Kyle Hendricks to start Tuesday, Cubs give him opportunity for rotation

Kyle Hendricks will be in the fourth spot in the rotation starting Tuesday as the Chicago Cubs’ attempt to fill the vacanies left by Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel in the trade to the Athletics.

The 2013 Cubs’ Minor League pitcher of the year, made his Major League debut July 10 against the Reds and gave up four runs on five hits, striking out seven and walking three over six innings and did not get a decision.

The right-hander returned to Triple-A Iowa after the outing, but did not pitch again until he tossed two innings for the Pacific Coast League in the Triple-A All-Star Game.

Hendricks has grown into one of the Cubs best pitching prospects after coming over in 2012 in the Ryan Dempster deal from the Texas Rangers.

Baseball America graded Hendricks highly, as having the best changeup and best control in the organization heading into this season.

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Cubs manager Rick Renteria sees this as his chance for Hendricks to make his mark.

"“The thought is to allow him to slot into that spot and then see how he does,” manager Rick Renteria said before Friday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. h/t Patrick Mooney"

The other options to start in the rotation include right-hander Dallas Beeler and left-handers Tsuyoshi Wada and Chris Rusin. All three have pitched this year, with Beeler and Wada making their major league debut.