Cubs Have a New and Much More Dominant Hayden Wesneski

Back in spring training, when Hayden Wesneski was winning the fifth starter job, there were times when the right-handed pitcher was reaching back and lighting up the radar gun with a high-90s fastball. The Chicago Cubs know Wesneski has that in his arsenal, but the rookie hasn't shown it consistently in 2023. That was until Friday night against the Cincinnati Reds.

Wesneski has been up and down from the majors to Triple-A and from the starting rotation to the bullpen in 2023. He's had flashes of success and other frustrating appearance. Last week, Wesneski was asked to eat some innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates with the Cubs leading 8-1 in the sixth inning. After retiring the side in his first inning of work, Wesneski labored in the seventh, throwing 32 pitches and leaving after only getting two outs in the frame.

Wesneski was charged with five earned runs after giving up four hits and a walk.

Well, on Friday against the Reds, Wesneski didn't just have a great rebound performance out of the bullpen, he looked like a completely new pitcher...a much more dominant and overpowering pitcher.

The righty tossed 3.1 scoreless innings, while protecting a one-run lead for the Cubs. He only allowed one runner to reach base, a two-out walk in the seventh inning. Other than that, Wesneski set down the Reds in relatively easy fashion, striking out six of the 10 batters he faced.

His sweeping slider, which remains Wesneski's nastiest pitch, was crisp against the Reds, but it was his pitch mix that stood out the most. In his appearance against the Pirates, Wesneski threw 10 four-seam fastballs and 10 sweepers, coming out to 51% of the 39 total pitches thrown.

Against the Reds, Wesneski threw 19 four-seam fastballs and 27 sweepers, which comes out to 82% of his pitch mix in Cincinnati.

Fewer sinkers and cutters, more four-seamers and none better than the 99mph pitch that he used to strike out TJ Friedl in the sixth inning.

He still has to show more consistency, but if the Cubs have managed to simply Wesneski's repertoire, then they have another great weapon out of the bullpen down the stretch and hopefully into October.

Following Friday night's performance, Wesneski now has a 3.45 ERA in 13 relief appearances, covering 28.2 innings and really the only time he's truly looked bad was his last time out against the Pirates. Take that outing away and Wesneski has a 2.00 ERA in 27 innings as a reliever.

Of course, you don't want the Cubs to close the door on Wesneski being a starting pitcher later in his career, but for now this version of him can become extremely useful in a pennant race.