Wesneski allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out one over three innings in Friday's 8-0 loss to Atlanta.
Wesneski mopped up after starter Kyle Hendricks allowed seven runs over four innings. The Cubs became buyers at the deadline, which leaves Wesneski on the outside looking in at a rotation spot, at least for the time being. He threw 50 pitches Friday, with the lone blemish being a homer allowed to Austin Riley in the seventh inning.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Recalled for start Friday
Rotowire
The Cubs recalled Wesneski from Triple-A Iowa ahead of his start Friday against St. Louis, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Wesneski has been so-so in the majors this season, posting a 4.75 ERA and 1.20 WHIP across 60.2 frames. If he's able to impress against the Cardinals on Friday, there's a solid chance Wesneski remains in the Cubs' rotation long term, especially if the Cubs deal one of their top five starters ahead of the deadline. Michael Rucker was optioned to Iowa to clear a space for Wesneski.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Wesneski was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Wesneski had been pitching in relief of late and faring well, allowing two runs over 10 innings. He'll head back to Iowa, though, and it's not clear what role is planned for him there.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Pitches better Sunday
Rotowire
Wesneski allowed one run across three innings of relief in Sunday's loss to the Orioles. He gave up three hits and struck out two.
Wesneski covered the last three innings of the game in a long-relief role and kept the Cubs around in an eventual 6-3 defeat. The righty has bookended two good appearances around two bad performances his last four games, giving him a 5.65 ERA across 14.1 innings in the span. That includes allowing five runs over three innings his last time out June 11. For the season, Wesneski is sitting with a 5.20 ERA. He may be able to reenter the rotation at some point, though for now he figures to keep working as a long reliever, which limits his fantasy appeal.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Allows five runs in loss
Rotowire
Wesneski (2-3) allowed five runs on four hits across three innings to take the loss Sunday against the Giants. He walked one and struck out four.
The four strikeouts were the lone bright spot for Wesneski, as the young righty was hit hard, including two home runs. He now has a 5.33 ERA this season and has allowed 13 long balls across 50.2 innings. With Justin Steele (forearm) likely to return June 17, Wesneski is probably done in the rotation for now. He could shift to a long-relief role or possibly return to Triple-A.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Possible waiver wire pickups
Rotowire
Thanks to Justin Steele's forearm strain, Hayden Wesneski has a second chance to make good on the potential he showed in spring training. He's actually been trending in the right direction for a while now. Over his past seven appearances, six of them starts, he has a 3.65 ERA -- and that includes the seven-run disaster that got him sent back to the minors in mid-May, where he allowed just one earned run on two hits in nine innings. His one appearance since returning came in relief, but he lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing one run on one hit with two walks and four strikeouts. Success for Wesneski is hardly guaranteed, but at least in deeper leagues, he's earned a second look from you, just like from the Cubs.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Likely to join rotation
Rotowire
Cubs manager David Ross said Saturday that Wesneski will likely replace Justin Steele (forearm) in the rotation while Steele is on the 15-day injured list, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Ross believes Steele will miss only two turns through the rotation. Wesneski opened the season as a starter for the Cubs, but the right-hander struggled to a 5.03 ERA before being demoted to Triple-A Iowa in mid-May. Wesneski has shown the ability to miss bats, but he'll be a risky fantasy streamer while he's a member of the rotation, and he doesn't look as though he'll be in line for a long-term appointment.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Pitches well in relief
Rotowire
Wesneski allowed one run on one hit across 3.2 innings of relief in Wednesday's loss to the Rays. He walked two and struck out four.
Wesneski entered in the fourth inning with starter Justin Steele departing with left forearm tightness. The former had just been recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday and last pitched in an MLB game back on May 13, but he looked sharp nonetheless. It's unclear if Steele will have to miss time moving forward, though if he does, Wesneski would be a logical candidate to step into the rotation spot after making eight starts earlier in the year for the Cubs.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
Chicago recalled Wesneski from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Wesneski will return to the Cubs in a long relief role ahead of Tuesday night's game against the Rays. He was optioned to Iowa in mid-May after stumbling to a 5.03 ERA through his first 39.1 innings (eight starts) this season with Chicago.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Heads to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cubs optioned Wesneski to Triple-A Iowa on Monday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Wesneski was a popular fantasy sleeper this spring, and while he had some good starts with the Cubs, he struggled with consistency in ultimately posting a 5.03 ERA and 28:9 K:BB over 39.1 innings covering eight starts. Kyle Hendricks (shoulder), could potentially take Wesneski's rotation spot later this week, although the Cubs' upcoming schedule gives them the option to go to a four-man rotation for a bit.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Hammered by Twins
Rotowire
Wesneski (2-2) took the loss Saturday, surrendering seven runs on seven hits -- including four home runs -- and a walk over five innings as the Cubs were routed 11-1 by the Twins. He struck out five.
