The Chicago Cubs have had a relatively nice start to the 2024 season. But it did not come without some trials and tribulations. Pieces of this Cubs roster either began the year or quickly made their way to the injured list. This was certainly not part of the plan.
Jameson Taillon began his spring slowly. He was initially reported to be sitting out with tightness in his calves and “mechanical issues.” But as he was warming up to make his first spring start in March, he grabbed for his back and was shut down immediately. He started the season on the injured list. Taillon has been rehabbing and is due back as soon as this week.
Unfortunately, Taillon was not the only starting arm to go down. Justin Steele strained a hamstring on Opening Day in Texas. He and the Cubs avoided disaster, but the strain still leaves him sidelined for an extended time. Steele is set to return sometime in early May.
The biggest blow for the offensive side of the game came for the Cubs when Patrick Wisdom found his way to the injured list after just six spring games. Though Wisdom will have a more reserved role in 2024 now that the Cubs have more permanent solutions at the corners of the infield (for now), his bat off the bench against left-handed pitching is something the Cubs are excited to bring back to the lineup. He could be coming back to the big leagues any day now.
Current Rotation Holding Their Own Despite Injuries
Cubs fans expected the worst when they lost Justin Steele and Jameson Taillon to begin the 2024 season. Steele is undoubtedly considered the ace of this rotation, while Taillon was carrying momentum from his stellar end to the 2023 season. But as it turns out, what they have in-house is plenty capable of turning out results.
One of the Cubs’ most significant free agency acquisitions was signing Japanese star pitcher Shōta Imanaga. It was hard to set expectations for his first season in Major League Baseball, but he has exceeded whatever they were. Through his first three starts, Imanaga still has not allowed an earned run through 15.1 innings pitched. He has given up just two walks while striking out sixteen batters. It’s hard to get much better than that to start a career.
Javier Assad continues to impress every time he takes the mound, to the point that it should not be surprising to anyone anymore. In his first three starts, he has pitched the most innings of anyone on the Cubs’ staff with 16.2. He has an earned run average of 2.16 with 18 strikeouts. Assad has solidified his deserving of staying in this rotation as a legitimate starter for the Cubs.
Ben Brown has impressed in his first taste of big-league action. Brown was called up after Steele landed on the injured list. His first appearance was not one to write home about, but since then, Brown has looked the part of belonging in the major leagues. In his first start against San Diego, Brown went 4.2 innings with five strikeouts and no runs allowed.
Changes Coming As Soon As This Week For Cubs
Jameson Taillon is joining the Cubs in Arizona for their series against the Diamondbacks. There’s no word yet, but Patrick Wisdom should be on his heels, ready to make his season debut soon. With the two of them re-joining the roster, the Cubs will need to make some room for them.
With Javier Assad and Ben Brown pitching as well as they have, it would be hard to justify taking them out of the starting rotation at this point. Jordan Wicks has been starting and can produce outs, but his pitch counts are getting high fast, and he cannot make it through six innings. Kyle Hendricks has lost his touch when he’s gone through the lineup for a second time. Ideally, you want starters to make it through twice before you hand it to the bullpen. One of either Wicks or Hendricks could be headed to the bullpen to make room for Taillon in the rotation. I expect Daniel Palencia to be a name considered to be moved back down to AAA Iowa.
Wisdom returning means there will be one less bench spot available. His power is too valuable not to have available off the bench. Given Craig Counsell‘s allegiance to having Mike Tauchman be a part of this team, it feels like Miles Mastrobuoni may be the odd man out in this scenario. It’s nothing against him; these decisions have to be made because of how many options the Cubs have available to them. There are options galore.
