The Chicago Cubs’ long-term outlook on right-hander Hayden Wesneski hasn’t modified.
They imagine in his potential to be a big-league starter and probably an influence arm of their rotation down the road.
But the Cubs want extra out of their struggling bullpen and wish to Wesneski to bolster it. They recalled the 25-year-old from Triple-A Iowa earlier than Tuesday’s 2-1 victory in opposition to the Tampa Bay Rays and optioned right-hander Michael Rucker.
Manager David Ross isn’t defining a task for Wesneski within the bullpen. Multi-inning use or one-inning appearances each might be in play.
“We’re trying to get the most talented pitchers we can down there,” Ross mentioned. “He’s going to exit and do him, so I don’t fear in regards to the coronary heart fee, and he’s been within the bullpen earlier than in huge moments.
“The reason why guys start is usually they’re the best pitchers and have the best stuff to go multiple innings. That stuff could tick up. We don’t know what we’re going to get out of the other pen, but I don’t think developmental-wise there’s anything that gives us hesitation.”
Wesneski wasn’t wanted in Tuesday’s win. The Cubs have received back-to-back one-run video games in opposition to the Rays, who’ve Major League Baseball’s finest document. Entering the collection, the Cubs have been 2-10 in one-run video games, the worst mark within the majors.
Kyle Hendricks, in his second begin of the season, restricted the Rays to 1 run in 5 innings. He scattered six hits, walked three and struck out three. The victory units up the Cubs (24-30) to go for a sweep Wednesday earlier than Thursday’s time off and a 10-game West Coast journey.
“There’s definitely a sense of urgency to it,” Hendricks mentioned, “however it’s nonetheless having that focus of urgency and … having a greater focus pitch to pitch, being accountable for what you do — that’s it. We’ve all form of talked about that so much and it simply simplifies the entire recreation.
“When you have that sense of urgency and a panic state, things go the wrong way. So, yeah, we want that sense of urgency but still just keeping it simple and locking in pitch to pitch.”
Nico Hoerner’s first-pitch residence run within the backside of the primary off Rays ace Shane McClanahan put the Cubs forward till the Rays tied it within the fifth on Randy Arozarena’s RBI single.
Mike Tauchman continued his sturdy play filling in for the injured Cody Bellinger. He collected two hits, together with a go-ahead, two-out single within the sixth. His two-out, full-count stroll within the eighth loaded the bases for Patrick Wisdom.
Wisdom couldn’t tack on to the one-run lead, nonetheless, flying out after getting forward 3-0 within the depend in opposition to Rays lefty Jake Diekman.
Tauchman is 2-for-6 with runners in scoring place in 11 video games and has three go-ahead RBIs.
“That’s the thing about baseball,” he mentioned. “Obviously we weren’t happy with how we played with the Reds in town, but you have to flush that. You have to trust what you’re doing, trust your preparation, trust your ability. These last two games, that starts with the pitching staff.”
The Wesneski call-up and bullpen transfer exhibits some urgency by the entrance workplace to deal with a continued drawback. Julian Merryweather, Mark Leiter Jr. and Adbert Alzolay threw up zeroes in reduction of Hendricks. Alzolay earned a two-inning save, his second of the season.
“We have a lot of confidence in Adbert, trying to push him and Leiter on the back side of games, and we trust (Brandon Hughes),” Ross mentioned “We’ve had some trouble there in those early innings. Adbert’s done a really nice job for the most part locking things down in the pockets he’s supposed to.”
Wesneski was knowledgeable of the bullpen plan Monday. He pitched nicely in reduction after he was known as up in September, permitting three runs in 8⅔ innings over two appearances. Those outings have been scripted utilization, nonetheless. Wesneski possible received’t have the identical kind of heads up in understanding which video games and conditions Ross will name on him.
Wesneski doesn’t count on his pitch utilization to vary as a reliever, although there may be outings wherein a pitch isn’t working nicely and he can avoid it. That’s more durable to do as a starter when going through a lineup two or 3 times.
Last 12 months’s bullpen expertise did assist Wesneski perceive what he wanted to do to prepare for an in-game look.
“You try to take away little things and try to basically paint a picture of how things are going to go and get yourself ready for today,” Wesneski mentioned. “‘I’ll be sincere with you, no matter they want, like, we’re making an attempt to determine that out. And I believe in a month from now, we’re actually going to have an understanding of what’s happening just a little bit extra, however that is what they need me to do proper now and that’s what I’m right here for.
“The big leagues is the big leagues and you’re trying to help the big club win, so I’d rather relieve here.”
Wesneski made two begins for Iowa after the Cubs optioned him May 15 within the lead-up to Hendricks’ season debut final week. Wesneski allowed three runs (one earned) in 9 innings with six walks and 9 strikeouts.
Aside from his command, a part of Wesneski’s focus at Iowa was shortening his routine earlier than begins. He believes this expertise relieving might assist with that space of preparation.
“You can start cutting stuff down and figure out, hey, I actually don’t need this, this and this. Why have I been doing this for the last year?” he mentioned “So this might become an excellent factor.
“Last year it turned out to be a good thing. So we can spin it that way if you want, but, yes, the routine is going to look obviously really different. But I can do a lot of things before the game.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com