The Chicago Cubs open their first spring training game against the reigning World Series Champions the Los Angeles Dodgers, who they also play in Japan for the opening series.
This spring training will prepare the Cubs for that opening series which will show if the Cubs can be a playoff-caliber team.
In a recent scrum with the media, manager Craig Counsell lets loose who the Cubs will start against the Dodgers in the Cactus League opener.
Counsell shares who the Chicago Cubs starter will be
While speaking to the media and was captured by Marquee Sports Network , Counsell said that right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet will get the nod to start against the Dodgers.
“Craig Counsell says Cody Poteet will start the first game of spring training.”
Poteet was acquired when the Cubs traded first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees this offseason. Poteet in his short three-year career between the Yankees and Miami Marlins, has seen action as both a starter and as a reliever.
Season outlook for Poteet
Last season, the 30-year-old pitched in a total of 5 games for the Yankees, four of them being starts. In those games, Poteet had a 3-0 record with a 2.22 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 24.1 innings of work.
Poteet will probably get a decent amount of looks this spring in multi-inning situations to build him up as a starter and be a potential multi-inning reliever. The Cubs will look to implement a potential six-man rotation with Matt Boyd and now Javier Assad coming off of injuries.
Poteet, along with Colin Rea and Ben Brown, could all be in the mix for that sixth spot or that swingman role.
Poteet has a lot of prove this spring
Poteet will have to come into camp ready to bring it with a lot of competition ahead of him for both the rotation and bullpen options.
If he doesn’t make either, Poteet still has two minor-league options providing the Cubs roster flexibility.
The Cubs have a good problem on their hands with having so many starting pitchers with injuries always occurring.
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