CHICAGO _ The Cubs added Joe Smith to their bullpen minutes before Monday's trade deadline, but the biggest form of relief came from starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks.
Hendricks pitched a seven-hit, 123-pitch shutout in a 5-0 victory over the Marlins, his first complete game since May 21, 2015, in San Diego. The timing couldn't have been more perfect as he preserved a taxed bullpen a night after a 12-inning win over the Mariners.
It wasn't the first time this season Hendricks helped out the bullpen. He threw 6 2/3 innings and 117 pitches on June 29, one day after Cubs relievers threw 7 1/3 innings in a 15-inning win over the Reds.
Hendricks' performance Monday night _ along with exceptional defensive plays by shortstop Addison Russell, right fielder Jason Heyward, second baseman Javier Baez, left fielder Matt Szczur and catcher Willson Contreras _ overshadowed the fact the Cubs failed to land a young starting pitcher by the deadline.
But they have the entire winter to assess their options, while Smith, 32, provides a different look in a bullpen full of power arms. The Cubs acquired him from the Angels for minor-league pitcher Jesus Castillo.
"I love funk," manager Joe Maddon said, referring to Smith's unconventional sidearm delivery. "Funk in the bullpen is always a good thing. No hitter likes to see funk out of the bullpen."
Smith was 1-4 with a 3.82 ERA in 38 appearances for the Angels and has a 2.94 ERA in 623 career appearances with the Mets, Indians and Angels.
Maddon received encouraging reports from Angels manager Mike Scioscia and longtime friend Marcel Lachemann, now in the Angels front office.
"It's great to have hard-throwing guys with great breaking balls," general manager Jed Hoyer said, "but it's nice to have a different look to your bullpen, add a different guy that can get a big double play in the right spot. It was a look and ability we didn't have at the right time."
Maddon said he has the flexibility to use Smith in situations when the Cubs might need a double-play grounder or to start an inning against a succession of right-handed batters who won't be lifted for pinch hitters.
Joe Nathan, part of an effective Twins bullpen in 2006-07 that included Pat Neshek, knows the value of a sidearm reliever.
"I think everyone is in agreement we're pretty deep as it is," Nathan said. "Throwing (Smith) in there gives us another look, not just his face, but the way he throws the ball too. You look up and down this pen, there are a lot of different ways guys can get people out and give different looks.
"It gives Joe and the staff a lot of (options) to pick their poison, based on who does well against certain hitters. You know as well as anyone how important that is when you get into late September and into October, and how important they love to match up in big situations.
"The more looks we have, the better."
