CHICAGO (670 The Score) – Cubs right-hander Marcus Stroman’s bullpen session went well Monday as he rehabs from a rib cartilage fracture, but his timeline for a return and potential role for a surging club both remain unclear.
“It was clean, no real issues,” manager David Ross said Tuesday. “He’ll throw another soon. Still has to build a pretty good pitch count, start facing hitters, maybe throw some live BPs. He’s got a little ways to go, but as far as bullpens go, he came out healthy.”
Stroman has been sidelined since July 31, initially by a hip injury before he was then diagnosed with the rib cartilage fracture. Time is running short for him to return, as only 23 games remain in the regular season for the Cubs after their 11-8 win against the Giants on Tuesday at Wrigley Field. After that, the Cubs hope to have a long playoff run.
To hear Ross comment on the situation, even if Stroman does get cleared to return, it doesn’t mean he’ll have a clearly defined role amid in high-stake games.
"I don't know if it makes sense to take a guy from throwing bullpens or live BPs and throw him into a pennant race from where he’s at,” Ross said. “But that's where I stand right now with a healthy rotation that’s pitching really good and everybody is doing well. Hopefully that continues all the way to end of the season, and that’s a good problem to have (more depth).
“A healthy version of him is a good thing for us. However we use that, however he feels like that, I haven't had conversations with Marcus. I don't want him to listen to an interview and get pissed off. We haven't made any decisions today. So we’ll get him healthy, I think we’ll stretch him out as far as we can, work him back to be a starter. And if we get to a point where that benefits us, great. If it doesn’t, then we’ll look at another role.”
Stroman, 32, has a 3.85 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 23 starts this season.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.