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Cubs manager David Ross has yet to call the pitchers for the team’s two doubles next week.
“I don’t need to put myself in a box before that,” Ross said. “The games that preceded this series will dictate how we play it.”
But left-hander Jose Quintana is unlikely to be able to return earlier next week. The Cubs are scheduled to play doubles in seven innings against the Cardinals on Monday and Wednesday, five games in 3 days. These two more games will count as home games for the Cardinals, played at Wrigley Field, while Cubs and Cardinals regain their deferred series since last weekend. The third game in this series is scheduled for double-sided on September 5.
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Quintana, who missed the start of the season after slitting her left thumb in a dishwasher accident, is expected to begin the simulated game on Sunday. It is scheduled for 4 innings, a longer draw than last Tuesday.
“Talking to him, I didn’t feel like I was in a position yet,” Ross said. “I think we’re going to have a lot of comebacks on Sunday, however, rushing a guy like that, it’s very important, it just doesn’t make much sense in this situation for me.”
So why does Ross want to see how the next few days will unfold? In a nutshell: Colin Rea.
“If you need to throw big tickets in a W here and give us a chance to win a game,” Ross said, “I don’t need to get away from the guys we have now just for the chance on the road. I need to check to win tonight’s game and then adjust.”
Rea has released two games since the Cubs called him from South Bend two weeks ago. In Kansas City last week, he made his first primary league appearance since 2016. Rea launched a hit run and scored two. Then, in Cleveland on Tuesday, he pitched two blank innings.
He has been a starter for the most time of his career and is a pitcher who ross feels is calling to pitch several innings. Other applicants can be found on the Cubs’ choice website.
“We have guys out there (in South Bend) who are ready,” Ross said, “and we sense that Monday and Wednesday will be days when we can catch the pitchers from there.”
The South Bend roster includes pitchers such as the right Adbert Alzolay. The 24-year-old hoper made his Cubs debut last season. He had a brilliant start, in which he allowed a hit and a run in four 2/3 innings. But in his next start, he lasted less than three innings.
Left-hander Justin Steele is also back in South Bend after the Cubs called him earlier this month. The 25-year-old has yet to make his league deyet, however, he has been a starter in the Cubs farm formula since the club selected him in 2014.
Ross also talked about Tyson Miller and Rex Brothers as pitchers in South Bend who can pitch multiple innings.
One injury threw another key into the equation on Friday. Tyler Chatwood was originally scheduled to begin in opposition to the Brewers on Friday, but was delayed due to tension in his back. Instead, Alec Mills got on the mound a day earlier.
On Friday night, the Cubs announced a rookie pitcher for Saturday.
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Why Jos Quintana probably wouldn’t come back for the next doubles as opposed to the cardinals originally gave the impression on NBC Sports Chicago