By Jordan Long
This past weekend the Chicago Cubs placed starting pitcher Brett Anderson on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain. Anderson has been the Cubs 5th starter but hasn’t lived up to expectations. He is 2-2 in 6 starts with an ERA of 8.18. The Cubs will need to replace him in the rotation. According to ESPN, Manager Joe Maddon said, “[Mike] Montgomery, and [Eddie] Butler down at Triple-A is throwing the ball really well, so we definitely have good options.”
Mike Montgomery was vying for the 5th spot in the rotation during Spring Training. He started 4 games with a 0-2 record with a 6.23 ERA. The Cubs saw enough and decided to keep him as a middle relief pitcher. Montgomery has been a starting pitcher at the MLB level. Last season he started 7 games for the Seattle Mariners and the Chicago Cubs, making his mark with the Cubs as a relief pitcher. Montgomery is more valuable as a relief pitcher. He can pitch 2 or 3 innings for the Cubs and keep them in games.
If the Cubs want to replace Brett Anderson in the rotation, Eddie Butler is the better option. Butler started 28 games for the Colorado Rockies from 2014 to 2016. He has a subpar record of 6-16 and an ERA of 6.50. Butler is pitching for the Iowa Cubs, the Triple A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. His record is 1-0 with an ERA of 1.17. Butler would need to be called up to the Major League level.
The other option for the Cubs is to go with a four-man rotation, similar to what they did in the playoffs. Instead of a pitcher pitching every 5th day while Anderson is on the disabled list, it would be every 4th day. The only problem with this is it could end up tiring out the rotation. The Cubs have options in replacing Anderson.
Who do you think should be placed in the rotation, Mike Montgomery or Eddie Butler? What do you think of the other option of using a 4 man rotation?
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