Bleacher Bums Forum

Assuming the Cubs make the playoffs (which is far from certain at this point), I think only Lester is guaranteed a spot in the postseason rotation at this point, and he's done his best for the last month or so to give that guarantee back. The next two months will determine who is starting.

It's hard for me to imagine any of Lester, Hendricks, Quintana, Darvish, or Hamels getting left off the roster completely if they're all reasonably effective and healthy. Someone like Kintzler, Wilson, or Smyly will be left off the roster so one of them can pitch out of the bullpen.

Assuming the Cubs make the playoffs (which is far from certain at this point), I think only Lester is guaranteed a spot in the postseason rotation at this point, and he's done his best for the last month or so to give that guarantee back. The next two months will determine who is starting.

It's hard for me to imagine any of Lester, Hendricks, Quintana, Darvish, or Hamels getting left off the roster completely if they're all reasonably effective and healthy. Someone like Kintzler, Wilson, or Smyly will be left off the roster so one of them can pitch out of the bullpen.

Let’s assume everyone is healthy. Morrow, Strop, Edwards, Cishek and Montgomery are locks. Either Wilson or Smyly is a lock, even if you don’t take both. As possibles you have whichever lefty of those two loses out, Chavez, Kintzler and Bass. With an 8 man bullpen, where does that leave room for the 5th starter?  Keeping that extra starter almost always ends one of two ways - they never pitch, or they’re a disaster (like Lackey last year). You’re basically saying you’re going to take your worst SP, who’s most likely never or rarely pitched out of the pen, and keep him instead of a reliever.  Why?

I know the board is very anti-Wilson, but while he’s obviously inconsistent and wild, he’s also the only lefty we have who’s a short reliever by trade and is tough on lefties.  He also has (successful) closing experience and he misses bats when he can find the plate.  I’d be inclined to say he’s close to a lock if he has a decent final two months.

Fangraphs has the Cubs playoff odds at 97.1%, winning the division at 83.7%. Both are best in the National League. It would take an epic collapse for the Cubs to not make the playoffs.

Great.  Now Darvish is hurting other players too.  That guy has it out for us.

David Bote through first 64 AB’s: .344 BA, 22 H, 5 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 10 BB, 17 K’s.

Kyle Schwarber through first 65 AB’s: .323 BA, 21 H, 2 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 9 BB, 20 K’s.

Article on Baez

It's crazy that the Cubs' starting pitching is absolute garbage and they have a 2 game lead in the division and a 2 game lead for best record in the NL.

Wild stuff.