NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Cubs needed a fifth starter tonight, and, with no deal yet consummated to bring in a starter externally, and with Tsuyoshi Wada still rehabbing at Iowa, the deed falls to Dallas Beeler.
Beeler, 26, makes his third big league start this year, which is one more than he made in the bigs last year. His first two this season came as the 26th man during a doubleheader – his first outing against the Cardinals was abbreviated but solid; his second outing against the Reds was abbreviated and ugly.
Although the Troy Tulowitzki trade made Beeler’s job incrementally easier tonight, he’s still facing a loaded Rockies lineup that showed last night just how much damage it can do (especially the blazing hot Carlos Gonzalez – the guy has seven homers in his last five games)). Beeler is at his best when he’s mixing pitches down in the zone, and letting batters get themselves out with weak contact. He’s not going to strike out many, and, if he’s on, he won’t walk many either. That style will sometimes yield clunkers, but it can sometimes yield solid six-inning outings. Here’s hoping he can pull off the latter tonight.
Beeler will take reliever Yoervis Medina’s spot on the roster. Medina, the Cubs’ return for Welington Castillo earlier this year (don’t check his stats with the Diamondbacks if you don’t want to be bummed), hasn’t broken through with the big team in a couple chances, and was sent to Iowa.
Medina, 27, got into just two games this time around as the Cubs’ 9th reliever in the bullpen, giving up four earned runs in an inning to the Reds, and three earned runs in three innings to the Phillies. He’s got some things to work on if he’s going to contribute down the stretch, or heading into next year.