Alex Kirilloff's solo shot in the first inning set the tone for the Cubs' disastrous afternoon, as Wesneski served up multiple long balls for the first time since his opening start of the season. The right-hander has now been tagged for 10 homers in 39.1 innings, fueling a 5.03 ERA that doesn't match his otherwise decent 1.32 WHIP and 28:9 K:BB. He didn't have significant trouble keeping the ball in the park in the minors, so it's possible his luck will shift for the better as the campaign progresses, but his lack of dominance gives Wesneski little margin for error. His next outing will likely come on the road next weekend in Philadelphia.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Posts another quality start
Rotowire
Wesneski allowed one run on five hits and no walks over six innings Sunday against the Marlins. He struck out six and did not factor into the decision.
Wesneski found himself with runners on the corners and one out in the opening frame before escaping with a 6-4-3 double play. He then went on to retire nine straight batters until Yuli Gurriel kicked off the fifth with a solo home run to left. Wesneski did allow a pair of singles in the inning as well but got out of it allowing just the one run. Sunday was his third consecutive outing allowing just a single run and his second start in a row going at least six innings. The 25-year-old now owns a 3.93 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 23:8 K:BB over 34.1 innings. He's projected to take the ball next in a road game against the Twins later in the week.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Takes no-decision Tuesday
Rotowire
Wesneski allowed just one run on five hits across six innings but did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's loss to the Nationals. He struck out two and did not walk a batter.
Wesneski was sharp in his second quality start of the year, but the Cubs mustered only one run of support, denying him a shot at his third win. After allowing eight earned runs across six innings in his first two starts, the 25-year-old has allowed just six earned runs over 22.1 innings in his last four outings. Wesneski will look to keep it up in his next start, which is tentatively set for Sunday against the Marlins.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Sleeper pitchers for Week 6 (May 1-7)
Rotowire
Hayden Wesneski's last turn against the Padres Thursday was respectable enough to earn him some consideration with two favorable matchups (Nationals, Marlins) this week. But there isn't much reason for optimism in the underlying data, so it's a definite risk.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Pitches well in win
Rotowire
Wesneski (2-1) allowed one run on four hits across five innings to earn the win Thursday against the Padres. He walked one and struck out three.
Outside of a Manny Machado solo home run in the second inning, Wesneski was in cruise control for his second win of the season. He hasn't fully been able to carry over his success from spring training, as he's still sitting at a 5.24 ERA and has pitched five or more innings only twice in five starts. However, Wesneski has looked pretty sharp in two of his last three outings, and the Cubs figure to have some patience with the promising 25-year-old.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Can't get through fifth Saturday
Rotowire
Wesneski (1-1) took the loss Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk over 4.1 innings during a 9-4 loss to the Dodgers. He struck out one.
Wesneski allowed a leadoff single to Mookie Betts, a double to Freddie Freeman and walked Max Muncy to load the bases in the first, but he limited the damage by inducing a double play from J.D. Martinez. However, that wasn't the end of the trouble for the young right-hander, who served up a solo home run to James Outman in the second and an RBI single to Outman in the fourth. Wesneski came out for the fifth but was pulled after Mookie Betts reached on a fielding error by Patrick Wisdom with one out. Outside of a stellar start in Oakland, Wesneski has really struggled to begin the campaign after showing flashes last year. He'll look to find some rhythm in his next start, which is tentatively scheduled for the Cubs' upcoming three-game set with the Padres.
I started to get excited about Wesneski late in the spring when we started to see signs of a leap in velocity, but that isn't really what we've seen from him in the early going. His fastball velocity is up less than 1 mph, and at least before Monday, his fastball had been getting absolutely crushed. However, that wasn't an issue against the A's, as Wesneski tossed seven one-run innings with seven strikeouts for his first quality start of the season. It's just one start, against maybe the best matchup in baseball, so I won't overreact to it, especially since Wesneski's velocity jump still isn't there, but it's a sign of hope that he can get back to the success he enjoyed late last season, at least.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Roughed up in no-decision
Rotowire
Wesneski didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 14-9 win over the Mariners after allowing seven runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks while striking out no batters in 1.1 innings.
Wesneski exhibited little control in the outing, recording just four outs while throwing only 37 of his 64 pitches for strikes. With a 7.50 ERA and a 2.83 WHIP across six innings over his first two starts of the season, Wesneski's spot in the rotation may be on thin ice. For now, the 25-year-old tentatively lines up for a start next Monday in Oakland, in what amounts to a good bounce-back opportunity versus a weak offense.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Wins rotation spot
Rotowire
Wesneski will open the year as the Cubs' fifth starter, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Wesneski was the man most fantasy players wanted to win the job, but he had to beat out Adrian Sampson and Javier Assad to win it. The opening is technically only a temporary one, with Kyle Hendricks (shoulder) seemingly tracking toward a debut sometime in May, but there's every chance Wesneski will have pitched well enough to lock himself into a starting role by that point. The 25-year-old has made just four big-league starts, but his 2.18 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 33:7 K:BB in 33 MLB innings last year give plenty of reason for optimism.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Sharp again Thursday
Rotowire
Wesneski allowed just one unearned run with five strikeouts over five innings in a Cactus League start Thursday against the Diamondbacks.
Wesneski continues to charge toward the final spot in the Cubs' season-opening rotation, and he's now boasting a 2.12 ERA and 22:6 K:BB in 17 innings of Cactus League work. The 25-year-old right-hander looked great down the stretch with Chicago in 2022 and is shaping up as an attractive late-round grab in fantasy drafts for 2023.
