Hendricks to bullpen: 'Chance to work through some stuff'

CHICAGO -- Kyle Hendricks has made one career appearance in relief. That number is about to grow.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that the struggling Hendricks will pitch out of the bullpen this time through the rotation. The right-hander’s turn would have fallen on Thursday for the Cubs’ series finale against the Braves at Wrigley Field.

Counsell said Thursday will be “somewhat of a bullpen game,” and the team will go from there.

“The goal still is to get Kyle on track and get him back in the rotation,” Counsell said. “That's absolutely what I'd like to do.”

Hendricks has made 254 career appearances, 253 as a starter. His lone relief appearance came against the Braves on July 7, 2016.

It’s been a difficult season so far for the 34-year-old, whose 10.57 ERA ranked last among starting pitchers who have thrown at least 30 innings, entering Tuesday. Hendricks has allowed 50 hits and an MLB-leading 36 earned runs in 30 2/3 innings through seven starts.

After posting a 12.00 ERA through his first five starts, Hendricks hit the 15-day injured list with a low back strain on April 23 and missed nearly three weeks. He showed promise in his return, allowing two hits and one run in five innings against the Pirates on May 12.

Pittsburgh tagged him for eight runs (seven earned) and 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings on Friday, and Counsell conceded the Cubs “certainly need better” after that outing.

“From a team standpoint, we're always trying to pinpoint what gives us the best chance to win short term and long term,” Cubs president Jed Hoyer said Tuesday. “With Kyle, I think he's had some success first time through the order, and then after that, it's gotten pretty dicey."

To Hoyer’s point, here is how opponents have fared against Hendricks by time through the order.

First: .254/.302/.424
Second: .377/.397.672
Third: .667/.720/1.222

“I think this gives him a chance to work through some stuff, and there's a chance he continues that trend and has success there,” Hoyer said. “I think there's some signs of success in there. There’s some good things we see, but obviously he hasn’t been able to put it together yet. And he knows that, and obviously, he's the ultimate pro.

“He understands why we're doing it.”

Hendricks has experienced some bad luck this season; opponents have a .385 BABIP against him. But he also is a precision-based pitcher who leans on his pinpoint accuracy in and around the strike zone.

After Friday’s start, Hendricks pointed to two pitches in particular that the Pirates made him pay for. Jared Triolo hit a two-run homer and Nick Gonzales doubled on changeups left up in the zone.

As important as execution is for a pitcher of Hendricks’ ilk, Hoyer expressed hope working in relief could benefit his mindset.

“Guys realize, ‘I can take the same attacking mentality into the rotation,’” Hoyer said. “It puts guys in a different mindset right away, and sometimes that change in mindset can help.”

At his best, Hendricks is a key member of the Cubs’ pitching staff as a veteran who throws quality innings. His presence in the rotation gives the team additional flexibility with how it can deploy other hurlers on the staff.

For now, he’s looking to get right and contribute in a different capacity.

“He wants to do what he can to help the team,” Counsell said. “That never wavers for Kyle. He's willing, and he doesn't have to be happy with it. But I think he still knows that he's going to do whatever he can to help the Cubs win games.”