Chicago Cubs: Duane Underwood to make his MLB debut Monday
Duane Underwood is one of the few promising prospects left in the depleted Chicago Cubs farm system. However, tomorrow he’ll get his first chance at removing the prospect qualifier from his label as a player.
It’s been a weird stretch of late for the Cubs’ starting rotation. A doubleheader shuffled the order and led to Luke Farrell’s first MLB start for the Cubs.
Meanwhile, Tyler Chatwood’s wife going into labor required Mike Montgomery to fill in for him Sunday, and now Jon Lester is being pushed back to Tuesday after throwing 119 pitches his last time in.
The latter scenario is what will lead to Duane Underwood’s MLB debut.
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When Yu Darvish initially went to the DL, it seemed as though that might be the time for Underwood to get the call. Fortunately, the Cubs knew better, and Montgomery has been everything you could ask for and then some in the rotation.
But the strange, frustrating weekend in which the Cubs were swept by the Cincinnati Reds was the trigger that will give Underwood his MLB debut.
Duane Underwood could be better in the majors
In 2018, Underwood is 3-7 with a 4.27 ERA for the Iowa Cubs. Those numbers might make you ask why he’s supposed to be the guy for the job, but some of the other numbers are more flattering. Remember, the Iowa Cubs aren’t a great triple-A team anymore.
Underwood’s FIP is 3.63. He’s striking out 20% of the batters he faces while walking only 6.7%. He has a decent WHIP of 1.242 and is only allowing 0.4 home runs per nine innings pitched.
Underwood is doing well with what is in his control; it’s the defense behind him and the hitters that aren’t doing him any favors. He might get better results with the Cubs’ stellar MLB defense behind him.
Duane Underwood is compatible with the defense of the Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs have a solid defensive infield, especially toward the middle. Javier Baez and Addison Russell make up one of the best shortstop/second baseman duos in MLB. And Underwood might keep them busy Monday against the Dodgers.
The Dodgers have been on a bit of a long-ball stretch, having hit 11 home runs over the weekend in their three-game sweep of the Mets. But Underwood might be able to put a stop to that hot streak and let his infielders were on their highlight reels.
Underwood gets groundballs 43.4% of the time a bat connects with one of his pitches. When the ball does get in the air for a fly ball, they only go for home runs 4.2% of the time. Underwood could be poised to put up a pretty compelling MLB debut against the Dodgers on Monday.
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Duane Underwood has been kicking around the Chicago Cubs minor league system since 2012. But on Monday, he’ll finally get the chance to throw in the show.