Cubs Minor League Daily: Plenty of Pitching Options In Iowa

Let’s say the news this week is very bad. Let’s say that Yu Darvish is going to remain on the disabled list the rest of the season. Or let’s say things take an even worse turn with Tyler Chatwood, and the Cubs need a separate permanent replacement in the rotation besides Mike Montgomery. These are hypotheticals. But the point is: what are the minor league options for the Cubs?

Fortunately, they have quite a few. For example, Iowa has three young starters who are pitching fairly well lately and could be tapped for some starts here and there. I suspect the Cubs would rotate all three of Adbert Alzolay, Duane Underwood, and Alec Mills through the rotation at some point (likley with some more Jen-Ho Tseng thrown in), but all three should be able to at least keep the Cubs in the game on a regular basis. Of the three, I think Underwood is probably pitching the best right now, but whoever happens to line up on the calendar would be the right call.

We might want to throw Oscar De La Cruz from Tennessee into that mix as well. He might need a few more starts in the minors first, but he has also been pitching well lately and is on the 40-man roster.

Alternatively, if the Cubs move Mike Montgomery more permanently into the rotation, the Cubs could start to rotate in more relievers from Iowa. Given how many innings the Cubs relievers have worked this year they may want to rotate in some fresh arms regardless. Good news on that front – Iowa has a good bullpen. The one thing that has gone well for Iowa pretty much all year long as been their relief pitching.

Some of Iowa’s relief corp would need to be added to the 40-man roster, but if the Cubs wanted to keep a steady stream of new bullpen blood flowing into Wrigley, they could call on players such as Rob Zastryzny, Luke Farrell, Cory Mazzoni, Randy Rosario, Alberto Baldonado, Anthony Bass, Kyle Ryan, Dillon Maples, Justin Hancock, Shae Simmons, and Michael Roth. All of those pitchers have played well (at least at times) for Iowa this season, and I think any of them could eat some innings for a week or two in Chicago if the need arose (some are already there).

Hopefully, though, we get good news from Darvish’s MRI, Tyler Chatwood fixes his issues, and this whole conversation become pointless.

Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Iowa 5, New Orleans 4 in ten innings
The formerly woebegone Iowa Cubs are now just ten games under .500.

Kyle Ryan: 3 IP, 3 BB, 3 K

Rob Zastryzny: 3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 K

Cory Mazzoni: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K

Stephen Bruno: 2 for 4, SB

Taylor Davis: 2 for 5

David Bote: 1 for 4, BB, SB

Ryan Court: 1 for 3, HR, 2 BB

Double A: Tennessee Smokies
Tennessee 11, Pensacola 6
The Smokies won another series.

Michael Rucker: 3 IP, 4 R, 9 H, 1 BB, 5 K

Preston Morrison: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K

James Norwood: 2 IP, 1 H, 3 K

Dakota Mekkes: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 K

Charcer Burks: 2 for 6, 3B

Trent Giambrone: 2 for 5

Jason Vosler: 2 for 5, 2B, HR

Ian Rice: 2 for 4, BB

Jesse Hodges: 2 for 5, 2B, HR

Jeffrey Baez: 2 for 5, 2B, SB

Vimael Machin: 1 for 3, 2B, 2 BB

Yasiel Balaguert: 1 for 1, 2B

Zack Short: 1 for 1, HR

High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Myrtle Beach 6, Carolina 3
The Pelicans have won five of their last seven games.

Tyson Miller: 5 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 3 BB, 4 K

Wyatt Short: 1.1 IP, 2 K

Andruw Monasterio: 1 for 3, 2 BB

P.J. Higgins: 2 for 4, 2B

Jhonny Pereda: 1 for 5, 2B

Wladimir Galindo: 2 for 4, 2 2B

Connor Myers: 2 for 4, 2 2B

Low A: South Bend Cubs
South Bend 5, West Michigan 3
The very streaky Cubs have now won three straight.

Jesus Camargo: 5 IP, 2 R (0 ER), 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K

Manuel Rondon: 3 IP, 5 K

Zach Davis: 2 for 5, SB

Jared Young: 1 for 3, 3B, BB

Miguel Amaya: 2 for 3

Rafael Narea: 2 for 3, BB

Chris Singleton: 1 for 4, 2B

Other Notes

Iowa won five games in April. They have won 14 in May, and the month isn’t over yet.

Michael Rucker only pitched three innings for the Smokies, but he threw 70 pitches in the process. Given that he allowed ten base runners, the fact that he only gave up only four runs is sort of impressive.

South Bend lost six straight games between May 16 and May 21. Since then they have won five of six. That alternation of winning and losing stretches has more or less been their season. One reason for that is likely their errors.
They won yesterday despite committing three more.

Surprisingly, South Bend does not lead the Midwest League in errors. Entering yesterday, they were third worst in the league, eleven misplays better than league worst Fort Wayne (71). The best in the league was Clinton (36).