Sure enough, Adbert Alzolay’s hamstring issue is sending him to the Injured List. The Cubs’ starting rotation is down to Kyle Hendricks, Zach Davies, Justin Steele, and Alec Mills.
Alzolay’s injury is being called a “mild hamstring strain,” which could mean it’s a multi-week thing, or it could be much longer. Like I said this morning, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Cubs opted to just use this as an opportunity to shut him down for the year. He’s well over 100 innings pitched for the first time in four years, and the season has already provided plenty of learning and development fodder for the offseason.
For now, the Cubs backfill with another relief arm, bringing back big righty Trevor Megill. So far, Megill has shown quality velocity, but has not flashed good location or a good enough breaking pitch. Physical talent gets you very far and gets you a lot of development leash, but with 40-man spots figuring to be very tight this offseason for the Cubs, he may need to show some steps forward in the coming weeks.
As for the rotation, it remains to be seen what the Cubs do. They’re down to four starters from a group where they were aiming to go with a six-man rotation. Keegan Thompson will come up at some point, and the Cubs might do a bullpen day or two in the weeks ahead, but I also suspect a depth starter will come up from Iowa eventually. The Cubs have a few days before it really is a question.