Mike Morgan will remain in the Cubs’ starting rotation when the second half of the season begins after the All-Star Game, General Manager Larry Himes and Manager Tom Trebelhorn said Sunday.
Trebelhorn had said after Morgan’s last start that Jim Bullinger (3-2, 3.58 ERA) might replace Morgan (1-9, 7.71) as a starter.
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“It could be Bullinger for Morgan later on, but for now Morgan will still be there,” Himes said.
Steve Trachsel, Willie Banks, Morgan and Anthony Young will pitch Thursday through Sunday in a four-game series at Cincinnati. Sunday night’s starter, Kevin Foster, will remain the fifth man in the rotation and will start next Monday in the opener of a series at Colorado.
In looking back on the disappointing first half, Himes said the bright points were play of shortstop Shawon Dunston and the performance of the four young starters: Traschel (7-6), Banks (8-7), Young (4-6) and Foster (2-2). Dunston, recovering from a bad back that sidelined him most of two seasons, is hitting .276.
The biggest disappointment as well as the biggest mystery of the first half, Himes said, was the play of the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Their home record going into Sunday’s game was 16-29, compared to 20-20 on the road.
On the bench: Rick Wilkins, still troubled by a stiff neck, was on the bench when Sunday’s game began. Mark Parent replaced him at catcher. Trebelhorn said third baseman Steve Buechele had responded well to treatment for his sore heel and would be back in the lineup Thursday.