Left-hander Jordan Wicks might be an answer for Cubs' rotation uncertainty

MESA, Ariz. — Cubs Opening Day starter Justin Steele posed a question: ‘‘How many pitchers did the team use last season?’’

If you correctly guessed 26, then take a bow.

Seven pitchers made at least 10 starts for the Cubs during the 2023 season, and 13 pitched at least 30 innings.

The Cubs know the season is one of attrition, particularly for starting pitchers, who are throwing fewer innings. In 2023, major-league starters averaged 5⅓ innings.

‘‘[The Cubs] are going to need all of us at some point,’’ left-hander Drew Smyly said. ‘‘Injuries happen. Different things happen over the course of the season.’’

The Cubs already are dealing with a hole in their rotation, with right-hander Jameson Taillon unlikely to start the season because of tightness in his lower back. A competition was going on for the fifth rotation spot even before Taillon’s injury. The team will need
innings.

But the Cubs now have the depth to handle injuries to their pitching staff, from the versatile Smyly to young pitchers such as left-hander Jordan Wicks and right-hander Hayden Wesneski.

‘‘For me, it’s a step in the process,’’ Wicks told the Sun-Times when asked whether he thinks about making the 26-man Opening Day roster. ‘‘It’s not the end of the road or the end goal. My goal is to help this team win as many games as I can, and if they think that my being on the Opening Day roster will help them win more games, it’d be awesome.’’

Wicks’ locker is two down from right-hander Kyle Hendricks’. Hendricks said he has admired Wicks’ work to improve his craft.

‘‘It starts with his mindset and work ethic; he’s one of the hardest workers we have,’’ Hendricks told the Sun-Times. ‘‘I’m trying to emulate the aggressiveness and confidence in attacking hitters.’’

Hendricks said Wicks’ changeup — arguably his best pitch — is already one of the best in the game.

Wicks has the mindset and meticulous approach to improve. He credits his short time in the big leagues last season — 34 2/3 innings with 24 strikeouts and a 4.41 ERA — with exposing him to what it takes to succeed at the big-league level.

‘‘Not being so one-dimensional as a pitcher,’’ Wicks said, describing what he had learned from last season. ‘‘You have to have other options to keep them off-balance. For me, a big thing going into the offseason was developing those other weapons to where we can counter.’’

Wicks has a 1.46 ERA in 12⅓ innings this spring, putting his name in the competition for the No. 5 spot in the rotation. Manager Craig Counsell has lauded Wicks’ professionalism and competitiveness.

Beyond that, Wicks said he has enjoyed getting to see how Taillon and Hendricks operate, which is beneficial because Counsell largely lets guys be accountable for their own routines.

As Wicks navigates his first big-league spring training, he still is learning what he can and can’t get away with at the major-league level. But the veterans have given him some advice.

‘‘They told me: ‘Believe in yourself. You don’t have to do anything outside of what you can do. You’re here for a reason. Be who you are,’ ’’ Wicks said.

Regardless of whether Wicks makes the Opening Day roster, those who know him say he is on an upward trajectory.

‘‘His career is going to be long and fun to watch,’’ Hendricks said. ‘‘I’m just glad I get to be a small part of this beginning and see where it takes him.’’