Montgomery will begin the year in the bullpen with the announcement of Brett Anderson as the team's No. 5 starter, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

This isn't much of a surprise, as Anderson has never pitched in relief before, while Montgomery excelled in a relief role last season, including getting the save in Game 7 of the World Series. Montgomery will begin the year in the bullpen, but Anderson's injury history would suggest that Montgomery will get some starts down the road.

Montgomery is likely to begin the year in a long-relief/spot-starter role, with Brett Anderson as the team's fifth starter, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Anderson has never been a reliever, while Montgomery excelled in a relief role last season, including getting the save in Game 7 of the World Series, so that helped make the decision for the Cubs. However, Anderson has a history of missing games due to injury, so Montgomery could find himself in the rotation at some point. Cubs manager Joe Maddon has also said he may take a "hybrid" approach that occasionally uses a sixth starter.

Montgomery struck out five while allowing two runs on two hits over three innings against the Royals on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

His spring ERA now sits at 4.50, while the Cubs continue to pitch Montgomery and Anderson as a tandem, though Carl Edwards Jr. worked the fourth inning before Anderson started the fifth in Sunday's game. The Cubs haven't been particularly clear about their plans to open the year, though the suggestion from manager Joe Maddon has been that Montgomery and Anderson could share the No. 5 starter job. Eddie Butler has been impressive this spring, however, and could be given an opportunity to take over the role if Montgomery and Anderson fall short or succumb to injury.

Manager Joe Maddon said that Montgomery could share the fifth spot in the rotation with Brett Anderson, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The two lefties were reportedly competing for the No. 5 spot this spring, but it could turn out that the competition ends in a tie. Maddon says he's considering the move because neither pitcher has reached the 200-inning plateau in a season yet. Anderson, in particular, missed a majority of last season with wrist and finger injuries, and has been injury plagued throughout his career. This move would limit the fantasy upside of both players.

Montgomery will start the Cubs' first spring training game Saturday against the Athletics, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

He's competing with fellow southpaw Brett Anderson and a few others for the No. 5 rotation gig. He'll have to make the switch back to starting after enjoying bullpen success, but he's worth watching heading into fantasy drafts as a potential sleeper.

Montgomery will pitch in the team's first week of spring training games as he competes for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks and John Lackey aren't expected to pitch until the second week of games, but Montgomery and Brett Anderson are slated to pitch when Cactus League play begins on Saturday. The two lefties are battling for the final spot in the rotation, with the loser of the competition likely ticketed for a long relief role to being the season.

Montgomery will compete for the No. 5 spot in the Cubs' rotation, but he could be a versatile swing man this year, The Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Montgomery came over to the Cubs last July and primarily worked as a reliever, although he did make five starts. He also ended up recording the save in Game 7 of the World Series, although he has his sights set on the rotation in spring training. "I've always been a starter, and I think last year was a situation where the need was in the bullpen, both with Seattle and with the Cubs early on," Montgomery said. He will compete with Brett Anderson for the last spot in the rotation, and the loser of that battle figures to work in long relief.

Montgomery will not make a start the final week of the season as he'll stay in the bullpen, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Montgomery was penciled in to start Thursday. Instead, Rob Zastryzny will start Thursday but the Cubs plan to use several relievers.

Montgomery took a no-decision after allowing three runs on four hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in six innings in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

Montgomery turned in his second quality start of the season but his first since being traded from Seattle on July 20. He's allowed three runs or fewer in all seven of his starts this year, though Thursday was just the second time that he pitched past the fifth inning. The 27-year-old has flashed good stuff out of Chicago's six-man rotation with 24 strikeouts and 18 hits allowed in 24.1 innings, but his command still needs polishing as he's walked 12 batters during that span. He'll look to build off Thursday's outing in a friendly home matchup against the Reds on Wednesday.

Montgomery allowed one run on just two hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings in Wednesday's no-decision against the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

Although he delivered a pretty trim line, it did take Montgomery 87 pitches to finish those five frames, and he was lifted without the excuse of a pinch hitter. Montgomery's now made four starts as a Cub, and he hasn't lasted longer than five innings in any of them. With the NL Central on lock and home-field advantage looking likely, the Cubs are taking it easy on their starters down the stretch by using a six-man rotation, so Montgomery's likely to see more starting opportunities. However, fantasy owners should keep their expectations low.