The Chicago Cubs yesterday acquired some bullpen help in right-handed pitcher Alex Burnett. This extra arm in the pen should help the Cubs pitching staff tremendously. They may only lose 100 games this MLB season; not 105. Burnett was claimed off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles.
Burnett made a career-high 67 relief appearances for the Minnesota Twins last season, going 4-4 with 10 holds (because holds are a stat we all care very deeply about) and a 3.52 ERA. In his pre Cubs MLB career, Burnett is 8-11 with a 4.73 ERA in 176 major league relief appearances spanning parts of four seasons with the Minnesota Twins (2010-12) and Orioles (2013).
This season, Burnett is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA (2 ER/12.0 IP) in nine minor league relief appearances between Triple-A Buffalo and Triple-A Norfolk. He made two relief appearances for Baltimore this month, totaling 1.1 innings, before he was designated for assignment by the Orioles, May 23. Will the Cubs call him up to the big club?
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net. He’s also an author who also contributes regularly to MSN, Fox Sports , Chicago Now, Walter Football.com and Yardbarker
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