Chicago Cubs: Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner Injured, Head to DL

There’s nothing like waking up in the morning and finding out that a team has lost 40 percent of its starting rotation in one day.

That’s what happened to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday when they announced that both Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner were heading to the disabled list. Wells has a forearm strain, and Cashner has a rotator cuff strain.

Both pitchers made one start on the season. Wells hurled six innings of one-run ball while striking out six against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Cashner pitched 5.1 innings of two-hit and one-run baseball against the same Diamondbacks team.

While both losses are significant, the bigger loss in my mind is Wells. I am a fan, and I think he is highly underrated.

Due to the fact that Wells had a “losing” record with the Cubs last season (8-14), he is overlooked in the Cubs rotation. Most of his peripherals, including xFIP and K/9, were better than the season in which Wells went 12-10.

Wells had a super spring for the Cubs and they are depending on him to be one of their better starters in 2011. His injury doesn’t appear to be too serious, but not having him in the rotation for any period is a minus for the Cubs.

It’s expected that Casey Coleman will replace Wells or Cashner in the rotation. Coleman appeared in 12 games for the Cubs last season and made eight starts. He had a 4.11 ERA over those 12 appearances but had a 3.33 ERA as a starter.

No word as of yet as to who will be the other replacement. Just don’t bet on it being Carlos Silva.

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