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
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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
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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
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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
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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: Fans seven in victory
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Wesneski (1-0) allowed one run on five hits over seven frames Monday, striking out seven and earning a win in the Cubs' 10-1 triumph over the Athletics.
Wesneski covered just six innings in a pair of shaky outings to begin the 2023 season, but he turned things around Monday against a subpar Athletics lineup. He gave up a run on four hits in the first two innings before cruising through his final five frames, racking up 11 total swinging strikes in the process. Wesneski is now sporting an 11:6 K:BB and a 4.15 ERA this season. He's lined up to face the Dodgers at home this weekend.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Roughed up in no-decision
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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: Sleeper pitchers for Week 3 (April 10-16)
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Hayden Wesneski's first start could have gone better, but he still showed improved velocity and still has plenty of buzz from an electric spring performance. He'll face a middle-of-the-road Mariners lineup this week.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Wins rotation spot
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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.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Starting Thursday vs. ARI
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Wesneski is listed as the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Wesneski has pitched well over the spring with a 3.00 ERA and 17 strikeouts over his 12 innings of work. The right-hander is battling for one of the final spots in the Chicago rotation to open the year, and Javier Assad is also scheduled to pitch on Thursday. The results for Wesneski -- as well as Assad -- will go a long way in determining who will win the fifth starter job for the Cubs.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Drops pitcher's duel
Rotowire
Wesneski (3-2) allowed just two runs (one earned) across six innings but took the loss Monday against the Reds. He gave up four hits and a walk, while striking out six.
Wesneski pitched well, but Hunter Greene was better in the 3-1 Cincinnati win. The former looked good in six starts for the Cubs, allowing three earned runs or fewer in each outing, which left him with a 2.18 ERA overall across 33 innings. That should wrap up Wesneski's rookie season, and he's put himself into a strong position to compete for an Opening Day rotation spot in 2023.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Earns third win
Rotowire
Wesneski (3-1) earned the win against the Phillies on Wednesday, allowing one run on six hits with two walks over five innings. He struck out three.
Wesneski ran into trouble in the third inning after hitting Kyle Schwarber with a pitch and giving up a single to Rhys Hoskins in the following at-bat. Schwarber would then come in to score on a sacrifice fly from Bryce Harper. Wesneski also gave up back-to-back singles to lead off the fourth and eventually loaded the bases, but he was able to pitch his way out of the jam. The 24-year-old right-hander now has a 3-1 mark in September and has allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last three starts.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Strong outing in win
Rotowire
Wesneski (2-1) earned the victory Thursday in Pittsburgh, striking out six across 6.1 innings while allowing two runs on five hits and two walks.
Wesneski was highly effective through the first six innings, allowing just a run on four hits -- three of them by Bryan Reynolds -- and even throwing an immaculate inning in the fifth. The right-hander allowed a solo homer to Kevin Newman to begin the seventh before retiring his final batter of the evening and being pulled with one out. Wesneski has thrown at least 6.1 innings and allowed two runs or fewer in both of his two starts this year.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Slated to start Saturday
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Wesneski will start at home Saturday against the Rockies, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Wesneski's first two big-league appearances have come out of the bullpen, and he's allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out 11 in 8.2 innings. He'll have the chance to make his first major-league start Saturday after Wade Miley was pushed back to Monday. It's not yet clear whether Wesneski will remain in the rotation following Saturday's outing, but it's possible that the Cubs utilize a six-man rotation if he performs well against the Rockies.
