Cubs pressed into another bullpen move
The musical chairs continued in the Cubs bullpen.
The team recalled left-handed reliever Luke Little prior to Wednesday’s finale in Atlanta. Keegan Thompson was placed on the IL with a viral illness, retroactive to May 12.
The Cubs have made a roster move every day of this 6-game road trip as the injury bug has continued to strike the team at seemingly every corner.
Friday, Seiya Suzuki was activated, but Dansby Swanson landed on the 10-day IL. Then right-handed reliever Yency Almonte landed on the IL on Saturday and Adbert Alzolay was placed on the 15-day IL on Monday. José Cuas was shuffled back and forth from Iowa over the weekend. Kyle Hendricks was activated from the 15-day IL on Sunday.
Tuesday, left-handed reliever Richard Lovelady was designated for assignment after the team traded for former prospect Tyson Miller from Seattle.
Almost all the moves have affected the most beleaguered aspect of the team: their bullpen. Prior to Wednesday’s game, the Cubs ranked 24th in baseball in bullpen ERA, 26th in WHIP, 7th in innings pitched and were tied for the second-most blown saves (9). It’s a taxed group that has struggled.
The hope is that Little can provide a left-handed option in relief and a fresh arm — but he has struggled in his time up. A member of the bullpen on Opening Day, Little has a 7.00 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in 9 innings across 10 games. He has a 4.05 ERA in 6.2 innings with Iowa. Little last pitched on May 10, pitching 1.1 scoreless innings with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts.
Thompson, 29, has a 4.97 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 12.2 innings this season. He started the year strong — he pitched 9.2 scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts and 3 walks, but things haven’t gone as smoothly of late. In his last four outings, he has a 21.00 ERA in 3 innings.