Keegan Thompson - Angling for No. 5 rotation spot Manager David Ross said Tuesday that Thompson (shoulder) and Justin Steele will be the primary competitors for the fifth and final spot in the Cubs' Opening Day rotation, Gordon Wi... Impact Heading into the spring, both Thompson and Steele looked like better bets to open the season in the Triple-A Iowa rotation or in the Cubs' bullpen, but the two will now get the chance to battle for a starting role with the big club after Adbert Alzolay was diagnosed with a lat strain that's expected to keep him out for at least two months. Thompson finished the 2021 season on the injured list with shoulder inflammation, but he appears to be fully healthy for the spring, after he was spotted throwing on the field over the weekend, per Scott Changnon of Marquee Sports Network. Thompson spent much of his time in the majors last season working out of the bullpen, but over the six starts he received, the 27-year-old righty delivered a 5.51 ERA and 3.7 K-BB% in 16.1 innings.
MARCH 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE