The Professor Went Down. Will a Student Take His Place?

Things are not all sunshine and rainbows in the Windy City. As many of us know, pitching can be finicky; the Cubs have a problem now.

Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks has been shifted to the 10 day Injured List with right shoulder inflammation. This comes after a 4.1 inning, 5 run start against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 14th. Hendricks, a key piece to the Cubs' rotation, was having one of his better seasons. Although not comparable to the 2016 campaign in which he led the MLB in ERA, he still boasts a 3.36 ERA and 134 ERA+. Hendricks, this year, was posting a career best 1.6 BB/9 and a 4.69 K/BB ratio. The Cubs had an off day Monday, and the plan was to start Cole Hamels on Tuesday and Jon Lester on Wednesday facing the Chicago White Sox.

After that, the plan is a bit murky. The Cubs will be facing the Mets on Thursday, and the rotation has not been set. Hendricks was slotted to start Thursday, and the Cubs could, but most likely will not, skip Hendricks’ rotation spot and continue with You Darvish and Jose Quintana, therefore bringing Hamels out on short rest Saturday. The Cubs could also give Tyler Chatwood a start. Chatwood is still battling control issues, with 21 walks thus far in 35 innings; that is somehow better than his dreadful 2018 season of 95 walks in just over 100 innings.

They could also turn to young prospect Albert Alzolay. Aldozay is posting a 3.09 ERA in AAA ball and is striking out 12.94 per 9 against only 1.69 BB/9, a ratio of 7.67 K/BB. He is also posting a WHIP of 0.94, and a FIP of (coincidentally and awesomely) 3.09. Aldozay seems like a good candidate to start, as facing the White Sox is an easier debut for a rookie as compared to the Twins lineup, for example. What will the Cubs do?

May your pennants fly forever.

-Prentiss