You can’t really say the Cubs are playing good baseball during the past week or so, but unlike the month of May they’re still finding ways to win and beat inferior opponents. However, Monday’s 7-6 win over the Detroit Tigers did expose a growing issue that should be addressed soon.
The bullpen has been leaned on heavily since the All-Star break and the Cubs need a pitcher or two to give David Ross other reliable options down the stretch. We’ll probably see a few veterans back in September, but before then the Cubs will probably need to make a roster move to give guys like Mark Leiter Jr., Julian Merryweather, Michael Fulmer and Adbert Alzolay a bit more of a breather.
Jordan Wicks has become the hot name in the streets after news came out that Marcus Stroman suffered a rib fracture and his return to the starting rotation is unknown. However, as of now Wicks is still in Triple-A, with veteran lefty Drew Smyly scheduled to start Tuesday night against the Tigers. However, I think it’s still a safe bet that Wicks will end up making his MLB debut with the Cubs this season.
Besides Wicks, the other big lefty pitching prospect that the Cubs should be calling up soon is 22-year-old Luke Little. The 2020 fourth-round pick began the 2023 season in the starting rotation for the South Bend Cubs at Advanced A-Ball before being moved to the bullpen and then promoted to Double-A.
The 6-foot-8, 220-pound lefty made 23 appearances for the Tennessee Smokies and he was filthy, striking out 63 hitters in 34.2 innings. Little posted a 3.12 ERA at Double-A, which then led to a promotion up to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs in early August.
In his last appearance at Triple-A, Little tossed two scoreless innings and struck out five hitters, allowing just one base runner via a walk.
Going back to July 6, when Little was still at Double-A, he’s posted a 1.53 ERA in 17.2 innings, with 36 strikeouts and 10 walks. During those 12 outings, he’s held opposing hitters to a .153 batting average, while recording a 1.08 WHIP.
Little has been even better during his last nine innings, striking out 19 hitters during that stretch.
At this point, Little seems like the ideal candidate to get called up and get some run in the bullpen. As a former starter, he has the stamina and stuff to go multiple innings and he’s been a nightmare to hit off of. Little has recorded 4 or more outs in 7 of his last 12 relief appearances.
While he does run into some walk issues, Little also has excellent strikeout numbers, averaging nearly 15 strikeouts per nine innings this season.
Overall in 2023, Little has a 2.33 ERA in 58 innings.
Little is currently not on the Cubs 40-man roster, but he’s going to be on it this offseason anyway because he’s Rule 5 eligible. Right now, the Cubs have two spots open on their 40-man roster.
