Chicago Cubs pitcher Travis Wood is using the end of the 2012 season to make a case for his inclusion in the 2013 starting rotation. Wood is 6-11 with a 4.23 ERA on the season, but he has come on as of late allowing just one run over his last two starts.
Wood has been streaky all season, but ending the season on a good streak could earn him a spot in the Cubs long-term plans. Wood started the season slow, getting out to an 0-3 start with a 4.58 ERA before going on a four game winning streak and lowering that ERA to 3.05. But the Cubs lost his next 10 starts in which he went 0-8 and his ERA went back up to 4.64 before his current winning streak. However, despite the Cubs struggles behind Wood the pitcher has been strong for over a month, posting a 3.20 ERA since Aug. 1.
The Cubs will likely head into 2013 with Jeff Samardzija and Matt Garza at the top of the rotation, but things are pretty open below that. Wood likely has four more starts this season to earn his spot in that 2013 rotation to open the season.
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