Mike Montgomery has filled in admirably during Yu Darvish’s extended absence and has looked even better lately with the help of a new curveball grip. Even so, the Cubs are looking to pull back on the reins a little as the southpaw swingman heads toward career highs in innings and pitches thrown.
That’s why they’ll be skipping Montgomery’s next scheduled start and making him available out of the bullpen this weekend against the Nationals. Part of that has to do with a Washington lineup that includes dangerous lefty hitters Daniel Murphy and Bryce Harper, not to mention teen phenom Juan Soto.