Gene J. Puskar/AP Photos
PITTSBURGH – The Cubs had seen progress from Kyle Hendricks in his rehab starts – not only in his health but in his mechanics and pitch execution. But if the Cubs’ injury bug hadn’t kept spreading through the pitching staff, he would have had at least one more start in Triple-A to refine his mechanics.
His timeline accelerated, what could the team expect from the veteran right-hander? His performance Sunday in the Cubs’ 5-4 extra-innings win against the Pirates was just about the best-case scenario.
“It’s just so important for us right now with the injuries to have him pitch like that,” manager Craig Counsell said after Hendricks tossed five innings of one-run ball.