I wasn’t certain the Cubs would make a roster move today, and even if I had been, this isn’t what I would have predicted.
Last night’s starter Adbert Alzolay is being optioned back to South Bend, which means he won’t be eligible to return (absent injury) for 10 days. So he is currently not expected to take the next fifth starter turn in the rotation. The Cubs could – and probably will – opt to skip that turn, or they could fill it with another call-up starter.
In Alzolay’s place, like I said, not the guy I would’ve predicted: lefty Rex Brothers is returning after his unsuccessful early-season stint as the other lefty in the pen.
Brothers, 32, hasn’t been a successful big league reliever in five years, but teams keep going to the well because the stuff is so clearly overpowering. Killer fastball and slider, coming from a tough lefty angle. If he had even the slightest clue where it was going, he could be a stud. Alas, he’s been kind of a left-handed Dillon Maples for years.
I highly doubt Brothers gets the ball tonight unless it’s low leverage and an arm is really needed. Otherwise, it’s not clear how long he’ll last on the roster with fellow lefties Jose Quintana and Andrew Chafin likely to be ready soon.