/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63947212/1145972772.jpg.0.jpg)
Pedro Strop has not pitched for the Cubs in over three weeks, after suffering a Grade 2 hamstring strain. It showed in his rough last outing, May 6 against the Marlins (three batters faced, two walks, one hit, all three runners scored).
Today, after three rehab outings (three scoreless innings on just 27 total pitches thrown), he’s back:
Joe Maddon just confirmed @670TheScore that Pedro Strop will be activated off IL today .Dillion Maples Sent to Triple A.
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) June 4, 2019
Dillon Maples looks like he might have turned the corner as a major-league relief pitcher. After a couple of rough outings early this year, his last five with the big-league team: four innings, one hit, four walks, seven strikeouts. He’s been unscored on in seven major-league appearances this year. And he throws pitches that just make hitters look silly, like this:
Adam Jones on a Dillon Maples Middle/Middle 90mph Slider. pic.twitter.com/HTs11S2tKV
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 27, 2019
Dillon Maples, Sliders. pic.twitter.com/YnVrChWsrd
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 2, 2019
Maples, undoubtedly, will be back and probably sooner rather than later. He’s good depth to have at Triple-A Iowa.
Presuming Strop is 100 percent now, he’ll almost certainly go back to the closer role.