking fries integrated.

As anybody who responses the phone will explain to you: “It’s a excellent deal.”

Take the poll

The 21- gain in excess of the Pirates on Saturday was the Cubs’ major margin in a shutout victory in 147 several years of franchise history, but it is no more astonishing than the truth the Cubs have scored just 12 runs in their 5 other online games from the Pirates and absent 1-4 in people game titles.

And is any of that more surprising than Marcus Stroman’s winless struggles by means of three begins or Seiya Suzuki’s and Keegan Thompson’s early dominance?

Speaking of Suzuki — the two of them…

A few Sandbergs have performed key league baseball, and the best of the 3 performed for the Cubs. Also 3 Rizzos and three Zambranos have played in the majors, and same as the Sandbergs for the Cubs in both cases (in point, the Cubs used two of the a few Zambranos).*

With all the early buzz bordering prohibitive Rookie of the 12 months most loved Seiya Suzuki, that may be a single of the a lot more intriguing issues as Suzuki’s 5-12 months agreement with the Cubs performs out, based on to start with impressions.

Best of MLB’s four Suzukis?

He’s now ahead of Mac (look him up) and quickly approaching Kurt.

As for the other Suzuki on the listing, nobody’s anointing Seiya as the following, or far better, Ichiro two months into nearly anything.

But equally were perennial Gold Glove-successful, All-Star outfielders and former batting champs in NPB, who both signed with MLB teams in their age 27 seasons.

Ichiro acquired 10 straight MLB All-Star appearances, winning Rookie of the Calendar year and MVP his 1st year Seiya is the ROY beloved who attained league Player of the 7 days honors his 1st 7 days and has the search of a 2022 All-Star.

And here’s the a lot more intriguing comparison, based mostly on talent sets, if Seiya has a balanced, reasonably productive run in the majors: His blend of electricity and strike-zone command indicates a higher OPS ceiling than the .757 made by the extra strike-speed-tooled Ichiro.

Pretty stupid for even bringing this up 16 freaking online games into the guy’s occupation? Yeah, well, just try to remember in 2031 the place you study it first.

*-Not so a great deal MLB’s 3 Trouts.

Ex-Cub of the Week

Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber earns this honor for his epic rage from umpire Angel Hernandez and subsequent ejection Sunday evening in Philadelphia.

But he probably had it clinched right before Sunday.

That’s due to the fact Schwarber was 3-for-32 with 12 strikeouts, a .194 on-foundation proportion and .413 OPS hitting leadoff for the Phils the initially 8 online games of the year.

In 7 game titles considering that Joe Girardi then dropped him to the fifth and sixth places: 7-for-27 with three homers, a double, a stroll and .940 OPS.

Who knew?

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