It’s Not Kyle Hendricks Last Chance (But…), Ben Brown, Jameson Taillon, and Other Cubs Bullets

Well, the rain stole one from us yesterday, which is a blessing and a curse. On the bright side, the bullpen gets an extra day of rest (on top of the day Hayden Wesneski bought them). But on the flip side, the Cubs have 18.0 innings to cover tomorrow. That’s never easy.

  • At least the two guys slated for Saturday’s double-header, Javier Assad and Shota Imanaga, have shown an ability to go 6.0 innings at least once this season. A little more of that would go a long way. That said, the Cubs will get an extra arm for the day, with no restrictive rules on whom it could be. The 40-man options not already with the big league club include Michael Arias, Jose Cuas, Luke Little, Daniel Palencia, or Hayden Wesneski.
  • Wesneski would be the obvious answer, especially if he never left Chicago after being sent out yesterday to make room for Jameson Taillon. Even though he pitched in parts of five innings on Wednesday, he was actually crazy-efficient (43 pitches). Plus, because he’s on a starters schedule, he might be scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday anyway. He could just do that … in the game! It’d be higher intensity, certainly, but his ability to cover innings and the fact that he needed just 43 pitches on Wednesday makes me feel like this could be the play.
  • Of course, this could all change depending on how things go for Jameson Taillon today. If he has a super short 2024 MLB debut (he was up to just 68 pitches in his last rehab start), then the Cubs might have to dig deeper into their bullpen today and make more moves before tomorrow (in addition to the extra man). At least none of the relievers (besides Drew Smyly) have pitched since Tuesday. They should all be very rested. Ideally, you’d stay away from Smyly today to have him 100% for multiple innings tomorrow.
  • But that’s not really the whole story. Because there’s also Ben Brown. With Taillon back and Kyle Hendricks slated to start on Sunday, the Cubs technically have a six-man rotation and seven-man bullpen at the moment. How they choose to play that going forward, I have no idea. There is an off-day Monday, so everyone can go on normal rest next week, but is Brown really moving out of the rotation after making one of the best Cubs starts of the year? I kind of doubt it. But that too may depend on what happens with Taillon today, how the double-header goes tomorrow, and what happens to Kyle Hendricks on Sunday. Brown could be called upon to throw multiple innings tomorrow.
  • Speaking of Kyle Hendricks, I wouldn’t say this is his “last chance,” because I’m positive the Cubs would never play it that way. But I do think it’s a pretty pivotal start. After this one, the excuses will dry up. For one, it’s his fifth time out. That’s a nice round number. And if his fifth start is as bad as the first four were, the argument to just wait him out will lose potency. For another, it’s at home. Three of Hendricks first four starts have been on the road, where he’s historically been worse. I don’t think that has anything to do with it. But, sure, okay. It’s mentioned (I’ll stretch for Kyle Hendricks). And lastly, this next start is against the Marlins. They are not good.
  • Hendricks has so far had the misfortune of facing four pretty tough teams to start the season: Rangers (away), Dodgers (home), Padres (away), and Diamondbacks (away). But the Marlins? They have a combined slash line of .216/.279/.322 (69 wRC+) to start the season, which is better only than the absolutely miserable White Sox. It improves when you filter down to their performance against right-handed pitchers (89 wRC+), but this is still not a good team. If he can’t beat the Marlins, at home, making a fifth consecutive bad start in the process … I truly don’t see how a change can be avoided.
  • I’ll remind you all that you’re rooting interest is for Kyle Hendricks to bounce back in a big way. Not only because he’d help the Cubs win, but also because Ben Brown is simply not prepared to make a season’s worth of starts yet. Plus, Justin Steele is still out. Plus we have no idea how Jameson Taillon would look. Plus, you’d LOVE to have Ben Brown and Javier Assad back in the bullpen to help stabilize things there. I’m not counting on or expecting Hendricks to pitch as well as he did last season (don’t forget that, either), but that certainly is the hope and I think some of the conversation has drifted too far away from that.
  • It’s already almost foreign to think about pitchers hitting (especially in the postseason). Kinda crazy how fast that happened.
  • Kevin Alcantara, one of the Cubs top prospects (with maybe the highest ceiling in the org), got off to a wicked-cold start this year, going hitless in his first seven games with 11(!) strikeouts. But on Tuesday, his first hit fell in. On Wednesday, he notched his first double, homer, and multi-hit game. And last night, he went 4-4 with four singles. It’s very good to see.
  • In case you missed it, Patrick Wisdom also returned to the Cubs last night, taking the roster spot of Miles Mastrobuoni. With three lefties slated to start for the Marlins this weekend, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Wisdom start all three games. And frankly, with Seiya Suzuki out, I wouldn’t hate it if he, Garrett Cooper, and Alexander Canario all got a good run here. It’s easy enough to accommodate two of them between DH and right field. But if you want to mix in all three, just give one of the Cubs three lefties/switch-hitters (Cody Bellinger, Michael Busch, Ian Happ) at least one game off each.
  • written by

    Michael Cerami began covering the Chicago Cubs for Bleacher Nation as a part-time contributor in 2015. One year later, he joined Bleacher Nation full-time, covering the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball. Today, Michael runs Bleacher Nation, contributing as a writer (Cubs, MLB) and an editor for all sections of the site, including the Chicago Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks, as well as MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL. In 2019, Michael was the co-host of NBC Sports Chicago's Cubs Post-Game Show Outside the Ivy. You can find him on Twitter/X @Michael_Cerami

    more cubs news

    Enhanced Box Score: Mets 7, Cubs 6 – May 2, 2024

    I wonder what this team could have been with a real closer. Probably won't find out until the end of July. And that's if we're lucky. Through his first four frames tonight, Ben Brown kept the Mets scoreless and hitless....

