Cubs Quick Hits: Mike Montgomery Looked Rested in Start Against Rays

Jen-Ho Tseng made his MLB debut against the Mets last week in part to give Mike Montgomery, who has been starting with injuries to the rotation throughout the year, a breather. Recently, the tall lefty has been throwing slower than his typical average.

Montgomery hasn’t averaged north of 92 mph since August 23, as illustrated below.

But against the Rays Tuesday night, Monty’s fastball sat at 92.4 mph.

Results carried over with the uptick in velocity, too, as the man who recorded the World Series-winning out went into the 6th inning with a no-hitter. He ended up with one of his best starts of the year, striking out six and walking none en route to a 2-1 victory. A rejuvenated Montgomery would be a huge boost to a Cubs bullpen that has had its ups and downs throughout the year.

Most importantly, though, Montgomery being able to slot into a multi-inning role could be a strategy Joe Maddon further employs as the season winds down.

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