Cubs right-hander Adbert Alzolay did all the right things to impress teammates and coaches in his big-league debut.
His prize is another outing, albeit against a first-place team. He will make his first career start Tuesday against the Braves.
Alzolay, 24, limited the Mets to one run in four-plus innings in his debut. He allowed one hit, walked two and fanned five during a 55-pitch performance.
“He came through the first one very well,” manager Joe Maddon said. “We know he’s stretched out. We know he can do it.”
Maddon set the rotation for the four-game series against the Braves with Jon Lester on Monday, Alzolay on Tuesday, Yu Darvish on Wednesday and Tyler Chatwood on Thursday.
By including Alzolay and Chatwood in the rotation, the Cubs essentially are implementing a sixth starter for the week.
“We’ve been talking about giving starters intermittent rest, and when you have guys like [Alzolay] and Chatwood that permit that to occur, then you can do something with it,” Maddon said.
Pitchers are not the only ones receiving an extra day of rest as the season approaches its halfway mark. Anthony Rizzo didn’t start Saturday, and Maddon said Javy Baez is “on the horizon” to take a one-day break soon.
Getting better
Alzolay again will take the rotation spot of Kyle Hendricks, who is on the injured list because of shoulder inflammation.
Hendricks has not pitched since June 14 against the Dodgers. He has the most victories (seven) and second-best ERA (3.36) among Cubs starters this season.
“Kyle’s doing extremely well,” Maddon said. “We don’t have a finish line attached, but [trainer PJ Mainville] has been instilling his virtues. . . . At this point, Kyle really sounds like he’s getting in good shape.”
Patient approach
Craig Kimbrel is on track to join the Cubs soon, although not for at least the next several days.
The Cubs want to see how the recent free-agent acquisition handles pitching on back-to-back days at Class AAA Iowa. He pitched a scoreless inning (19 pitches) Friday and threw two-thirds of an inning (14 pitches; he allowed a homer and a walk) as Iowa’s starter Saturday.
“After this one, going forward in a couple of days, we’ll see how he feels,” Maddon said. “That will be very indicative of what we can and cannot do and when. I like the process we’re going through with him to not be so expedient. I think it’s going to benefit us in the long run — and him.”
Rock critic
Maddon arrived at the ballpark still glowing about the Rolling Stones’ concert that he attended the previous night.
He sat about 25 yards back of the stage at Soldier Field. Maddon described front man Mick Jagger as inspirational and grinned at hearing one of his favorites, ‘‘Gimme Shelter,’’ toward the end of the set.
“You see what he’s doing at 75, and it’s like, give me a break,” Maddon said. “He never sat still from the beginning. ...
“He’s got to say to himself at some point, looking at all this, ‘I wrote this stuff back in 1967, and it’s still pertinent today?’ Every age group was represented. It was pretty special. It was outstanding.”
