Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Short outing in return to rotation

Stroman did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk over three innings against Colorado. He struck out two.

Stroman wasn't particularly sharp in his first start -- his first two appearances came out of the bullpen -- since landing on the injured list Aug. 2, needing 64 pitches (39 strikes) to make it through three frames. In the first half of the season, he posted a 2.96 ERA and 1.11 WHIP across 112.2 innings, earning Stroman an All-Star nod for the second time in his nine-year MLB career. However, the second half hasn't been so kind to the veteran righty, as he endured a six-week stay on the injured list and has posted a 9.41 ERA with a 1.95 WHIP across 22 innings since the All-Star break. He lines up for his final start of the regular season Thursday in Atlanta.