Cubs scratch Chatwood after wife goes into labor; Montgomery to start

Mike Montgomery's time in the Chicago Cubs rotation will go on, thanks to some help from a teammate's family.

The club named Montgomery their starter for Sunday's game in Cincinnati only hours before first pitch as scheduled starter Tyler Chatwood was scratched when his wife went into labor.

After pitching out of the bullpen for his first 18 appearances this season, Montgomery has started each of his last five games, dating back to May 28. As a starter, Montgomery is 2-1 with a 1.21 ERA with 19 strikeouts and seven walks. What's more, the Cubs are 4-1 in the games he has started.

He has also grown increasingly consistent, giving up exactly one run in exactly six innings pitched in each of his last four starts (after pitching a scoreless 5 2/3 innings in his first start). Montgomery seems to be making manager Joe Maddon's decision a little tougher with each outing when it comes to what to do with the rotation once Yu Darvish returns. Darvish has been out since May 23 with inflammation in his right triceps.

Darvish pitched a simulated game Wednesday and reports were he felt fine the next day. He is expected to make one rehab start then join the Cubs if that goes well. When asked earlier in the week what his plans were for the rotation this weekend, Maddon acknowledged the impending birth of Chatwood's child was in his mind.

"We want to make sure everything works out well for the Chatwoods, and then we'll make our decisions," Maddon told the media.

Chatwood, 28, is 3-5 with a 3.95 ERA in 14 starts this season.

--Field Level Media