Surprise Bullpen Move in the Wake of the Lester Injury
EDIT: The Chicago Cubs made these moves today. Justin Grimm placed on 10-Day DL with an infected right index finger. Jon Lester is placed in the 10-Day DL with general shoulder fatigue. The Cubs have recalled Rob Zastryzny and Felix Pena from Triple-A Iowa.
The Chicago Cubs made one move after Thursday’s crazy 13-10 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. That was sending beleaguered reliever, Justin Grimm down to Iowa. Justin, who took the loss, gave up a 2-run home run in the 7th inning. That blow lifted his ERA to 5.40 on the season, and subsequently earned his demotion.
During the game rumors began to swirl that Jon Lester would also likely need a stint on the DL with an apparent lat injury. We are still awaiting the results of the MRI, but it isn’t promising. The lat will pull on every pitch, which makes it a delicate injury for a pitcher. It isn’t exactly something you want a guy to pitch through, and time tables to return are all over the place. It is likey that he will land himself one the 10-day DL before today’s 1:20 game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Cubs will announce two subsequent moves today. The first will likely be recalling Rob Zastryzny from Triple-A Iowa. The second move is likely a heart-warming one.
Source: Already stirring of RHP Justin's Grimm demotion back to Iowa and making a spot on the 40 man roster for flame thrower Dillon Maples
— Charles the Cat™ (@CharlsMeow) August 17, 2017
Yes, Dillon Maples might finally make an appearance in the bigs.
If you remember, Dillon was drafted in the 14th round of the 2011 draft. Now you’d say, a 14th rounder, this guy can’t be that good. Well he had some expectations of being a good pitcher, with a fastball that could reach triple digits. The biggest reason he went as low as he did was the threat of going to the University of North Carolina. So the Cubs lured him away with a $2.5 million bonus.
But Maples pitched himself to obscurity in much of his five years in three Cubs system. Oft injured, or just ineffective, he was but a byline on most box scores from Eugene to Myrtle Beach.
But this season something clicked. He gained a plus slider and began to dominate. He had a K-rate of 12.9 in Myrtle Beach, it ballooned to 18.4 in Tennessee, and 15.1 in Iowa. It was expected that someone who was thought to be a bust would potentially become a September call-up.
Well now the expectation is that Dillon will bring his 100-MPH geater to the Northside as early as today.
BP Wrigleyville did a great piece on Dillon Maples just yesterday (coincidently) and it is certainly worth your read.
*featured pic via Cubs Insider
