Cubs Rotation: Ace, Embrace or Replace – 5/15

The latest installment how I’m feeling about the cubs rotation:

Green = Moving Up
Red = Moving Down
Blue = Moving out
Orange = Moving In
Black = No Change

Ace – would start this pitcher in Game 7 of the World Series
No one at the moment

Near Ace – would feel comfortable starting this pitcher in a playoff series
This is the big problem for the Cubs right now. Sure, their schedule has gotten easier, but when you lose your best 2 starters, you can expect results to suffer. Imanaga will be back this season, but Justin Steele will not. The Cubs have a couple months to see if Horton, Boyd or Brown can step up their game to fit into this category (I just don’t thin Taillon has the stuff to do it). But if they do not, I would highly expect the front office to part with multiple prospects (Caissie, Alcantara, Triantos) to get a front line starter from a team that has dropped from contention.

Embrace – would feel comfortable starting this pitcher in a big regular season game
Matthew Boyd – Boyd continues to be solid, but not dominant. He’s given up exactly 2 runs in 4 of his last 5 starts. This should be enough to keep the team in games, assuming the offense and bullpen can hold up their. Which did not happen in 3 of those 4 starts where he allowed 2 runs – leading to losses. The Cubs don’t really have that starter who has the potential of going 8 innings with 0 to 2 runs allowed.

Jameson Taillon – Gave up 3 solo home runs the other night to the Marlins, but that was all he gave up. I’ve always felt he was a solid #4 starter, racking up innings and minimizing damage.

Colin Rea – Rea continues to pitch well, and has started to extend his maximum innings, going at least 6 in two of his last 3 starts. Had a bit of a shaky outing against the Dodgers, but followed it up with a 6.2 inning win against the Marlins where one bad pitch cost him the 2 runs he gave up. As his success has comes as a surprise, we’ll just have to see hopw long he can keep it up.

Ben Brown – The roller coaster continues with another good, but not great outing. I bumped him up due to his stuff, which can be dominant at times. But he may yo-yo between this spot and the lower tier all season.

Near Replace – would only feel comfortable starting this pitcher in against a lesser opponent

Cade Horton – I’m going to start with Horton here. It might be low and it might be high — as we really don’t know how he will perform. Looked pretty good in his first outing, but rookie pitchers sometimes have the advantage of lack of scouting. I’m really hoping that he has a couple of quality starts and moves up a tier by the next time I update this list.

Replace – would only feel comfortable starting this pitcher in spring training
Brown or Horton could end up here

Injured or Minors:
Shota Imanaga – Hopefully his hamstring is not that bad, and he can be back quickly. Horton might be able to give the Cubs some good innings, but they really need Shota.
Justin Steele – Out for the season with elbow surgery

Javier Assad –
Jordan Wicks –