The Cubs bullpen has actually quietly gotten on track after an extremely rough start to the season, but the relief corps took a hit with the other days news that Rowan Wick suffered a left oblique stress. Wick “got some testing done and its quite bad,” supervisor David Ross told MLB.coms Jordan Bastian and other reporters, and it might mean that Wick might be out of action for the postseason. Wick has a 3.12 ERA, 10.4 K/9, and 3.33 K/BB over 17 1/3 innings this season, with just one crowning achievement enabled. He also has four saves this season, though none over the last month as Jeremy Jeffress has recently emerged as Chicagos top better option.
The most apparent replacement is Andrew Chafin, who was simply triggered from his own stint on the injured list. A left finger sprain has kept Chafin out of action since August 17, implying that Chafin has yet to pitch considering that the Cubs acquired from the Diamondbacks at the trade deadline. Chafin has an 8.10 ERA this season, though over the little sample size of 6 2/3 innings, and a lot of that damage comes from a July 29th outing that saw Chafin allow 3 go to the Rangers without retiring a batter. He might be a crucial weapon for a Cubs group that has designs on a deep October run if Chafin returns to his solid form from the 2015-19 seasons.
He also has four saves this season, though none over the last month as Jeremy Jeffress has actually recently emerged as Chicagos top better alternative.
Assuming no problems and an area on the postseason lineup, Quintana might be an intriguing x-factor in the playoffs, in theory capable of working as a standard reliever, a multi-inning swingman, a bulk pitcher following an opener, or as an opener himself for the very first 2 or 3 innings of a bullpen video game.
The Cubs certainly will not exercise their $25MM club choice on Jon Lester for the 2021 season, as the veteran left-hander will instead be purchased out at the lower amount of $10MM. That said, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago suggests that a reunion in between Lester and the Cubs on a lower-cost deal should not be dismissed, with Lester using familiarity and veteran management to a group that will still need pitching depth. Lester has a 4.91 ERA, 2.92 K/BB rate, and 6.7 K/9 over 51 1/3 innings in 2020, revealing only flashes of his previous All-Star type. On the plus side, Lester is still very durable, averaging 199 innings per season from 2008-19 with just a few minor IL stints during that stretch. Lester, Quintana, and Tyler Chatwood will all be free agents, leaving Yu Darvish and Kyle Hendricks as the only locks for Chicagos 2021 pitching staff. No-hitter hero Alec Mills appears like a solid bet for one rotation spot, and youngsters like Adbert Alzolay, Tyson Miller, or perhaps top prospect Brailyn Marquez will be in competition for the other two tasks, so bringing Lester back as an experienced option makes some sense.
If Chafin returns to his solid form from the 2015-19 seasons, he might be an important weapon for a Cubs team that has designs on a deep October run.
Presuming no obstacles and an area on the postseason roster, Quintana might be an appealing x-factor in the playoffs, theoretically capable of working as a traditional reliever, a multi-inning swingman, a bulk pitcher following an opener, or as an opener himself for the first two or 3 innings of a bullpen video game.