Chicago Cubs Throwing Another Dart at the Wall, Adding More Pitching Help

Josh Fleming is a 30-year-old left-handed pitcher who thrives on generating ground balls, posting a 58.5% ground-ball rate over his MLB career. The Cubs signed him to a minor league contract because their pitching staff has been decimated by injuries, creating openings for veteran arms like Fleming.

Fleming posted a 3.08 ERA in 64.1 innings at Triple-A in the Toronto Blue Jays' system, with an impressive 51/11 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 13 appearances. He made 12 starts this season and threw at least 3.2 innings in each of his 13 games.

Fleming exercised an opt-out clause in his deal with the Blue Jays and was seeking a better opportunity to reach the majors in 2026. The Cubs' rash of pitching injuries made them an attractive destination.

Fleming carries a 4.86 ERA over 81 MLB games and 257.2 innings, with a very low career strikeout rate of just 14.4%. He is prone to getting hit, which the Cubs are hoping his elite ground-ball ability can help offset.

Fleming faces stiff competition at Triple-A Iowa, including 40-man roster members Antoine Kelly, Jayden Murray, and Jake Woodford, as well as veterans Liam Hendriks and Aaron Bummer. Other arms like Eduarniel Nunez, Luis Peralta, Collin Snider, Corbin Martin, and Andrew Wantz are also in the mix.