NEW YORK — Help is on the way for a Chicago Cubs rotation decimated by injuries.
The Cubs acquired New York Mets left-hander David Peterson late Wednesday night, a source confirmed to the Tribune. The addition of Peterson gives them a much-needed starter for a rotation down to four healthy arms on the big-league roster and their organizational depth limited.
The Cubs reportedly sent prospect Cole Mathis to the Mets in the deal.
Chicago Cubs ‘piecing it together’ in the rotation after Ben Brown joins Edward Cabrera on the IL
Peterson, 30, made 115 starts for the Mets entering the season with a career 4.12 ERA and 99 ERA+. But early struggles this year caused the Mets to use openers at times, and he certainly wasn’t helped by a poor defense (3.85 FIP) behind him. He should benefit from the Cubs’ elite defense, which should help his high groundball rate (51.1%) play up.
With right-handers Ben Brown and Edward Cabrera going on the injured list Wednesday, the Cubs were down to Shota Imanaga, Javier Assad, Colin Rea and Matthew Boyd, who is slated to come off the IL Thursday to start the series finale against the Mets.
Adding in Wednesday’s doubleheader, which Imanaga and Assad started, the Cubs were going to have to get creative for this weekend’s series in Milwaukee with only Rea lined up for the Brewers. Now they can at least solve one of the games by using Peterson.
