The Cincinnati Reds are calling up their No 7 prospect Chase Petty to face the red-hot Cubs on Monday in the first game of a four-game series in Chicago.
The 23-year-old right-hander is taking the place of Cincinnati starter Brandon Williamson, who went on the injured list Thursday with left shoulder fatigue.
Petty is 2-2 with a 4.38 ERA in six starts for Triple-A Louisville. He has allowed 22 hits, struck out 29 and walked 11 in 24 2/3 innings.
“This is his regular turn,” manager Terry Francona told MLB.com. “He’s been pitching much better on the extra day (of rest), so that’s why they took him out early the other day — to try and mimic that as much as you can.”
Petty, who was a No. 1 pick (26th overall) by the Minnesota Twins in the 2021 MLB Draft, had a rough start to his major league career last season over a couple of call-ups, going 0-3 with a 19.50 ERA in six innings.
The Twins traded him to the Reds in 2022 for veteran right-hander Sonny Gray and minor league pitcher Francis Peguero.
Petty pitched well in spring training, however, and has added a new pitch.
“It’s almost like holding a circle change, spike up the middle finger on the seams and let it rip,” Petty told Sports Illustrated in spring training. “When it’s good, it’s going to be really good.”
The Reds are coming off being swept in Pittsburgh by scores of 9-1, 17-7 and 1-0.
Cincinnati received good news on the pitching front Sunday as starter Nick Lodolo is scheduled to join the team in Chicago and make his first start of the season Friday against the visiting Houston Astros.
The southpaw, who has been on IL after developing a blister on his left index finger in his last spring start, threw 79 pitches in his last rehab start for Louisville.
Petty will step into a tough spot at Wrigley Field as the Cubs are off to the best start through 34 games in club history at 22-12.
Chicago is coming off a sweep of the Diamondbacks, their third straight sweep at home.
The Cubs are 14-5 at Wrigley and are riding an 11-game win streak at home.
“There are strange plays at Wrigley Field and it is definitely an unique place to play,” Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner said. “I do feel over the course of a year, it is to our advantage. We really do try to dominate at Wrigley.”
The Cubs are scoring runs in bunches, much like Sunday when they tied a season high with six extra-base hits and scored in four different innings. Chicago also loaded the bases with one out in the eighth but did not score.
“Today was a good example of how we have been playing,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “We put pressure on the pitcher, making him make big pitch after big pitch. We have a chance to score in every inning. In every inning, there is action and that is a consistent offense.”
The Cubs will send Edward Cabrera (3-0, 3.06 ERA) to the mound to face the Reds.
The 28-year-old right-hander has won two of his last three starts, including an 8-3 road win over San Diego last Tuesday when he gave up six hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out seven.
Cabrera is 28-29 with a 3.99 ERA over 95 games, including 93 starts, for the Miami Marlins (2021-25) and Cubs.
He is 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA in two career starts against the Reds.
–Field Level Media
