Cubs Notes: Bellinger, Suzuki, Steele, Mervis

The Cubs presently sit at a stable 20-14 report, only one recreation again of the Brewers for the NL Central lead. That robust begin has come despite various key accidents: employees ace Justin Steele was pulled from his Opening Day begin in opposition to the Rangers on account of a hamstring pressure and hasn’t taken the mound within the large leagues since, whereas the membership extra not too long ago misplaced each Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki to rib and indirect accidents, respectively.

Happily for Chicago, nevertheless, it seems that all three stars are nearing a return to motion. Supervisor Craig Counsell instructed reporters (together with ESPN’s Jesse Rogers) this afternoon that each Suzuki and Bellinger may very well be again in motion a while subsequent week, whereas MLB.com’s Injury Tracker notes that Counsell indicated to reporters yesterday that Steele is slated to be activated from the IL and take the ball in Monday’s recreation in opposition to the Padres.

All three updates are implausible information for the Cubs. When Suzuki was positioned on the IL on April 15, the Cubs’ offense had produced a stable 108 wRC+ (eleventh within the majors) however the offense has scuffled in the appropriate fielder’s absence with only a 93 wRC+ (seventeenth within the majors) since then. The membership’s struggles on the plate have change into much more pronounced since Bellinger was positioned on the shelf, because the membership has posted a 73 wRC+ (twenty fourth within the majors) with an ISO of simply .101 since then.

The membership could have some fascinating roster choices to make upon the duo’s return, as high prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong has made a stable impression with a 90 wRC+ and elite protection in heart area whereas Bellinger has been on the shelf whereas veteran fourth outfielder Mike Tauchman has capitalized upon on a regular basis alternatives and is now hitting a scorching .276/.406/.460 with a wRC+ of 154 in 106 journeys to the plate this season. The most definitely end result seems to be Crow-Armstrong returning to Triple-Some time Tauchman takes over because the membership’s common DH, with Bellinger and Suzuki instantly returning to their common locations in heart and proper area. That being mentioned, it’s doable the membership views Crow-Armstrong’s protection and baserunning as too beneficial to lose and as a substitute appears to hold him as a bench participant even after the return of Bellinger and Suzuki.

Whereas Chicago’s offense has struggled with out its two star outfielders, the rotation has flourished even with out the fifth-placer for final yr’s NL Cy Younger award. The Cubs’ rotation has a collective ERA of three.35 that ranks sevent-best within the majors this yr. Shota Imanaga (0.78 ERA), Jameson Taillon (1.13 ERA) and Javier Assad (1.97 ERA) have been nothing in need of dominant as they’ve led the group in Steele’s absence whereas children akin to Hayden Wesneski, Ben Brown, and Jordan Wicks have mixed for a stable 3.27 ERA in 11 begins to fill out the again of the rotation. That being mentioned, Steele’s return would enable the membership to return both Wesneski or Brown to a beleaguered bullpen that has struggled to a properly beneath common 4.50 ERA and ranks bottom-five within the majors when it comes to fWAR.

In much less constructive Cubs information, the membership optioned first baseman Matt Mervis to Triple-A Iowa at the moment, recalling utility infielder Miles Mastrobuoni to take his place on the roster. Mervis received top-100 prospect buzz coming into final season because of his speedy climb via the minor leagues that noticed him attain Triple-A in simply his second skilled season, however he’s stalled out on the stage regardless of a wonderful .297/.393/.556 slash line on the stage for his profession.

He’s obtained two cups of espresso within the majors thus far in his profession however has did not hit in both of them, with a .155/.222/.259 profession slash line in 127 journeys to the plate on the large league stage that features a nine-game stint this season that noticed him go simply 3-for-26 with a 30.8% strikeout fee. Mervis will now return to the minor leagues to await his subsequent alternative, although at this level he seems to be blocked by the likes of Michael Busch, Bellinger, Tauchman, and even Crow-Armstrong when it comes to left-handed choices for the membership.