Chicago Cubs: Examining the back end of the starting rotation

Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

TRAVIS WOOD: 5-4, 4.40 ERA, 1.360 WHIP

In 2013, Travis Wood pitched 32 games as a starter for the Chicago Cubs and made his first and only All-Star team of his career.

In seven games as a starter in 2015, Wood struggled to the tune of a 5.59 ERA. Since making his first pitching appearance as a reliever on May 16, Wood has a 3.49 ERA in 37 appearances. His value comes in his ability to eat up innings in the middle of games and prevent the rest of the bullpen from becoming overextended.

Wood relies on a collection of six pitches to get batters out. Like several other guys on this list, he isn’t a power pitcher and is at his best when he meticulously paints the corners of the plate and keeps hitters guessing with his location. Wood’s experience as a starter makes him the most likely candidate besides Tsuyoshi Wada to fill out the back-end of the rotation if something happens to one of the other starters.

Next: Clayton Richard