{"id":51272,"date":"2022-08-20T18:55:35","date_gmt":"2022-08-20T18:55:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/thompson-to-the-il-espinoza-returns\/"},"modified":"2022-08-20T18:55:35","modified_gmt":"2022-08-20T18:55:35","slug":"thompson-to-the-il-espinoza-returns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/thompson-to-the-il-espinoza-returns\/","title":{"rendered":"Thompson to the IL, Espinoza Returns"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Chicago Cubs today swapped out some pitchers, nominally for injury, but I’m hoping it’s just a matter of getting Keegan Thompson some much-deserved rest in a season where he’s blown past his career high in innings. <\/p>\n

Anderson Espinoza, ever riding the up-down train, is back:<\/p>\n

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the reported injury<\/a> for Thompson is \u201clower-back tightness,\u201d which hopefully is just a way to get him the rest. We know that most of us<\/em> deal with lower-back tightness from time to time, so it’s probably always there and available as an injury designation if you need one. <\/p>\n

In other words, I hope this is not a serious injury issue for Thompson, and is just about getting him some rest. <\/p>\n

In the meantime, though, the Cubs will have to figure out the rotation impact, especially now that Wade Miley might not be coming back as previously expected. New pitching prospect Hayden Wesneski, who pitched the same day as Thompson, could be an option the next time through. He has to be added to the 40-man roster this offseason anyway, so why not use this as an opportunity to get him some big league exposure? <\/p>\n

Righty Javier Assad, who has been getting great results and might himself be a 40-man candidate, would be another option. Of course, there is Caleb Kilian, but it’s hard to know what the development plan is for him right now, given how things seem to have gotten all mucked up for him mechanically. Or the Cubs could go a pure fill-in route, with someone like Luke Farrell or Matt Swarmer. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n