Cubs reportedly calling up standout prospect, former All-Star pitcher |
As the Cubs enjoy a much-needed off day following a tough series win against the Brewers, it's back to business on Friday as they will begin a crucial stretch of games against three playoff teams. That all starts with one of the teams chasing the Cubs in the Cincinnati Reds as the Cubs will head to Great American Ballpark for a four-game set.
With Friday being September 1, one thing is sure: the expanded rosters are going from 26-28 players. Most fans want to see Pete Crow-Armstrong but don't expect to see him tomorrow. Instead, it will be a pair of surprising names, as one might to start game two of the doubleheader in Shane Greene. The Cubs signed Greene in the middle of the season, and he has spent the last six weeks with the Iowa Cubs. Unlike what he has done in the past, the 34-year-old right-hander has been starting games for Iowa and has looked good doing so, but he hasn't started a big league game since 2016. Instead, he has been one of the better middle-to-late relief options for quite some time, as he has collected 67 career saves, with most coming as a member of the Detroit Tigers. Had Drew Smyly or Hayden Wesneski been pitching better than they have this season, it would have been a no-brainer to use one of those guys tomorrow. Instead, their struggles left the Cubs in a pickle as they needed to fill out their rotation for a pop-up starter tomorrow. Greene makes the most logical sense, as he will be on regular rest when they call him up, and that isn't a coincidence. Even if he pitches well, don't expect him to remain on the roster the rest of the season, as Jose Cuas, Michael Fulmer, and potentially Marcus Stroman will be added back at some point. Seeking the resurgence from Greene this season has to be a pleasant sight for the Cubs as he went from one of the better relievers from 2017-20 to completely falling off the past two years. That is why he went unsigned this offseason before inking a minor league deal with the Cubs. Despite being a reliever most of his career, Greene has looked good as a starter this season, averaging around 70 pitches per start while posting a 2.16 ERA across five starts. Expect him to have similar restrictions in this one, but should he get through four or five innings, that will be more than enough for David Ross. Along with the addition of Greene, the Cubs had one more roster spot to fill, and many felt it would be PJ Higgins, at least for the weekend. Well, they are partially right, as the Cubs are calling up a bat to come off the bench, and it is an outfielder. However, it's not PCA. This may be the next best option, as Alexander Canario is getting the call and will make his MLB debut this weekend. Canario is the No. 14 prospect in the Cubs system and was acquired as part of the Kris Bryant trade with the Giants in 2021. Last season, Canario put on quite a show in his first full season in the Cubs system as he led the Cubs organization with 37 homers while driving in 97 runs. He also hit .252 that season while swiping 23 bases as he put himself on the map. Canario then went on to play winter ball, where he suffered a gruesome leg injury that not only ended his winter but put the 2023 season in jeopardy. To everyone's surprise, Canario not only came back but came back to play at an elite level again as he is back with AAA Iowa and has been on quite a tear the past few weeks. Across 53 games this season, Canario is hitting .273 with nine homers and 47 RBIs. However, it is what he has done in Iowa that stands out, as he appears to be getting close to 100%. Since arriving back in AAA, Canario has appeared in 36 games and has seen his average climb to .276. That has been helped by a two-week stretch where he has hit north of .340 and has become the most feared hitter in their lineup again. Along with the increased average comes his increased power, as he is back up to eight homers with Iowa with 35 RBIs. Like most power hitters, his game has a lot of swing and miss, but that is expected for such a young player. With Canario added to this roster, it not only gives the Cubs a bench bat but a versatile bat with plenty of power that can play the OF or DH. How long Canario stays up is more up to him, as you could see him and PCA on this team simultaneously this September. The Cubs are calling up Alexander Canario and Shane Greene, per reports. pic.twitter.com/GbEdC682uH
