Chicago Cubs: Who do we turn to with Mike Montgomery sidelined?

The Chicago Cubs turned to Tyler Chatwood with Mike Montgomery on the DL. That didn’t go well and now has the team once again looking for answers.

With Mike Montgomery going on the disabled list and Yu Darvish still on the disabled list, the Chicago Cubs decided (were forced) to give Tyler Chatwood another start. Unfortunately he walked three and allowed three runs in just two-plus frames. So with the Cubs in a tight playoff race and September’s roster expansion still almost two weeks away, what do the Cubs do next time through the rotation?

They could send Chatwood out there again. Joe Maddon said, “I didn’t see it getting better,” when he spoke about pulling Chatwood out of the game in the third inning last night. To expect Chatwood to get any better at this point in the season is unrealistic.

It isn’t as if Chatwood has been pitching better since he was moved to the bullpen. In the bullpen he’s pitched 5 2/3 innings over three games, allowing four earned runs, walking five and only striking out three.

But the Cubs owe Chatwood at least $25.5 million over the next two seasons. Since we have made it this far into the season with him, you at least want to make it to September where you can bury him on the expanded roster. Then we can all hope that something clicks during the offseason.

Chicago Cubs: Giving everyone a touch?

The Cubs could make the next turn through the rotation a bullpen day. They would commit to using each of the guys in their bullpen for an inning or two. If things get out of control toward the end of the game, they could still toss Chatwood out there to eat a bunch of innings in a meaningless situation.

I don’t like this plan either. I’m already concerned about how much the Cubs are using Steve Cishek, Pedro Strop and Justin Wilson this year. It will use everyone or almost everyone in the bullpen. In the days leading up to the game, Maddon would have to carefully manage his pitching staff to have the bullpen ready. In the days after the contest, he would need to rest some of the relief pitchers.

As for using Chatwood at the end of the game if things get out of hand, that just feels like a reverse of what the Cubs did last night. Would that be any better than having position players pitch?

Chicago Cubs: Dipping into the farm system

Don’t forget that Randy Rosario is currently on the Cubs active roster. That is important because he has options and can be sent back to Triple-A. So the Cubs could send him back to the minors and call up a pitcher to make the start. This is the plan that I like best.

Luke Farrell has made a couple of spot starts. However, they haven’t been good ones. Farrell has pitched well at times as a reliever, but he just doesn’t seem suited to being a starting pitcher.

I’d prefer the Cubs call up Duane Underwood Jr. He made a successful spot start in Los Angeles earlier this year. The Cubs have enough time where they could make sure Underwood is properly rested in case his minor league turn in the rotation doesn’t line up with the day the Cubs would need him in the majors.

Once the Cubs get to the expanded rosters on Sept. 1,  several more options arise. A bullpen day is more realistic because the Cubs will have more relief pitchers on the active roster. Darvish and Montgomery should return from the disabled list at some point. Maybe even Drew Smyly could make a start at that point. Unfortunately Smyly is not quite ready yet. But for now calling up Underwood seems like a much better option than giving Chatwood another start.