    Christopher Morel with a Towering 3-Run Homer

    Well, we've been saying it all week, and it continues to prove true: Chris Morel is clearly breaking out of slump - slowly, but surely. And today's 3-run homer is just the latest positive sign. Check it out: https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1786099502245372166 That...

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Mets (12:10 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — The Cubs were able to eke out two improbable wins over the first three games of this series, which means they have a chance for the series win today. Ben Brown will be on the mound for...

    MLBits: Comcast Drops Bally Sports, Will Mike Trout Ever Escape Anaheim? Matt Waldron’s Knuckleball, More

    The Diamond Sports Group saga has taken another turn for the worse and once again left fans in the dark. This time, Comcast is shutting the lights off on their Bally Sports RSNs until the two sides can come to...

    Cubs Farm Report | May 2, 2024: Caissie Goes Yard, Rojas Extends Hitting Streak, More

    Justin Steele made his first rehab start with Iowa, and Owen Caissie hit a home run for the I-Cubs, who split a double dip with the Omaha Storm Chasers on Wednesday. That and more in today's Cubs Farm Report. Cubs...

    Happ and Swanson Struggling, PCA and Mervis Headed in Different Directions, Rojas, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Well, my friends, we made it. Almost exactly one month after Brett's back surgery put him on the shelf, he's ready to come back full-time. I'm still your man today for bullets and game coverage, but I'll be handing the...

    Chicago Cubs Sign Righty Jake Wong

    The Chicago Cubs are seriously going off on the minor league pitching signings here after the start of the season. Sure, you sometimes see one, but this is entirely different (and I suspect it's because of the new stateside org...

    Updated Baseball America Top-100 is Loaded With Cubs, Including One Rocket Ship

    Baseball America today released a more complete top-100 prospect update, which incorporates early-season performances and scouting. The Chicago Cubs fare quite well, even as Michael Busch has graduated from the list. And the re-ranking is quite significant ... https://twitter.com/BaseballAmerica/status/1786011881880105284 20....

    The Mets Are Right to Be Mad, But Also the Call Was Correct

    I get it. If that cleat were on the other foot, I'd probably be pretty mad this morning about how last night's game ended. A walk-off out at the plate, which required a double review, and for which there's an...

    The Cubs Just Won the Game on a Crazy-Long, Two-Replay-Reviewed Double-Play at the Plate! (UPDATE)

    How do I even write that up. Wow. Oh my god. I am giddy. That was absolutely incredible. Let me just explain what happened (more than usual), because even I am in utter disbelief. Hector Neris came in to close...

    Latest News

    Cubs vs. Brewers Probable Starting Pitchers – May 3

    The Milwaukee Brewers (19-11) kick off a three-game series on Friday against the Chicago Cubs (19-13). The contest starts at 2:20 PM ET at Wrigley Field.The Cubs will give the ball to Hayden Wesneski (2-0, 0.87 ERA), who is eyeing...

    Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets for Western Conference Semifinals Game 1 – Saturday, May 4, 2024

    The Minnesota Timberwolves are 4.5-point underdogs in Game 1 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on Saturday, tipping off at 12:00 AM ET. The matchup has an over/under set at 207.5...

    Mavericks vs. Clippers Predictions, Best Bets and Odds: NBA Playoffs Game 6 – Friday, May 3, 2024

    The Los Angeles Clippers are 8-point underdogs in a decisive Game 6 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on Friday, starting at 9:30 PM ET on ESPN. The Mavericks are...

    Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Predictions, Best Bets and Odds: Western Conference Semifinals Game 1 – Saturday, May 4, 2024

    The Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves square off to start the second round of the NBA Playoffs. The Nuggets are favored by 4.5 points in the matchup, which tips at 12:00 AM ET. The matchup has an over/under of...

    NHL Playoffs Anytime Goalscorer Bets and Odds Today – May 3

    With two Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round games on the NHL card Friday, you have plenty of chances to make an anytime goal-scorer wager. Continue reading for the odds on players from each contest.Watch the NHL on Fubo!Today's Top Anytime...

    Guardians vs. Angels: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    Steven Kwan and the Cleveland Guardians (20-11) host Taylor Ward and the Los Angeles Angels (11-20) on Friday, with first pitch at 7:10 PM ET.Keep scrolling to find out all the details on how to watch Cleveland square off against...

    How to Watch Diamondbacks vs. Padres: Live Stream or on TV

    The Arizona Diamondbacks (14-18), who will give the ball to Slade Cecconi, host the San Diego Padres (16-18) with Dylan Cease on the mound, Friday at 9:40 PM ET.Keep reading to see how to watch the Arizona-San Diego matchup below.When...

    Dodgers vs. Braves: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    On Friday, Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers (20-13) begin a series versus Marcell Ozuna and the Atlanta Braves (20-9) at Dodger Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 10:10 PM ET.Find out how to watch the Los Angeles-Atlanta matchup...

    How to Watch Athletics vs. Marlins: Live Stream or on TV

    JP Sears will take the mound for the Oakland Athletics (15-17) when they host starting pitcher Ryan Weathers and the Miami Marlins (9-24) on Friday, with first pitch at 9:40 PM ET.See how to watch the Oakland-Miami matchup below.When is...

    Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Diego Padres Series May 3-5: Odds, Starting Pitchers & Predictions

    A three-game series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the visiting San Diego Padres will start on Friday, May 3 at 9:40 PM ET.Diamondbacks vs. Padres Series Info Padres @ Diamondbacks Time: Friday, May 3 at 9:40 PM ET Diamondbacks Starting...

    more cubs news