The Chicago Cubs have set up their starting rotation to begin the unofficial second half of the season and newly acquired Jose Quintana will make his debut this weekend.
Quintana, who the Cubs traded four prospects for on Thursday, will start on Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles. Mike Montgomery takes the mound for the series opener on Friday, while Jake Arrieta gets the nod on Saturday.
#Cubs vs Orioles will be Montgomery, Arrieta and Quintana
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) July 13, 2017
Quintana has a 4.49 ERA and 1.32 WHIP so far in 2017, but since June he has returned to his consistent self.
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You're worried about Quintana's high 4.49 ERA in 2017?
Last 7 starts:
40 IP, 2.70 ERA, 45/12 K/BB ratio #Cubs— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) July 13, 2017
A minor correction to that tweet, Quintana has had a 45/16 strikeout to walk ratio in his last seven starts.
As far as the rest of the Cubs rotation to start the second half, here’s how it’s set up against the Atlanta Braves.
Montgomery, Arrieta, QUINTANA at Baltimore, Lester, Lackey, Montgomery at ATL.
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) July 13, 2017
As far as Kyle Hendricks, he’s getting one more start at Double-A Tennessee on Monday after pitching earlier this week.
Hendricks rehab start at Tennessee on Monday to get stretched out further.
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) July 13, 2017
So, right now it looks like Eddie Butler is the odd-man out, but I really hope that when Hendricks returns he takes John Lackey’s spot and Lackey is sent to the bullpen, released or just away from starting any more games for the Cubs.
