Adbert Alzolay has frequently been the Cubs’ 29th man this year, brought up into that magical floating extra spot for double-header days when he makes a start.
But today is not a double-header day, and Alzolay is set to make another start. That means, when he’s officially called up, the Cubs will have to move someone else off the 28-man roster. If the Cubs want to keep 10 in the bullpen for now, they could send out someone like Ildemaro Vargas, though he’d require a DFA, since he doesn’t have any options remaining. Otherwise, on the positional side, I don’t know that there’s anyone else you’d be looking to play without right now.
… unless someone hit the Injured List. Kris Bryant missed last night’s game after taking a pitch off the elbow the night before, but hopefully that’s not an IL situation. David Ross did not give that indication last night. There’s no one else known to be dealing with an injury, though I did think it was odd that Vargas started at second against Trevor Bauer instead of Jason Kipnis.
Anyway, I tend to think the most likely move is going to be Vargas or a reliever optioned out. That guy could be Jason Adam, who pitched last night and has options available. Of course, the rub with that is he’s looked really good. Josh Osich has options remaining, though he’s the only lefty out there right now besides Kyle Ryan, about whom we still have questions. I doubt the Cubs would send out Colin Rea when they might need a long guy, and Dan Winkler keeps getting results despite the atrocious peripherals.
On the whole, I think it’s probably going to be Vargas or Adam or Winkler, with an unpleasant IL surprise another possibility.
Note, too: whoever gets sent out cannot come back for 10 days absent an injury. So if the Cubs want Alzolay only for tonight and then option him back out, they’d have to replace him with someone else (presumably a fresh arm, or a positional guy if Vargas is the one ditched tonight). Then, in turn, if any of Jose Quintana, Tyler Chatwood, or Andrew Chafin are ready to return sooner rather than later, you have to do this dance again. Indeed, Quintana could be back as soon as this weekend.
Complicated roster dancing coming this week for the Cubs.