Wesneski will remain in the Cubs' rotation following the injury to Javier Assad (forearm), Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
Wesneski got a spot start Wednesday in San Francisco as the Cubs gave other members of their rotation some extra rest. However, with Assad landing on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Wesneski will stick in the rotation for the near future. He's tentatively lined up for two starts next week at home against the Phillies and Angels.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Fans seven in no-decision
Rotowire
Wesneski did not factor into the decision in a loss to the Giants on Wednesday, allowing three runs on two hits and one walk over four innings while striking out seven.
Wesneski got off to a solid start, striking out four of the first six batters he faced before surrendering back-to-back home runs to Michael Conforto and David Villar in the second. The right-hander would go 1-2-3 through the next two innings before being relieved by Drew Smyly to open the fifth, though the former would still finish with his second-highest strikeout total of the season. It also marked Wesneski's longest outing since May 8 against the Padres when he went six innings.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Receiving start Wednesday
Rotowire
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wesneski will start Wednesday's game in San Francisco, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Wesneski has previously made three starts for the Cubs this season, though none have come since May 8. While he'll be available on four days' rest after having made his last relief appearance Friday, Wesneski probably isn't built up enough to handle a traditional starter's workload. The Cubs are likely to move Wesneski back to the bullpen following Wednesday's game, as he was merely added to the rotation this week to give left-hander Shota Imanaga an extra day of rest between starts.
Wesneski (2-4) allowed a solo home run in an inning of relief to take the loss Friday against the Cardinals.
Wesneski allowed the first run of the game in the eighth inning, a solo shot by Pedro Pages, then got saddled with the loss as the Cubs got blanked 3-0. Despite the hiccup, the 26-year-old has been solid this season as he's settled into a relief role for Chicago, posting a 2.84 ERA and 34 strikeouts across 38 innings.
Wesneski (2-3) allowed a run on one hit across 1.2 innings of relief to take the loss Thursday against Atlanta. He had no walks and struck out two.
Chicago starter Ben Brown tossed four scoreless innings but left with the game tied 0-0. Wesneski took over and promptly allowed a solo home run to Jarred Kelenic, which was enough to get saddled with the loss in what ended up as a 3-0 Atlanta victory. The righty started the season by earning wins in each of his first two appearances, but he's 0-3 across eight outings since then, though he does have a solid 2.55 ERA during that stretch.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Takes loss in relief Monday
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Wesneski (2-2) allowed two runs on three hits across three innings of relief to take the loss Monday against Atlanta. He walked one and struck out two.
Wesneski had worked as a starter over his last three appearances, compiling a strong 2.20 ERA in the process, but he returned to the bullpen Monday and took over for starter Shota Imanaga, who tossed five scoreless innings. The righty seemed to lose a little sharpness in the relief role as he suffered his second loss of the season. Wesneski may return to the rotation at some point, though he's slated to work as a long reliever for now, which limits his fantasy appeal.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Sunday that Wesneski has been moved to the bullpen, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Counsell noted that Wesneski will work out of the bullpen for the Cubs' upcoming turn through the rotation, so it's possible that the right-hander could still move back into a starting role at some point later this month. For now, however, Wesneski will likely need the Cubs to lose another starter to injury, or for a rainout or a busy portion of the schedule to create a need for a temporary sixth starter. Wesneski had made each of his past three appearances for the Cubs as a starter, going 0-1 with a 2.20 ERA and 1.16 WHIP across 16.1 innings.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Suffers first loss Wednesday
Rotowire
Wesneski (2-1) allowed three runs on seven hits across six innings to take the loss Wednesday against the Padres. He walked one and struck out three.
Wesneski pitched well enough, logging his second straight quality start in the process, but he got no run support in the 3-0 loss. The righty now has a strong 1.59 ERA overall, though it remains to be seen if he'll stick in the rotation moving forward. Justin Steele (hamstring) just returned from the injured list Monday, and Kyle Hendricks (back) could return in the near future, possibly as soon as May 17 following a rehab start over the weekend. For now, Wesneski is slated to start again Tuesday against Atlanta, but he may shift to a long-relief role after that.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Earns another start
Rotowire
Wesneski will start Wednesday against the Padres.
The Cubs are getting Justin Steele (hamstring) back from the 15-day injured list Monday and Kyle Hendricks (back) could return next week, but Wesneski earned at least one more turn in the rotation. Wesneski blanked the Brewers over 6.1 innings while striking out eight Friday, marking the first time he has logged over four innings in the majors this season. He has a 0.54 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and a 14:3 K:BB in 16.2 innings across four appearances. Ben Brown could be the odd man for a starting spot, unless the Cubs go with a six-man rotation this week.
Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Excellent against Milwaukee
Rotowire
Wesneski didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Brewers, allowing three hits and two walks over 6.1 scoreless innings. He struck out eight.
Wesneski was dominant, shutting out Milwaukee while matching his career high with eight punchouts. However, the Cubs bullpen couldn't maintain the 1-0 lead Wesneski handed off. The 26-year-old right-hander has allowed just one earned run over 10.1 innings in two starts. Overall, he's 2-0 with a stellar 0.54 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 14:3 K:BB across 16.2 innings in a swing role this season. While Justin Steele (hamstring), Kyle Hendricks (back) and Jordan Wicks (forearm) are all nearing returns, Wesneski has certainly made a compelling case to remain in Chicago's rotation.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Another start on tap
Rotowire
Wesneski is slated to start Friday's series opener against the Brewers in Chicago.
He'll be making his second straight turn through the rotation after Jordan Wicks (forearm) recently joined Kyle Hendricks (back) and Justin Steele (hamstring) on the 15-day injured list. In his first start of the season this past Sunday in Boston, Wesneski gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk while striking out three over four innings.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Pitches well in no-decision
Rotowire
Wesneski did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Red Sox, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk while striking out three in four innings.
All five hits Wesneski gave up went for singles. The Red Sox quickly got one in the first inning, though it was unearned after an error extended the frame. Wesneski later surrendered a second run in the third after Rafael Devers led off with a single and eventually found his way home. Wesneski has now gone four innings in two of his three appearances this season, though Sunday was his first as a starter, and his 63 pitches were the most he's thrown since Oct. 3, 2022. With Jordan Wicks (forearm) going on the IL, Wesneski will have an opportunity to stick in the rotation for the foreseeable future, and lines up for a home start against the Brewers his next time out.
