Cubs’ Hendricks OK in relief after ‘terrible’ starts
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Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff Writer
CHICAGO – Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks is taking his demotion to the bullpen in stride, stating he’s looking forward to the new “challenge.”
“I’m honestly excited for the opportunity and the challenge, in a way,” Hendricks said on Wednesday afternoon. “It’s been great being down there with the guys for a game. … It’s about giving the team the best chance to win at the end of the day. That’s all I’m trying to be about.”
Hendricks, 34, struggled this season as a starter, posting a 10.57 ERA in seven games. He’ll head to the bullpen for the first time in his career after making 253 starts, all with the Cubs. His lone career relief appearance came back in 2016, which also was the year he led the MLB with a 2.13 ERA.
“I’ve picked a lot of guys’ brains that have done both,” Hendricks said. “I picked up a lot of good nuggets already.”
The Cubs don’t have a defined role for Hendricks, but he said he told manager Craig Counsell he is ready for anything. Hendricks said he knew change was on the horizon after such a rough start to the year for him.
“You expect something to happen,” he said. “It was just going terrible, obviously. You can’t put up those kinds of results.”
Hendricks gave up 50 hits in just 30 2/3 innings as a starter, including 10 home runs. He said he is hopeful he can contribute to a winning team and fix his game at the same time. The Cubs are currently in second place in the NL Central.
“The only way to really work on stuff is out there in a game, out there with a hitter in the box, seeing how my stuff is playing and getting outs,” Hendricks said. “That’s where I’m going to know if it’s right or wrong.”
Hendricks is the lone player remaining from the Cubs’ 2016 World Series team. A fan favorite, he is just weeks away from passing the 10-year mark in the big leagues. He was asked if he has contemplated his future if things continue to go south on the mound for him.
“You think about that for a while,” he said. “I’m so lucky and grateful, all the time I’ve gotten here in Chicago. Playing in front of the best fans in the world at Wrigley Field. I’m taking it one day at time. Whenever that day comes, we’ll approach that head on. I’m trying to stay in the moment and see where it takes me.”
The San Diego Padres placed right-hander Michael King on the 15-day injured list Thursday because of left knee inflammation.
King (4-2, 2.81 ERA) had just come off the IL on Saturday, allowing two runs in as many innings of a no-decision against the Boston Red Sox.
It was his first start since May 18 as he dealt with shoulder inflammation.
Now, he’s back on the IL with a knee issue in a move retroactive to Monday.
It’s a setback for a red-hot Padres team, who will carry a five-game winning streak into a weekend showdown against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. First-place San Diego is one game ahead of L.A. in the NL West.
King had been scheduled to start the series opener Friday.
In the corresponding roster move, the Padres recalled right-hander Randy Vásquez from Triple-A El Paso.
While the Milwaukee Brewers keep on rolling, another Wisconsin business is stocking up on beef and buns.
For the third time in its history, George Webb Restaurants will make good on its promise of giving away free hamburgers as part of a longstanding promotion to celebrate the Brewers winning 12 consecutive games.
The free burger giveaway will be held Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. CT at all 23 of the restaurant’s locations throughout Wisconsin. Vouchers for a burger at a later date will be available at all locations starting Friday.
“Hungry fans are welcome to stop by any location for a free, juicy burger and some camaraderie with fellow baseball fans,” the restaurant said on its website.
Starting way back in the 1940s, when Milwaukee was home to the minor league Brewers of the old American Association, George Webb promised free burgers if the local baseball team won 17 consecutive games.
The promotion dropped to 13 games by the time the Braves made Milwaukee a big league city in 1953, but that franchise couldn’t make it happen before departing for Atlanta in 1966.
George Webb changed the promotion to 12 games when the Brewers moved from Seattle in 1970. In 1987, the Brewers opened the season with 13 wins in a row, and more than 170,000 burgers were given away to mark the occasion.
The Brewers accomplished the feat a second time in 2018, closing the regular season with eight victories followed by four playoff wins. That streak led to 90,000 free burgers being given away in addition to 100,000 redeemable vouchers.
Prior to reaching the magic mark on Wednesday, the Brewers had come close on a few occasions, including an 11-game winning streak earlier this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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