Chicago Cubs

Extra Off-Days Lead Cubs to Tweak Pitching Rotation

The Cubs had a day off during the Texas series, and will have another one off during the Atlanta series

The Chicago Cubs are dealing with some interesting scheduling in the early part of the season, and thanks to multiple days off in the early going, their rotation is going to be a bit quirky.

As the team heads to Atlanta for a three-game series with the Braves, the team is juggling up their starting rotation to compensate. Kyle Hendricks will get his first start of the season on Monday, but after an off-day Tuesday, the Cubs will go with Jon Lester, not Jose Quintana, on Wednesday for the second game in the set.

On Thursday, the Cubs will throw out Yu Darvish for his second start of the year, meaning that Quintana won’t make his first start of the year until Friday, when he will face the Milwaukee Brewers, according to manager Joe Maddon.

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Cole Hamels, who pitched Sunday against the Texas Rangers, will get the start in the second game of the Brewers series, and Hendricks will throw in the series finale at Miller Park next Sunday.

 All of that likely sets up for Lester to start the Cubs’ home opener on April 8 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but rain-outs and other factors could change that in the coming days.

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