(670 The Score) The Cubs have found strong work from right-hander Keegan Thompson, just in various different roles this season.
Thompson, 27, is 3-0 with a 1.41 ERA over 32 innings of work. He has pitched in nine games and started twice, including Tuesday night when he threw five shutout innings in a 7-0 win over the Pirates at Wrigley Field.
Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy indicated Thompson will continue on with this versatile role moving forward this season.
“Keegan prefers to pitch when we need him the most,” Hottovy told the Mully & Haugh Show on Thursday morning. “I think that’s the biggest thing. His versatility is so valuable, not only for us but for him. But also it allows us to help manage the workload for him and pick the right spots to use him.
“His makeup, his background, everything about him, he’s such a competitor. He keeps things simple. It’s efficient. Again, just go out there and give us as much as you can. Pump the strike zone, be aggressive early, whether that’s as a starter, as a reliever, as a long guy, as a short-inning guy, I think he can do a lot of different things.
“The current version of him in the role he’s in right now does allow us to manage that workload early just knowing how valuable he is to the team and the organization.”
The Cubs planned to have Thompson pitch in relief of starter Wade Miley during Monday night's game. But they jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first inning and Miley worked seven shutout innings in a 9-0 victory over the Pirates. That allowed the Cubs to save Thompson as their starter for Tuesday's game.
Thompson was a third-round pick to the Cubs in 2017. He made his major-league debut last season, going 3-3 with a 3.38 ERA over 32 appearances and six starts.
The Cubs begin a four-game series with the Diamondbacks on Thursday night at Wrigley Field.
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