Pitching Update: Montgomery to Start Against Rockies, Lackey Being Pushed
It looks like John Lackey will not go on the DL although he will have his next start pushed to Tuesday against San Diego.
Lackey’s next start pushed back to Tuesday at SD
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) August 17, 2016
In addition, Mike Montgomery will get his first start as a Chicago Cubs player this Saturday against the Colorado Rockies.
Cubs Hendricks -Montgomery – Hammel for Colorado series . No DL for Lackey . He will just get extra days off .
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) August 17, 2016
It’s certainly positive news that Lackey will avoid the DL, especially after his last start where he was pulled by Joe Maddon with a sore shoulder. He had thrown 106 pitches in the game, so it wasn’t a surprise that he was pulled but the indication of a sore shoulder had the possibility to be really bad news for the Cubs as they come down the final quarter of the season.
Mike Montgomery, who was acquired by the Cubs via Seattle, has experience starting as recent as this year for the Mariners. He started two games, both in July, and had a very respectable 3.18 ERA. In 2015, Mike had 16 starts and logged a 4.60/4.67/4.44 ERA/FIP/xFIP. He has the tools to handle the start but anything’s possible in the thin Colorado air, so hopefully Mike will be able to get in at least five innings.