Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel had his season debut pushed back to Saturday due to inclement weather, and it'll be his first time in action since April 1. He spend the long layoff looking to "stay sharp," the Chicago Tribune reports.
“We’re such habitual creatures that it depends on your routine," Hammel said. "So when your routine is messed up, what I try to do is not do too much. If you get a day (off) sometimes, take a day. And then I’ve thrown an extra time in the bullpen and off flat ground just to stay sharp with pitches. Other than that, I just make sure my body feels great or as close to normal as possible."
Hammel threw close to 100 pitches in his bullpen session Wednesday to help simulate a start.
"Other than that, I don't try to do too much," Hammel said. "You make sure you don’t get too rusty or dusty. I’m chomping. I want to get going."
The Cubs are underdogs (-102) in Saturday's game against the Rockies in Colorado, per Vegas Insider.