CHICAGO – Triple-A Iowa starter Dan Straily will make his Chicago Cubs debut Saturday when the Cubs take on the New York Mets, the team announced Thursday afternoon. The plan is to give him one start and then send him back to the minors.
“We have a stretch of no days off, so we’re going to have Straily come up and give us a start,” manager Rick Renteria said. “We’ll push everyone back and give us a breath.”
Straily, 25, was acquired last month as part of a blockbuster deal that sent pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to the Oakland Athletics for top Double-A prospect Addison Russell, Straily and Single-A outfielder Billy McKinney. Straily struggled with his fastball command this season but is pitching better of late. He’s 3-3 with a 3.00 ERA in seven starts for Iowa.
The Cubs might also look at newly-acquired pitcher Jacob Turner as a starter after his debut performance out of the bullpen Thursday. Turner threw 2 1/3 innings against the Brewers without allowing a runner to reach base. He was claimed off waivers from the Miami Marlins last week and says he’s ready to start.
“It was good to get a couple innings in and get my feet underneath me,” he said.
Turner was 4-7 with a 5.97 this season for the Marlins before being designated for assignment.
