Commentary: Should Jordan Wicks go to the bullpen? |
Should Jordan Wicks go to the bullpen? I know, I know. Slow down, right? But hear me out.
The Cubs’ original plan for the starting rotation in 2024 was this: Shota Imanaga Jordan Wicks When Taillon was sidelined with a tight back in Spring Training, Javier Assad was pegged as the fifth starter. In 2023, Assad had a 3.05 ERA in 32 games pitched. In his 109.1 innings, 55.2 were out of the bullpen, 53.2 were in the rotation — and the ERA was around 3.00 in both. In four starts in 2024, Assad is 2-0 with a 2.11 ERA. Then, on opening day, Justin Steele went down with a hamstring strain likely to keep him sidelined through April. The Cubs called up Ben Brown to take his spot on the pitching staff. Brown looked very shaky in his debut, allowing six runs in less than two innings — but he has looked extremely impressive since. He has allowed just two earned runs in his last 16.2 innings (10.2 as a starter and 6 out of the bullpen). Brown started two games and then was moved back to the bullpen once Taillon returned. However, he has made a solid case to stay in the big leagues even when Steele is back. The Cubs find themselves in an exciting spot. Both players who were thrown into the starting rotation due to injury have outperformed some of the other starters. Kyle Hendricks’s struggles have been well documented. The veteran has a 12.00 ERA in five starts in 2024. He leads the MLB in home runs, hits, and runs allowed thus far. He has been placed on the IL with a back injury and will likely not return until the Cubs are confident he can be more effective. Then there is Jordan Wicks. He has shown more of a knack for missing bats in 2024. Through four starts in 2024 (and less than half the innings), he already has as many strikeouts as he did in 2023. However, he also already has nearly as many walks (again in less than half the innings). This has resulted in Wicks being unable to get past the fifth inning, which is why he sits with a 5.29 ERA despite the Cubs feeling he is pitching well. Not to mention, most of Wicks’ struggles have come once he gets to the second time through the order. Eight of the ten earned runs he has allowed in 2024 have been in the 4th or 5th innings, meaning the second time through the order. High strikeout rate but an inability to get through the order a second time??? Sounds like a PERFECT resume for a bullpen pitcher. When Steele returns to the starting rotation, which appears on track for the beginning of May, the Cubs have a decision to make about how the rotation will look around him. On top of Kyle Hendricks' IL stint, one of Ben Brown, Javier Assad, and Jordan Wicks will be out of the rotation. Instead of sending Brown back to the minor leagues when he is clearly one of your best 13 pitchers, why not move Wicks to the bullpen? This would let Assad and Brown continue to thrive in their current roles while offering Wicks an opportunity to pitch in a role that better fits his current metrics. The move would also be two-fold. Luke Little is the Cubs’ only lefty in the bullpen since Drew Smyly — who is traditionally a starter and fits more of a long relief role — is also on the injured list. Putting Wicks in the bullpen not only gives the Cubs an additional lefty to deploy out of the bullpen but also one who they have more confidence in and has higher leverage chances. While it may sound wild, considering Wicks has always been a starter, perhaps this transition could be just what the Cubs need.
