Chicago Cubs: Expect to see Eddie Butler sooner, rather than later
The Chicago Cubs have some serious issues in their starting rotation. Can Eddie Butler be the guy to help solve them?
It is not the time to panic about the Chicago Cubs. At 16-14, the team is still tied for first place in the National League Central. They are clearly the most talented team in their division and will be right in the mix at the end of the season. That being said, they have not been the dominant group that we expected to see to start the season.
Most notably, the Cubs’ starting pitching has been an issue. Their 4.05 ERA out of their starting staff ranks 15th in Major League Baseball. Not terrible, but certainly not ideal for a team with major expectations like the Cubs. Last season, the Cubs had far and away the best starter ERA in the game at 3.15. The next closest team was the Washington Nationals with a 3.51 ERA.
The Cubs got dominant performances out of Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks, John Lackey and Jason Hammel all season long. Their starting pitching was a major strength on a team loaded at all positions. However, they have struggled to recapture that magic in 2017.
The top four have not been as great, but the transition from Hammel to Brett Anderson as the Cubs’ fifth starter has been the biggest reason for their rotational struggles. Anderson’s struggles come to a head on Saturday, as he allowed five first-inning runs in an 11-6 loss to the New York Yankees.
More from Chicago Cubs
- Chicago Cubs in the middle of chaos that is Shohei Ohtani’s free agency
- The Chicago Cubs are on a roller coaster of emotions chasing Shohei Ohtani
- Chicago Cubs Rumors: latest on Bellinger, Chapman, and Hoskins
- National insider takes Chicago Cubs out of Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes
- One overlooked factor when it comes to Shohei Ohtani not signing with the Chicago Cubs
Anderson was only able to record one out in the game before leaving with an apparent injury. He now likely appears to be heading to the disabled list for the 10th time in his major league career. In six starts for the Chicago Cubs this season, Anderson has only been credited with one quality start and has an 8.18 ERA. Injured or not, it was time to start consider replacing Anderson in the starting rotation.
The most obvious replacement for Anderson in the rotation is fellow lefty Mike Montgomery. Montgomery was expected to be the Cubs’ fifth starter before Anderson was signed but ended up staying in the bullpen instead. Montgomery can make an impact in the starting rotation, but he has become an important part of the Cubs’ pen.
Moving Montgomery to the rotation is possible, but he has pitched 14 consecutive scoreless innings in relief. As the best left-hander in the Cubs’ bullpen, I find it more likely that Montgomery stays in his current role. That leads us to starting pitcher Eddie Butler, who has been dominant at Triple-A this season.
Butler is a former top prospect who the Cubs acquired as a reclamation project from the Colorado Rockies this past offseason. Butler was the 24th ranked prospect by Baseball America in 2014 and the Cubs were able to take a chance on him in exchange for relief pitching prospect James Farris. The former top prospect was never able to have any success at the big league level with the Rockies and was a perfect change of scenery kind of target.
Butler had a strong spring training showing with the Cubs and has continued his success at Triple-A, posting a 1.17 ERA through five starts. Butler pitched at Triple-A Iowa last night, mowing down the St. Louis Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate for six scoreless innings. Pitching last night, Butler would seemingly be on track to start for the Cubs in Anderson’s next turn through the rotation if needed.
Butler has seemingly figured something out with the Cubs. Acquiring him in a buy-low move for a guy who clearly needed a change of scenery is reminiscent of when the Cubs traded for Jake Arrieta. I am not saying that Butler will become as dominant as Arrieta, but it is not out of the question to see it happening.
Next: Time to try Jason Heyward in the leadoff spot
For now, the Chicago Cubs should call Butler up to replace Anderson in the rotation. He is either too injured to perform or not good enough to be a part of a contending rotation. If Butler can continue to pitch well, the Cubs may have found a long-term mid-rotation starter. If his big league struggles continue, they are not out much and can simply move on to Montgomery or aggressive attack the trade market.
Giving Butler a chance to prove himself now makes the most sense.