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Strop set to rejoin Cubs’ bullpen Friday
- Updated: September 21, 2016
CHICAGO — The Cubs’ bridge to closer Aroldis Chapman is nearly repaired.
Right-hander Pedro Strop, who’s been on the disabled list since Aug. 11 with a torn meniscus in his left knee, threw a simulated relief appearance Tuesday at Wrigley Field and came out of it feeling good.
The next step is for the Cubs to reinstate Strop from the 15-day disabled list Friday, when the hard-throwing setup man is expected to make a relief appearance in the series opener against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field.
“He’s going to pitch on Friday, and then we have different days planned out for him after that,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “[Hector] Rondon threw the ball well [Monday] night, better than anticipated, and what I saw out there [Tuesday], Stropey’s fine. It would just be a matter of being sharp, because physically he’s fine.”
Strop is 2-2 with a 2.89 ERA in 50 games this season. Rondon, the Cubs’ closer prior to the trade that added Chapman, was on the DL from Aug. 19 to Sept. 6 with a right triceps strain.
They’ll both be together in the Cubs’ bullpen soon, in front of Chapman, with the postseason coming a couple weeks down the road. Assuming Strop returns Friday, there will be 10 games left in the regular season to help Rondon …
