Quintana's return will begin in bullpen; Chatwood to start Tuesday
Decisions have been made. The Cubs will start Tyler Chatwood on Tuesday against Detroit and Jose Quintana will make his return from a thumb injury out of the bullpen.
"The goal is first to get a look at him (Quintana)," Cubs manager David Ross said. "He's been stretched out, so we've got some length down there in the pen. As he builds up, we've got some doubleheaders coming up so we'll kind of navigate that on who's pitching well and kind of take that as it goes. We understand he's a starter option for us moving forward if we need that."
Quintana does have some experience in the bullpen. He had a few relief appearances during his rookie season with the White Sox in 2012, then tossed 4 innings out of the pen early last year in Texas.
"I've been in the bullpen a couple times, so it's not new for me," Quintana said Monday. "I feel OK with that. I just want to go to the mound and do my job. Right now, whatever role I get, I'll be happy to be there. I just want to help."
Quintana had microsurgery on July 2 to repair a lacerated left thumb, an injury that happened in a kitchen accident just before the start of summer training. He said his last two rehab sessions in South Bend were designed with a bullpen stint in mind. He worked a low number of pitches with runners on base, he said.
"I'm going to try to give him a clean inning to start with," Ross said. "I'm not going to bring him in in the middle of traffic (runners on base), or try not to. The goal is to give him a clean inning and let him get some length, obviously. I also have an obligation to do what's best for the team."
One reason to try Quintana in the bullpen is the Cubs currently have just one left-handed relief pitcher, Kyle Ryan.
Chatwood has been on the injured list with a sore back. His last start was Aug. 6 at Kansas City when he was shredded for 8 runs in less than 3 innings.