With respect to the Cubs bullpen composition the rest of the way, we got an update on Tyler Chatwood (likely out for the year) and the youth trio at South Bend (Brailyn Marquez is a maybe, Justin Steele has been hurt, Burl Carraway is a no), and now we get some more info on two other lefties trying to work their way back.
Each of Jose Quintana and Andrew Chafin are plausible bullpen contributors down the stretch and into the postseason, and each is expected to do work today.
Quintana (lat inflammation) threw a bullpen session on Monday, and will work from the mound again today. The hope is that he can pitch in a simulated game thereafter (this weekend, maybe?), and then be able to join the Cubs after that. If so, he’d be in the bullpen for the final week of the season, and the Cubs would have a chance to see how he looks in advance of the postseason. Quintana very briefly got a chance to flash what he could be in relief – the fastball-curveball combo would likely be very effective – and I’d really like to see how he looks next week. That’s a potential sneaky bullpen weapon for a postseason that will feature no off-days during the first round, the NLDS, and the NLCS.
As for Chafin (finger), the consistently good lefty reliever is supposed to throw a simulated game today, so he actually could be ready to join the bullpen pretty soon if it goes well. Right now, the only lefties in the bullpen are Kyle Ryan and Josh Osich, and I’m not sure the Cubs feel 100% confident in either one right now, as it relates to thinking ahead to the postseason. As with Quintana, you really just want to give Chafin a chance to show you a couple outings. See how he looks, and then you have at least a little more information to work with.