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Eddie Butler’s had an interesting 2018 season with the Chicago Cubs. He won a bullpen spot after Justin Grimm was let go an then pitched seven relief innings, his longest career outing, in the second game of the year. Now, after a terrible game against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Cubs have placed Butler on the 10-day disabled list.
Taking Butler’s spot in the bullpen is 26-year-old righty Luke Farrell.
The #Cubs today placed RHP Eddie Butler on the 10-day DL (right groin strain) and recalled RHP Luke Farrell from @IowaCubs. pic.twitter.com/4v4cjFtQws
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 20, 2018
So, Butler had his great relief performance against the Miami Marlins, pitching seven innings, allowing four hits and unfortunately got tagged with the loss after he departed the game. However, after two scoreless outings, Butler allowed at least one run in each of his last three appearances. Thursday’s against the Cardinals was the last straw for now at least.
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Butler came in the seventh inning, when the Cubs were up 8-1, and he walked the leadoff hitter. Following a single to right field and an infield single to load the bases, Butler walked in a run and that sealed his day. He was charged with four runs, three earned, after failing to record a single out.
Now, he’s gone for at least 10 days.
Farrell made his MLB debut with the Kansas City Royals in 2017, making one start that only lasted 2.2 innings. He then pitched with the Cincinnati Reds, making nine appearances from the bullpen. Farrell had a 2.61 ERA and 1.16 WHIP, striking out seven and walking seven in 10.1 innings.
The righty was a sixth-round draft pick by the Royals in 2013, out of Northwestern. Farrell has started 86 games in the minors, pitching in 106 overall, while recording a 4.46 ERA in 511 innings.
In 2017, Farrell had a 4.78 ERA in 116.2 innings on three different Triple-A teams. He made two starts with Triple-A Iowa this season before getting called up prior to this weekend’s series against the Colorado Rockies.
Farrell pitched 10.2 innings, striking out 11, walking three, giving up 13 hits and seven earned runs with the Iowa Cubs in his two starts.
