Pitchers Doug Davis and Todd Wellemeyer made their 2011 debuts down on the farm Thursday … and it appears Doug Davis could be very close to making his first start in a Cubs’ uniform.
Doug Davis started for the Daytona Cubs (High Low Class-A) and picked up a win for the 20-8 D-Cubs (5-0 victory over the Tampa Yankees). Davis tossed 6 2/3 innings of shutout ball, allowed two hits, walked a pair and struck out seven. Davis sat down the first 12 hitters he faced with six of his strikeouts coming in the first four innings … the veteran southpaw struck out the side in the fourth.
According to a report from the Sun-Times, Doug Davis could return to the big leagues when the Cubs face the Giants on May 14 at Wrigley. Doug Davis is slated to make his next start with the I-Cubs in the coming week. If all goes well for Davis in Triple-A, he could be added to the Cubs’ 40-man roster (currently stands at 39 players) shortly after and make his Cubs’ debut on May 14 … the next time the Cubs need a fifth starter.
Davis chose the Cubs over eight other teams and will make a base salary of $900,000 if added to the big league roster. Davis can opt out of the contract he signed with the Cubs last month if he’s not in the majors by May 30.
Doug Davis is 3-3 in seven career starts at Wrigley with a 2.98 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP … six home runs allowed in 45 1/3 innings. Against the Giants, Davis owns a 5-8 career record with a 4.72 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP in 20 games, 19 starts.
Todd Wellemeyer struggled in his debut with the Iowa Cubs and took the loss Thursday. Wellemeyer allowed four runs on eight hits with a pair of walks and two strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. Wellemeyer threw 74 pitches, 43 for strikes, in the 9-2 loss to the Round Rock Express.
Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner departed for Mesa when their teammates left for Chicago after Wednesday’s game against the Dodgers. Wells and Cashner will continue their rehab at the Cubs’ facility at Fitch Park. Both pitchers are expected to go on minor league rehab assignments once their conditioning work is complete in the next week or two. According to a report from the Sun-Times, that would put a return for either Wells or Cashner at least three weeks away.
The Cubs have not set a timetable on when Randy Wells or Andrew Cashner will return to the big league rotation.
Stay Tuned …
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