Chicago Cubs will deploy a five-man rotation moving forward

Chicago Cubs: For now, it’s Chatwood or bust

Good lord, I never thought I’d write those words. But here we are.

Mike Montgomery hasn’t pitched as well this year out of the bullpen. But with Duensing in free fall, Chicago desperately needs left-handed stability in the bullpen aside from Justin Wilson. Shifting him back into that role, while still giving him spot starts down the stretch helps preserve not only him, but other arms in the bullpen.

As for Chatwood, you stick with him. It won’t be easy, but you have to think he figures it out. At least, you hope he does given he’s signed for the next two years, as well. When/if Darvish returns, maybe he heads to the pen, as well. That’s an entirely different issue altogether.

It won’t be easy to watch. But the right move, for both guys involved, is for Tyler Chatwood to keep his spot in the rotation and Mike Montgomery to return to the pen.