Surprise. Hayden Wesneski is back, and there’s not an open spot in the Cubs rotation.
Wesneski is returning, as the Cubs option out struggling reliever Michael Rucker:
There are a couple possibilities with this Wesneski move. It could be that he is coming up to pitch in a true relief role (albeit probably longer relief, a la Javier Assad), and the Cubs simply thought he was one of their best 40-man options to get big league outs, whatever the role. It probably doesn’t hurt his development much to keep getting practice against big league bats (we know what he’s got to work on – fastball command, and cutter/changeup consistency). It also doesn’t hurt that, in a relief role, the Cubs can limit his exposure to lefties.
It’s also possible that Wesneski is coming up for a one-off, piggy-back outing – as soon as tonight, following Kyle Hendricks. In that way, it would be like a bonus big league “start” for Wesneski, who’d then head right back to Iowa to keep on starting over the weeks/months ahead, until there’s a true need in the rotation.
My guess? It’s probably a mix of the two, which you might say is cheating, but this is my post so I get to say whatever I want. I bet the Cubs want Wesneski up IN CASE they need a piggyback tonight, but are also happy to pitch him in a more traditional long relief role over the next few days if it comes to that.
The Cubs know they just need outs right now, and they’re probably open to trying almost anything in the bullpen.