NEWSLETTER
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The Cubs are going to set a record for most players/time spent on the injured list this year. It really is getting incredible. The latest victim (number 19 by my count) is right-handed reliever, and lefty/late-inning specialist, Mark Leiter Jr.
Mark Leiter Jr. to the IL
Like a few of his fellow Cubs pitchers before him (Jordan Wicks, Adbert Alzolay), Mark Leiter Jr. is dealing with a forearm strain.
Leiter Jr. had been one of the most (only?) trustworthy relievers earlier in the year, not unlike last season. But lately, he’s kind of fallen apart with eight earned runs over his last 3.1 IP.
Maybe now we know why.
Well, the actual why is that his splitter stopped working and his command fell off. When those two things happen in unison, Leiter Jr. goes from lights out to nearly unplayable. So hopefully, after resting his forearm a little, he can come back strong.
Remember, Cubs Manager Craig Counsell started relying on Leiter Jr. not only for the toughest left-handed matchups, but also those key high-leverage moments when another reliever couldn’t get the job done. Right or wrong, he was the fireman of this team. Now, that’ll have to be … someone else from a bullpen where nearly nothing is working.
Speaking of those left-handed plate appearance, the Cubs sort of have that covered with Leiter Jr.’s replacement, southpaw Luke Little. Little has been up and down a thousand times this season, and continues to tease us with potential. When he’s got his command and can repeat his mechanics, he’s pretty great. It’s just not always all there.
