The Cubs are starting to feel the soft, uncomfortable nibble of the injury bug.
The latest is starter Tyler Chatwood, who won’t be starting tonight after all. He’s been scratched due to some back tightness. It sounds like he’s considered day-to-day at the moment, and I expect we’ll know more tomorrow.
Because of the Cubs’ layoff last weekend, at least they have a regular starter at the ready: Alec Mills will take the ball tonight instead. That, in turn, will leave open the possibility – however slim? – that Chatwood can just start tomorrow, which leaves the rotation in tact.
… because the last dang thing you want right now, with two doubleheaders looming early next week, is for the Cubs to go down a starting pitcher. At present, Mills would now line up to take the ball in the second of those two doubleheader days (Wednesday).
Hopefully the Cubs were just being extra cautious with Chatwood, since they had the ability to just swap Mills in today. And hopefully the Brewers spent all day preparing for Chatwood’s very different stuff!