Chris

Flexen

Flexen spent 2020 with the Bears and was excellent in posting a 3.01 ERA in 21 starts. That success led to a return to MLB with Seattle, and he went 22-15 with a 3.66 ERA in his first two seasons back. However, he’s mostly struggled since, and though he did have a 3.09 ERA in 43 2/3 innings as a reliever for the Cubs last season, he was released in August and never picked up. Still just 31 years old, Flexen might again resurface in MLB at some point,

Flexen will test the free agent waters after refusing an outright assignment to Triple-A Iowa. The 31-year-old journeyman righty went unclaimed on waiver after being designated for assignment last week. He’s posted a solid 3.09 ERA across 43 2/3 innings (21 appearances, one start) this season in the big leagues.

Chicago has decided to move on from Flexen after three consecutive rocky outings coming out of the All-Star break. The well-traveled 31-year-old righty found some initial success when he was promoted to the majors back in late April, but hit a real rough patch the last few weeks.

The expectation is that Chris Flexen will then follow him as an opener, though that has yet to be confirmed. Expect Braiser to work around an inning in the start, which won’t help much for fantasy purposes.

Flexen, who’d given up just three earned runs over 32 2/3 innings this whole season, matched that total in this start. Two of those three runs came via a Cody Bellinger home run and it felt like Flexen was lucky to only let those three runs in with the constant traffic on base against him and the Yankees’ seven hard-hit balls in total. Hopefully no one trusted the 0.83 ERA he entered this game with enough to trust him in Yankee Stadium.

Flexen had to enter the game in the first after opener Drew Pomeranz loaded the bases with just one out. He immediately gave up a two-run single, but he finished the frame without further the damage. The lone run charged to Flexen came on Nolan Gorman’s homer in the fourth. The Cubs will need a fifth starter once more before the break, probably Thursday against the Twins or Friday in the Yankees. Flexen could start or again work as a bulk guy, but Jordan Wicks is also a candidate to get the nod.

Flexen was given the tough task of coming on with the extra runner on second base to open the 10th inning and he was able to strand him right there, getting Angel Martinez on strikes, Austin Hedges on a foul out to first base and Steven Kwan on a fly ball to left field. He then became the beneficiary when the Cubs walked it off in the home half of the inning. On the season, the 31-year-old hurler sports a minuscule 0.62 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and a 15/8 K/BB ratio over 29 brilliant innings out of the Cubs’ bullpen.

Flexen came on to start the 10th inning and stranded the extra runner at second base, getting Ke’Bryan Hayes on a ground ball to shortstop, Henry Davis on a line drive to right field and Isiah Kiner-Falefa on a liner to second. He then became the beneficiary as the Cubs walked it off in the home half of the frame. The 30-year-old right-hander has been a cheat code out of the Cubs’ bullpen this season, hurling 18 1/3 scoreless innings with a 0.82 WHIP and a 10/5 K/BB ratio to go with four wins and a save through his first 11 appearances.

The 30-year-old hurler has blossomed into a major weapon out of the Cubs’ bullpen this season. He came on to pitch in the top half of the 10th inning and was able to strand the extra runner by retiring all three hitters that he faced in order. He then returned for the 11th where he allowed an RBI ground out to Brenton Doyle but prevented any further damage and then became the beneficiary as the Cubs walked it off in the home half of the frame. On the season, Flexen has yet to allow an earned run through his first 12 1/3 innings while posting a 0.81 WHIP and a 7/3 K/BB ratio while notching three wins and a save.

Counsell also mentioned veteran Chris Flexen as an option to take the ball in place of an injured Shota Imanaga. Horton has looked outstanding this season at Triple-A Iowa, compiling a sparkling microscopic 1.24 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 33/13 K/BB ratio across 29 innings in six starts. The 23-year-old top pitching prospect missed most of last year with a lat injury, but he hasn’t skipped a beat in his return. He would offer some immediate appeal for fantasy managers, which makes him a worthwhile stash candidate in deeper mixed leagues.