Changing roles has been challenge for Cubs pitcher Wesneski

Hayden Wesneski has earned a spot in the Cubs' cache of promising young pitchers.

But after being taken deep twice by Philadelphia's Trea Turner on Tuesday, Wesneski has given up 10 home runs in his last 20 innings pitched.

He's had to shuffle between being a starter and reliever several times in his Cubs career, so should Wesneski be cut some slack as a young pitcher trying to adjust to changing roles?

“I think the difficulty of the bullpen is you generally have to prepare to pitch every day,” manager Craig Counsell said. “You don't get practice like a starter does. A starter gets a bullpen session, he gets multiple times (throwing) off the mound in between starts.

“Then the recovery part of that is very different as well. Starters get a routine, the relievers don't. That's probably the biggest switch. We have asked Wes to do both this year and switch back multiple times. That's challenging.”

Since joining the Cubs, Wesneski has thrown 99 innings as a starter and 74 as a reliever. His bullpen ERA is slightly better at 3.67, compared to 4.29.

After Tuesday's loss, Wesneski suggested he's still trying to perfect his pitch mix and sequencing. He worked with catcher Tomas Nido for the first time.

“I'm not exactly picking the right pitches, and mixing that with putting (some) in the middle of the plate, there's going to be some damage,” Wesneski said. “I leaned on (Nido to call pitches) because he's faced those guys a lot. We're going to iron some stuff out. I want to sit down with him.”

During a season where just about every Cubs pitcher has spent time on the injured list, Counsell appreciates Wesneski's availability.

“His resiliency with his arm health has been great,” Counsell said. “That's one thing that's a real feather in his cap to me is he's strong, he is healthy. He's resilient in that way.”

Bellinger buzz:

Cody Bellinger is still struggling to return to his 2023 form. He did have 2 hits, including a double, and a deep flyout against the Phillies on Tuesday.

“We all had high expectations and I think overall, we still do,” Bellinger said of the Cubs struggles. “Got to keep on fighting. For myself, obviously I want to do more. I feel like I can do way more.

“Probably with most players, if you start chasing the slug, it can go downhill pretty quick. Something I always strive to do is stay within myself.”

Around the horn:

Reliever Yency Almonte (right shoulder strain) has been shut down from throwing once again. According to manager Craig Counsell, Almonte will rest the shoulder and eventually will decide whether or not to opt for surgery. The former Dodger has been out since May 8. “Yency didn't get great news (from doctors),” Counsell said. …

Pitcher Caleb Kilian made his first official mound appearance of 2024 at Class-A South Bend on Tuesday. He was charged with 3 runs in ⅔ of an inning with a pair of strikeouts. The right-hander went on the injured list with a right shoulder strain late in spring training.