Several questions the Cubs had about their starting rotation in the final weeks before the All-Star break might have found answers in the matter of a few hours Thursday night during a 7-4 victory over the Mets.
Tyler Chatwood pitched well enough in a four-inning spot start to hand a three-run lead to rookie Adbert Alzolay, making his major-league debut in a piggyback assignment.
Four-plus innings later the Cubs had their best single-game performance by a homegrown pitcher from the current eighth-year regime.
After retiring 12 of the first 13 big-league hitters he faced to cruise into the ninth inning, Alzolay gave up a leadoff homer to Todd Frazier in the ninth, followed by a walk to Wilson Ramos.