Felix Doubront is the dark horse to win spot in Cubs’ rotation

In a continuing look at the battle for the final spot in the Chicago Cubs rotation, today we take a look at Felix Doubront. After coming over from Boston, he was given a late look as a starter after being taken out of the Red Sox rotation prior to the trade. Theo Epstein is familiar with Doubront as it was under his watch that he was signed in Boston.

In his four starts with the Cubs, Doubront fared well, going 2-1 with a 3.98 ERA. Quite an improvement over the 6.07 ERA he carried with the Red Sox in 2014. And while the sample was very small, he posted the lowest WHIP in his career at 1.426. You can’t read a lot into that with just over 20 innings, but it’s a place to start.

His Steamer projections have him coming out of the bullpen, which may very well be where he starts the year with the Cubs. Forecasted for a 4-4 record in five starts, his projected 69.0 innings would have him as seventh most on the team. Assuming Travis Wood claims the last spot, he would trail only Tsuyoshi Wada in the pen in innings pitched.

The biggest issues for Doubront have been control, and leaving pitches in the zone. While he has the confidence to throw any pitch in any situation, he relies heavily on his fastball. In 2014 he began throwing his cutter more frequently (15.3%, compared to career of 8.5%), going away from his curveball.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs could again look to Japan to address a major offseason need
• Cubs need to walk the walk this winter after talking the talk
• Cubs, 2 superstar free agents-to-be have ‘mutual interest’
• Where’s the love for Cubs prospect Matt Mervis?
• Alec Mills shocked Cubs fans, baseball world with 2020 no-hitter

With a deceptive 3/4 delivery, developing the cutter can make him more effective against right-handed hitters, which is why he’s been projected as a backend starter over a bullpen guy in his career. Keeping the ball down will be key for Doubront, whether as a starter or in the bullpen.

While he may seem like another “familiar” reclamation project for Epstein out of Boston, there is an upside to Doubront. Having another proven lefty on the staff will give the Cubs more options, something that manager Joe Maddon will appreciate with his style.

In the end, it’s unlikely that he can steal away the last spot in the rotation, but he will be a key part of a Cubs bullpen that will be holding leads instead of eating innings in 2015.

Next: Wood battling for rotation spot, still the favorite