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
By James Neveau ••
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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Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubs is congratulated by Jason Heyward #22 following a two run home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field on August 26, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. All players across MLB will wear nicknames on their backs as well as colorful, non traditional uniforms featuring alternate designs inspired by youth-league uniforms during Players Weekend. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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RHP Brad Brach: 2-4 record, 3.59 ERA, 60 K's in 2018
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RHP Tyler Chatwood: 4-6 record, 5.30 ERA, 85 K's in 2018
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RHP Steve Cishek: 4-3 record, 2.18 ERA, 78 K's in 2018
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RHP Yu Darvish: 1-3 record, 4.95 ERA, 49 K's in 2018
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RHP Carl Edwards Jr.: 3-2 record, 2.60 ERA, 67 K's in 2018 season
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LHP Cole Hamels: 9-12 record, 3.78 ERA, 188 K's in 2018 season
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RHP Kyle Hendricks: 14-11 record, 3.44 ERA, 161 K's in 2018 season
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RHP Brandon Kintzler: 3-3 record, 4.60 ERA, 43 K's in 2018 season
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LHP Jon Lester: 18-6 record, 3.32 ERA, 149 K's in 2018 season
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LHP Mike Montgomery: 5-6 record, 3.99 ERA, 86 K's in 2018 season
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LHP Jose Quintana: 13-11 record, 4.03 ERA, 158 K's in 2018 season
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LHP Randy Rosario: 4-0 record, 3.66 ERA, 30 K's in 2018 season
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RHP Pedro Strop: 6-1 record, 2.26 ERA, 57 K's in 2018 season
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C Victor Caratini: .232 AVG., 2 HR, 21 RBI in 2018 season
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C Willson Contreras: .249 AVG., 10 HR, 54 RBI in 2018 season
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INF Javier Baez: .290 AVG., 34 HR, 111 RBI in 2018 season
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INF David Bote: .239 AVG., 6 HR, 33 RBI in 2018 season
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INF Kris Bryant: .272 AVG., 13 HR, 52 RBI in 2018 season
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INF Daniel Descalso: .238 AVG., 13 HR, 57 RBI in 2018 season
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INF Anthony Rizzo: .283 AVG., 25 HR, 101 RBI in 2018 season
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INF Ben Zobrist: .305 AVG., 9 HR, 58 RBI in 2018 season
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OF Albert Almora Jr.: .286 AVG., 5 HR, 41 RBI in 2018 season
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OF Jason Heyward: .270 AVG., 8 HR, 57 RBI in 2018 season
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OF Kyle Schwarber: .238 AVG., 26 HR, 61 RBI in 2018 season
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OF Mark Zagunis: .400 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI in 2018 season
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.
