PITTSBURGH — In the Cubs’ latest bullpen-tweaking move, they called up right-hander Chris Flexen from Triple-A on Wednesday as a multi-inning middle reliever.
In corresponding moves, they transferred right-hander Javier Assad (strained left oblique) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day list and optioned left-handed reliever Tom Cosgrove to Triple-A after he threw two scoreless innings in the Cubs’ 9-0 victory Tuesday against the Pirates.
“This is a guy that’s had success,” manager Craig Counsell said of Flexen. “He kind of got off track, and you have confidence that those guys can get back on track and [be] pitching well. He’s gotten major-league hitters out, and he was obviously doing a great job getting Triple-A hitters out and earned an opportunity.”
The Cubs added Flexen this spring as a non-roster invitee. As a veteran, he was eligible for a series of uniform opt-out dates, including May 1.
When the Cubs dissected Flexen’s delivery in the pitching lab this spring, they identified his arm slot as one of the most glaring adjustments he could make. Flexen has posted a 1.16 ERA in five Triple-A starts.
“We had the goal of trying to get to a certain arm degree, and I think we’re pretty close, if not quite there,” Flexen said. “Still trying to fine-tune it, but I think I’m in a good spot. … I still throw very over the top but [dropped] enough to be able to create a little more lasso whip in the arm and help me with consistency and command a lot more.”
In Flexen’s best seasons, 2021 and 2022 with the Mariners, his arm angle was at 66 and 67 degrees, according to Statcast. The next two seasons, it crept up to 70 degrees.
With the White Sox in their historically poor 2024 season, Flexen posted a 4.95 ERA in 33 games, 30 of which were starts.
“For me, it was an opportunity to go compete,” Flexen said. “We had our struggles. There’s no sugar-coating that. Obviously a disappointing season as far as record. Personally, pretty disappointing, as well. But, built a lot of good relationships there and enjoyed playing in Chicago.”
Since left-hander Justin Steele’s elbow injury moved Colin Rea from the bullpen to the rotation, the Cubs have rotated through a series of relievers who could provide multiple innings. Cosgrove was the latest in the churn in an effort to keep the bullpen fresh.
“Tom Cosgrove did a nice job yesterday,” Counsell said. “We’ve elected to be a little active with this part of the roster, as we go into less off days and things like that.”
As for Assad, he remains shut down after restraining the oblique that put him on the IL in the first place. He had been expected to move to the 60-day IL since last week when he left his rehab start injured.
Offensive feat
In the victory Tuesday, not a single Cubs batter struck out, marking the first time the team has achieved that feat since July 3, 2013 at Oakland.
Carson Kelly, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki (who was a single shy of the cycle) and Dansby Swanson homered, making it the first time since 1977 that the Cubs hit at least four home runs without striking out in a game and only the fifth time in the modern era (since 1901).