There’s a good chance Jim Bullinger, the Cubs’ Opening Day starter, could go to the bullpen next week.
Bullinger, 3-0 with a 1.95 earned-run average, is eligible to come off the disabled list Monday, but he’ll have to wait a day or two until the Cubs clear a spot for him. Veteran right-hander Mike Morgan came off the DL to take Bullinger’s spot in the rotation the last two starts and surprised just about everyone by allowing only one earned run and striking out nine in 12 innings.
Morgan will pitch in Bullinger’s scheduled slot against the Braves in Atlanta on Monday and could be in the rotation until he proves he isn’t up to the job.
While Bullinger has been impressive in his five starts this year, he is an experienced swing man, going 6-2 with two saves in 10 starts and 23 relief appearances last season.
On the block: The Cubs are talking to several teams about possibly trading struggling pitcher Willie Banks, who is 0-1 with a 10.45 ERA and hasn’t pitched since giving up four hits and two runs in just one-third of an inning against the Marlins at Wrigley last Sunday.
Waiting: The surplus of pitchers that could force Bullinger to the bullpen is delaying the return of Anthony Young from his rehab assignment. Young expected to be activated this weekend, but the Cubs are carrying 12 pitchers already–one more than most teams. “I can’t get enough work for some of these guys as it is,” said manager Jim Riggleman. “With Bully and A.Y. ready to come back, we’ve got some real tough decisions to make.”