Down on the Farm: Chris Rusin shines in Iowa Cubs 9-2 win

Mar 21, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher

(18) pitches against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch. The Cubs won 7-0. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

What’s going on Cubs fans? Welcome to another (late late night edition) of Down on the Farm, right here on Cubbies Crib. Now with the big league club still struggling to hold runs, there have been a couple arms down on the farm who are looking very very promising. You have Tsuyoshi Wada who is currently 3-1 with an ERA of 0.68 in four starts. This man seems determined to get the attention of the guys in the front-office. I’m calling it right now, this guy will be the man who will replace Edwin Jackson in the starting rotation.

Then you have relief pitcher P.J. Francescon down with the Tennessee Smokies. Francescon has worked through 12 and one-third relief innings, carries a 2-0 record and solid 0.73 ERA. He’s struck out 16 batters in six games. This young arm won’t be with the Smokies for very long. Starting pitcher Ivan Pineyro doesn’t have a win just yet, but his ERA still stands at a decent 1.74 ERA. The 23 year old righty has made four starts so far this season and has worked through 20 and two-third innings.

Sure he gives up a lot of hits (15), but he’s keeping the earned runs on the low side with only four. He’s only given up one home run and may have walked nine, but he’s struck out 17. Now let’s talk about the arms that the Kane County Cougars have with them. You have pitchers Duane Underwood, Jen-Ho Tseng, and Daury Torrez who are absolutely tearing it up right now.

Underwood is carrying a 1.13 ERA in two starts but has been limited to only eight innings of work. He’s only been charged with one earned run while striking out nine batters. Tseng is a lefty who is currently 1-0 with an ERA of 2.93. He’s another pitcher who has given up a bunch of hits (21) but has only surrendered five runs through three starts. Tseng is another young pitcher who can either strikeout a batter looking or blow a pitch right by them.

He’s currently got 14 strikeouts with only one walk under his belt. Torrez has made it through 24 and two-third innings while giving up 20 hits, nine of those tagging him with nine earned runs but has struck out 17 batters. Now that we pointed out some of the young promising arms in the farm system, let’s get down to business and recap these games.