It's entirely possible that the next time we see Adbert Alzolay pitch in a Cubs uniform is a mirror image of his debut: Piggybacking Tyler Chatwood as the long relief option out of the bullpen.
Except this time, Alzolay probably won't receive a standing ovation and tip his cap to cheering Cubs fans (but considering the Cubs are about to play a four-game series in Milwaukee this weekend, that's actually possible).
The Cubs called the 24-year-old rookie back up to the big leagues Monday and they plan to utilize him mostly as a long relief option. But he could be in the mix to make a spot start if Yu Darvish needs more time to heal from his forearm issue and can't take his scheduled start Saturday.
It's probably more likely Tyler Chatwood would get the ball to start that game if the Cubs need it after starting on short notice Sunday at Wrigley Field and impressing his manager. However, Chatwood still isn't stretched out, having spent almost the entire season working out of the bullpen, so a long reliever like Alzolay might be needed.
The Cubs won't want to push Alzolay too hard this month after he pitched just 39.2 innings a season ago while dealing with injury and is already at 80.2 innings total this year (between Triple-A and MLB).
After being sent back down to Triple-A in early July, Alzolay dealt with some biceps tendinitis, forcing him out for a couple weeks. When he returned, the Cubs kept him as a starter, but he never pitched more than 4.2 innings at a time, even when he had a no-hitter going his last time out (Aug. 28).
He said he is feeling no ill effects from the biceps injury and struck out 31 batters in his final 21.2 innings in Iowa with a 3.32 ERA.
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"I'm feeling back to normal — 100 percent," Alzolay said. "Just a little biceps things going on [earlier], but other than that, everything has been good. I'm feeling perfect. Back to normal, executing my pitches."
After a much-hyped debut, Alzolay said he wasn't upset at all when he was demoted back to Iowa and understood the team's reasoning. He also was grateful for the learning experience he had while in the big leagues — which included a really rough start in Pittsburgh (7 ER in 2.2 innings) — and feels a lot more comfortable this time around in the MLB clubhouse.
He's ready to help the team however they need him. The Cubs bullpen looks to have plenty of options down the stretch, but Alzolay's stuff (including a mid-90s fastball) could play in short bursts as well as longer outings.
"He'll do anything, We're not looking for him to start right now, obviously," said Maddon, who remains hopeful Darvish won't need to miss another start. "When you utilize him out of the 'pen, probably would be in a longer role. Probably, but I wouldn't run away from it otherwise if it's necessary.
"If he pitches, you'd have to give him the proper amount of time to reboot and then move it from there. That would be it. He would be primarily long, but game late, if other guys have been utilized, would not run away from him."