MILWAUKEE — The Chicago Cubs signed veteran infielder Justin Turner in the offseason to fill a key bench spot and split time at first base.
Most of his at-bats were expected to come against left-handers, especially on days Turner plays first base to give Michael Busch a break from left-on-left matchups. But with how well the Cubs lineup has collectively been hitting, Turner’s opportunities have been limited lately.
The 40-year-old has started only twice since April 15 and logged 14 plate appearances in six games during that span, going 2-for-12 with one walk and five strikeouts. He was not in the starting lineup Friday for the series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers.
“Look, we have an offense that’s playing really well, we have not faced a lot of left-handed pitching, and so it’s just the nature of the schedule and it’s the nature of a team,” manager Craig Counsell said Friday.
Counsell also noted how Busch has been playing at a high level — he entered Friday with a .282/.373/.515 slash line and 150 OPS+ — and there aren’t really candidates in the lineup for whom to pinch hit regularly.
“It’s just the nature of how it’s unfolded so far,” Counsell said. “If a player’s trying to get on track, it’s tough with less at-bats. I acknowledge that, but that’s how it’s going to have to happen, unfortunately.”
Amid the limited chances, Turner has gotten off to a slow start with his new club. He is 7-for-44 (.159) with no extra-base hits.
“He had a rough month of May last year where it was very similar,” Counsell said. “But it’s part of this, man, like we’ve got eight guys swinging it well and one guy struggling.”
Pete Crow-Armstrong’s arm playing a role in his all-around defense
Crow-Armstrong’s defensive ability has been a staple of his performance at the big-league level, and as he continues to hone the accuracy on his throws, his arm can add yet another dynamic element to his game.
He nearly added another stellar defensive play to his highlight reel in Wednesday’s road loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, initially throwing out catcher Joey Bart at home from center field on a tag-up attempt. The one-hop throw and tag by catcher Carson Kelly was overturned on replay review.
“The accuracy of the throw was great, and I think it just sends a message, like, he can be really accurate from a long ways away, and that is going to deter baserunners in the future — that’s what’s going to happen with Pete is baserunners are going to start getting deterred,” Counsell said. “You don’t notice that as much sometimes, but it’s going to start to happen. I think his defense has improved, really, in all aspects: the accuracy of the throwing, the knowing when to throw, when you get your glove on the ball, catch it. He’s improved in all aspects.”
Sports Info Solutions on Thursday named Crow-Armstrong its National League defensive player of the month for March/April. Crow-Armstrong recorded 6 Runs Saved, the most by any center fielder, with 5 Runs Saved coming from his range and 1 Run Saved from two outfield assists.
Injured relievers continuing to progress
Right-hander Tyson Miller is continuing his rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa, where he last pitched Tuesday night.
Miller tossed two shutout innings and has yet to allow a run during his rehab stint (6 1/3 innings over five appearances). Counsell said the Cubs are monitoring every outing and then seeing where the team is out. Miller has been sidelined since the start of the season with a left hip impingement that bothered him during the spring.
Right-hander Ryan Brasier (left groin strain), who also has been out since the beginning of the year, threw a bullpen Tuesday and will start facing hitters in live batting practice.
The Cubs are not sure yet how much time right-hander Javier Assad will need to build back up after he was shut down from his last rehab start at Iowa when he reaggravated the left oblique strain he suffered the week before spring training in early February.
