3 September Call-Ups That Can Help Cubs Clinch the NL Central
By Sean Facey
The Cubs are in a dogfight for the NL Central title. The St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers are both within striking distance and could easily prevent them from winning the division for the third time in four years. If they want to avoid the Wild Card game, though, they need to call up these three guys in September to help them clinch the division title.
3. Dillon Maples
Maples struggled in his eight innings at the MLB level early in the season, posting a 5.63 ERA in 10 relief appearances. With that being said, he could still be a valuable reliever down the stretch. He's struck out 61 batters in just 32 2/3 innings in Triple-A this year, so he has the ability to get the job done. He could give them an extra option out of their otherwise weak bullpen.
2. Albert Alzolay
Like Maples, Alzolay has already appeared in the bigs in 2019, but only for a short, rather unsuccessful period. He's a starter by trade, but could easily be used in relief. If he can limit the home run ball as he has in Triple-A this year, then he could prove to be a serviceable long relief arm out of the bullpen come September.
1. Randy Rosario
Rosario has had a quality year in Triple-A, posting a 3.81 ERA in 23 relief appearances, and though his 5.91 ERA at the MLB level might be a warning sign to some, there's more to his story. His 3.48 xFIP and 4.03 SIERA both suggest his brief MLB sample size was plagued with bad luck. He's better than his surface level numbers suggest. He would be a welcome addition to a weak Cubs bullpen.