One September call-up to watch for each MLB team

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 07: Gavin Lux #10 of the National League Futures Team throws during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game on July 7, 2019 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 07: Gavin Lux #10 of the National League Futures Team throws during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game on July 7, 2019 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – JULY 01: Adbert Alzolay #73 of the Chicago Cubs in action against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on July 1, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – JULY 01: Adbert Alzolay #73 of the Chicago Cubs in action against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on July 1, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Adbert Alzolay

The Chicago Cubs find themselves in a heated playoff race for the second consecutive year, but unlike last year, where they were assured of either a division crown or Wild Card, there are no guarantees of a postseason slot. If the Cubs slump in September, they will miss the playoffs. The bullpen remains the biggest question mark for Joe Maddon’s club, and blowing a few late-inning leads could be what keeps them out of the playoffs.

Cubs general manager Theo Epstein has not been afraid to deal away his top prospects to bring back the MLB pieces he feels he needs to build a World Series contender, but that has left the Chicago farm system extremely thin at the upper levels. The Cubs only have two top-100 prospects and both are at least a year away. Right-handed starter Adbert Alzolay is their most MLB-ready prospect and did have a short stint in the big leagues earlier this year.

Alzolay has worked as a starter in the Minor Leagues, but he may be better suited to middle relief in the Major Leagues. The 24-year-old features a power fastball-curveball combo that has allowed him to strike out 12.2 per-nine in Triple-A this year. Alzolay struggled in three games with the Cubs, allowing nine earned runs and four home runs in 11.1 innings but did strike out 12.

If the Cubs are looking for a short-term boost in their bullpen, they should give Alzolay another look in September. It also wouldn’t hurt to expose him to a playoff race if they still consider him a part of their long-term plan. Alzolay needs to develop a better third offering to stick in an MLB rotation but his fastball and curveball could make for a nasty late-inning combination.