John Lackey was pulled from his last start due to soreness in the shoulder.
That is not a good sign. Afterward, he said he'd be "fine." Joe Maddon said some
post game treatment has helped him.
But most likely, he will skip his next start.
There is a doubleheader soon with a 26th man - - - most likely a spot starter like Cahill or Montgomery.
But Lackey's exit continues to spotlight the one weakness in the Cubs team: pitching.
Starting pitching has been the constant for the team with the best record in baseball. But it is a fragile rotation.
But the focus has been on the fragile bullpen. Nathan, Montgomery, Smith have been brought in to solidify a shaky pen. Only Chapman has been the real deal, monster closer.
Rondon was achy to come back and lose the final Cardinal game. Many fans hope it was just rust.
It is becoming one of those games of musical chairs with no real great ending.
The Cubs just signed Joe Thatcher to a minor league contract after the Indians cut him for the third time this season. Thatcher has not pitched in the majors in 2016. But it shows that the Cubs have no pitching depth in the system to overcome a Strop injury, nagging issues with Rondon, or the badness of Smith's home run pitches.
The bullpen will remain an issue for the rest of the season. It seems Maddon only trusts Chapman (for one inning only) and Wood (in any inning or game situation). He wants Rondon to be the 8th inning guy but there is an apparent transition for closers who lose their jobs. One would think that pitching is pitching - - - but players are intense creatures of habit.
Expect Lackey to miss at least one start. Also, each of the other four starters will get an extra day of rest in September as the Cubs need to start planning now for the post season rotation.
