Be Prepared To Hear His Name A Lot
It appears Joe Maddon has found a new toy. That you? Alec Mills.
After posting a 4.00 ERA in 18 innings pitched, Mills seemingly flew under the radar to most. Which makes sense since Mills pitches in about 1% of the team’s 1,500 some odd innings in 2018.
But with the season on the line, Maddon immediately turned to Mills to help bridge the game to the later innings guys. He had great movement and good velocity on his two-seamer, kept hitters from guessing, and tossed two innings.
Sure if you pull up his game log it would look like he gave up two runs and three poorly, but he was removed with guys on base and while he was responsible for those runners, he didn’t give up the hit that played those runs.
Joe made it a point to mention Millsie on 670 the Score, as he was making his weekly appearance. Joe doesn’t do stuff like that on accident, that was a purposeful name drop, and I fully expect Alec Mills to come into the Wild Card game, if Jon Lester is removed. In fact, I believe Mills will be the first guy called upon in the first high leverage situation the bull pen sees in the game.
If it works, and the Cubs advance to the NLDS, I think Joe will tinker with Mills in Carl Edwards Jr’s typical spots. Giving him high leverage situations, likely showing him in the 7th or later. With Pedro Strop coming back, and with no promises to be the closer, Mills helps sure up the backend of the pen. Well, if he pitches as he did in game 162.
If the Cubs make a run, expect to see a lot of Alec Mills. From Joe’s mouth to playoff appearances.
