Stone: Cubs Have To Get Starting Rotation Settled
CHICAGO (WSCR) The Chicago Cubs have been the model of mediocrity and consistency all season long. But if they want to compete for the National League Central title, they'll need to see improvement from their starting rotation.
"What they have to be concerned about is what everybody is concerned about at this point when you have one of your Aces who's not pitching," Steve Stone said on the Mully and Hanley Show. "Ryan Dempster is just not throwing particularly well, and that's one of the guys they have to get going."
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Dempster was named the team's Opening Day starter back in spring training, but hasn't pitched like that so far this season, going just 1-2 with a 7.63 earned run average.
Recently acquired Matt Garza has also struggled to live up to the expectations.
"Garza has thrown the ball well at times," Stone said. "But he hasn't done what they thought he was going to do. But that back end of the bullpen is going to keep them legitimate."
The injuries to Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner haven't helped the starting rotation find any consistency. But if the Cubs can maintain their current performance until the rotation gets healthy and settled, they could still be in the race for the NL Central.
"That division is going to wait around for a little bit," Stone said. "Because every team has some massive problems."
