The Chicago Cubs find themselves starting spring training with one of the best problems to have in baseball. They have an influx of pitching and only five starting rotation spots to give. Their rotation already has four spots locked up; Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, Shota Imanaga, and Kyle Hendricks will be the first ones to start for the Cubs when the season begins. But the fifth spot is entirely up for grabs.
Cubs Manager Craig Counsell has downplayed the competition in camp so far. He made the point that during the year, up to eight or nine pitchers will get a chance to be a starter in the rotation. The game is shifting from how it was historically played, with "openers" starting the first couple of innings. In reality, the Cubs have so many options in the hybrid/long-reliever role, which is a great spot to be in.
Four legitimate contenders could claim the fifth spot in the rotation: righty Javier Assad, lefty Drew Smyly, righty Hayden Wesneski, and lefty Jordan Wicks. All four will likely make the Opening Day roster, and we may not know who the fifth starter is until a day before their start. Each has started in spring training, so let's look at what they did.
Jordan Wicks Opened The Cubs' Spring
The spring schedule began with the Cubs taking down the Chicago White Sox in dominant fashion. That game started with Jordan Wicks on the mound. He pitched 1.2 innings, giving up one run on two hits. Counsell pulled him in the second after giving up a home run and a defensive miscue.
We saw what Wicks did to start his major league career last season. In his first start, he became just the fourth Cub in history to record nine strikeouts in their debut. He went on to post a 4-1 record in seven starts with 24 total strikeouts.
Wicks is considered the front-runner to take the open spot in the rotation. The Cubs' front office believes in the youth movement coming up the pipeline, beginning with Wicks being in the rotation. Even if he does not initially land a spot in the rotation, he will still be on the roster and could see time as a starter early.
Drew Smyly's Saturday Outing
After Wicks, veteran left-hander Drew Smyly got his turn to start on Saturday against the San Francisco Giants. He pitched two innings without allowing a hit, but he did surrender two walks. He left the game with the lead, thanks to Brennen Davis' two-run home run.
Smyly played a hybrid role for the Cubs in 2023. He started 23 games and came in from the bullpen another 18 times. In 142.1 innings, Smyly posted an 11-11 record with 141 strikeouts and a 5.00 ERA. His best outing came in April against the Los Angeles Dodgers when he took a perfect game into the eighth inning. He struck out ten, and the Cubs won 13-0.
With Smyly's experience as both a starter and a reliever, he seems more set for spot starting or coming in for injury. The Cubs would prefer him in a hybrid role again, ready to fill in as needed due to fatigue or injury. As stated before, Counsell knows seven to eight starters will be required during a season. Smyly is one of those guys that will be available anytime he's needed.
Javier Assad Struggles In His Spring Debut
It was not nearly as fun for Javier Assad in his spring debut as Wicks or Smyly. Assad faced ten batters and was only able to retire four of them. He surrendered three hits, two walks, and three total runs - including one off of an error.
Indeed, it is not the start Assad was looking for, but he also knows it is just the first start of spring. Spring is a time to get back into the routine of throwing and finding consistency with pitches. Assad has plenty of time to right the ship and force a tough decision on the Cubs.
In 2023, Assad started ten games for the Cubs and helped the rotation in a time of need. In total, he appeared in 32 games and posted a 3.05 ERA. He and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy will work together this spring to get the most out of his arsenal and determine the best fit for him on this staff.
Hayden Wesneski Touched Up Early
In spring training, managers can replace their pitcher in the middle of one inning and send him back in to pitch the next inning. Unfortunately, the Cubs took full advantage of this rule on Monday for Hayden Wesneski. He could not make it through the first inning, then came back in for the second. He wasn't able to finish that one, either.
Wesneski faced nine total batters and gave up six hits, including a home run off the bat of Kansas City Royals first baseman Nick Pratto. He was responsible for four earned runs and only recorded four outs. There's no need to overreact at the start of spring training, but there was not much to be excited about.
Wesneski has struggled with consistency at the beginning of his major league career. But to be fair, the Cubs have asked a lot of him for just being 26 years old. He will have plenty of time to work on his mechanics and find the feel for his pitches in the spring. But he'll have to figure it out this year if he plans on sticking around, especially if he wants a place in the Cubs' rotation.
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