Cubs Promoting Keegan Thompson to Fill Bullpen Void

The Cubs optioned beleaguered sidearmer José Cuas to Triple-A on Thursday but did not announce a corresponding move to help out the bullpen. Speculation was that either Keegan Thompson or Hayden Wesneski would get the nod, and Craig Counsell told 670 The Score’s Spiegel & Parkins on Friday that it will be the former.

Thompson has appeared in four games with Triple-A Iowa this season and has allowed three earned runs on as many hits over six innings. All of the runs came in his first outing of the season after he walked a batter and allowed a single ahead of a homer. His last three outings have produced six strikeouts and two walks with just one hit, so it seems like Thompson has bounced back pretty well.

At this point, the Cubs just need a guy who can throw strikes and get outs because Cuas wasn’t doing enough of either with his .381 BABIP against. Thompson should be available out of the bullpen tonight as the Cubs take on the Mariners in Seattle. The dark cloud to this silver lining is that the righty really needs to shove this time around because there are several other arms coming through the system and his time could be running out.