Chicago Cubs: John Lackey finally showing age, help must be on the way

After the first month of the season, Chicago Cubs pitcher John Lackey appears to show signs of aging. The team needs to find help on the horizon to help them win games.

After the first month of the season, the Chicago Cubs aren’t exactly struggling. They find themselves at the top as everyone expected, but they aren’t off to the great start they had last season. Of course, it would be foolish to expect them to play lights out like they did last season. That was a special season, and nothing could compare to that.

While the offense is still humming along and doing pretty well, signs point to a need for pitching. The bullpen struggled to start the season, but as it progressed, things are getting better.

The starting pitching, however, is the epitome of inconsistent. Combined, Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks, Brett Anderson, and John Lackey are 9-7 with a 4.70 ERA. They aren’t exactly lights out to start the season.

Of big concern is Lackey. Since the playoffs last season, he’s showing signs of aging. He was 0-1 with a 4.85 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP and couldn’t get past the fifth inning in any playoff game. This season, he is 2-3 with a 5.10 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He is 38 years old, and he has 2840 (including playoffs) innings on his arm.

His age and number of innings are a big reason the Cubs signed Lackey to just a two-year contract. He may be on his last legs (or arm). After the season the Cubs don’t have a contract weighing them down.

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The problem is this season, however.

The Cubs need to be able to get someone to step up, if Lackey continues to struggle. Mike Montgomery is pitching well and is a great candidate to enter the starting rotation. Anderson is also struggling, however, so Montgomery could replace him. That leaves someone else to replace Lackey.

Help on the farm?

The Cubs could go to their minor league system to find help. Yes, the system is filled more with offensive help, and the pitching help is mostly still in the early stages. However, there are some pitchers who can come up this season and help.

Alec Mills is a pitcher who could take the next step up. The Cubs acquired him in a minor league trade with the Kansas City Royals in February. He has a fastball that hits 95-96 miles per hour. In addition to that, it moves, making it even more difficult to hit. Also, he has a curveball in the low 80’s. The difference in speed between the fastball and curve keeps hitters off balanced. He also has a slider and changeup to give him a good variety of pitches to do well in the rotation.

Mills threw last season for the Royals. He had three appearances and had a 13.50 ERA in just over 3 innings. Hopefully, when he comes up for the Cubs he has those jitters already taken care of. So far this season at Triple-A Iowa, he is 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. He has 7 strikeouts against just 1 walk.

A bit more seasoning at Triple-A and Mills should be ready for the show.

The Cubs also have Rob Zastryzny who can come out of the bullpen and start in a pinch. Zastryzny is one of the few pitching prospects drafted by the Cubs who is almost ready to come up to the big leagues.

Zastryzny struggled a bit this year with a bloated 5.65 ERA with Iowa, but he already threw for the Cubs last season and did well. He had a 1.13 ERA in 8 games and won his only start. He has a variety of pitches (fastball, curve, slider, changeup) he can attack hitters with. However, his 94 miles per hour fastball was the most hittable pitch in his repertoire, so he developed a cutter that’s still a work in progress. Once he has better command of that cutter, expect him to throw at Wrigley again.

Of course, with the offensive assets the Cubs have on the farm, they may decide to use some of them to acquire veteran talent. Theo Epstein talked about building an Atlanta Braves type of dynasty, so trading away assets isn’t something that accomplishes that. The Cubs may see what they have first before deciding on selling off parts.

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The John Lackey car is probably running on fumes at the moment. The Cubs need to prepare a replacement before having him hurts their chances at a repeat.

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