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Chicago Cubs: Looking at a very thin starting rotation
Cubs: Time for Adbert Alzolay to prove he is the starter they had hoped for
While the situation for the team is not ideal, this could be the perfect opportunity for Adbert Alzolay to take that next big step in his career.
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Alzolay will be 26 in 2021 and is coming off a season where he pitched in six games (four starts). He put up a 2.95 ERA with a 3.05 FIP, 1.2 WHIP and 29 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings. He can throw in the mid-90s and has some very solid breaking stuff. Talent and stuff was never really a question with him, but he has had injury issues in his career and has yet to pitch in a full MLB season.
If Alzolay is going to be the pitcher the Cubs have hoped for, then he is going to have to be a regular starter eventually. Now is the time. This is the year to pull off the training wheels and let him hurl every five days and see what he can do over a full season. Plus the team desperately needs someone who can throw with some velocity and miss bats.
There will obviously be ups and downs with him in a first potential MLB season, but if the Cubs are looking toward the future in 2021, then let him work it out now.