The Chicago Cubs have shrugged Tyler ChatwoodIt begins after the right-hander felt tight in his back, per Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports. Colin Rea will kick in the bullpen to start in his place on Saturday (technically Alec Mills started for Chatwood on Friday, and Rea will start in place of Mills). Chatwood has continued his straight tenure this season in Chicago, though the good ones have been bad heavy by three starts. The 30-year-old Chatwood set the Northside whispering with a couple of quality starts in which he delivered 12 2/3 innings, two wins, 19 strikeouts, and just one deserved run. He returned it all with 8 deserved runs in just 2 1/3 innings in his third start against the Royals. The Cubs have a twin relationship with the Cardinals planned for Monday where Chatwood will step back into the rotation, according to Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times (via Twitter).
- Bad news could be on the horizon for the San Diego Padres. Closer Kirby Yates is planning an MRI to investigate recent elbow discomfort, by Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union Tribune. The late thriving Yates has probably evolved over the last two seasons to the best closer of the game. He has not been through 5 appearances this year. He is currently rocking a rough 10.38 ERA / 5.62 FIP with 7 hits and 4 walks after 7 strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings. He has 2 savings and a hold. An injury would certainly be a blow to a San Diego bullpen all the way down Andres Muñoz en Trey Wingenter. Despite that, the Friars are flush with possible replacements: Emilio Pagan en Drew Pomeranz are likely next in line to secure W’s in San Diego.
- Yoshihisa Hirano is finally on his way back to the diamond after testing positive for COVID-19 early in training camp, per Greg Johns of MLB.com (via Twitter). After some tune-ups on the alternate side, Hirano was able to find himself in the Seattle Mariners’ bullpen shortly. Hirano, 36, joined the Mariners this offseason after two years with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He proved himself a reliable arm in the Dbacks’ pen. He owns a 3.47 ERA / 3.85 FIP in the states following a successful career in Japan.
