PHOENIX – The Cubs made a series of roster moves to shore up their pitching depth Wednesday after playing back-to-back games that went into extra innings.
The team announced they optioned relievers Daniel Palencia and Luke Little. They recalled right-hander Hayden Wesneski and selected Colten Brewer’s contract from Triple-A Iowa. To make room on the 40-man roster for Brewer, the Cubs transferred reliever Julian Merryweather (rib stress fracture) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day.
“We just need innings for the game today,” manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday before the Cubs’ 5-3 win against the Diamondbacks. “Both teams, you saw, are making moves. So, we have to have able pitchers today, and really just through the weekend here.”
The Cubs are also expected to activate right-handed starter Jameson Taillon (strained back) from the 15-day IL on Thursday and make a corresponding move.
Closer Adbert Alzolay, setup man Héctor Neris, high-leverage reliever Mark Leiter Jr. and middle-inning reliever Yency Almonte have all pitched in three of the Cubs’ last four games. Multi-inning reliever Keegan Thompson threw 29 pitches in two high-stress innings Monday. Veteran lefty Drew Smyly’s brief appearance Tuesday was his second outing in as many nights.
So, it was important for the Cubs to bring up a couple pitchers who could give much of the rest of the bullpen a bit of a break.
“For these guys and Triple-A, and when you come up, you’ve got to be ready to do whatever,” Counsell said. “We’ve asked Ben Brown to do that. It’s the same thing we’re going to ask Hayden to do. It’s really get outs; it’s not labeled myself a starter or reliever.”
Late into spring training, Wesneski was competing for an Opening Day roster spot, first as a starter and then as a reliever. He went to Triple-A to get stretched out to a starter’s workload. He has amassed a 2.53 ERA over three outings, most recently throwing 4 ⅓ scoreless innings out of the bullpen last Friday.
On Wednesday, running on little sleep thanks to an early morning flight, Wesneski held the Diamondbacks to one hit in four innings of relief.
“I thought it was probably our best pitching performance of the year considering everything,” Counsell said, “… Just the combination of the pitches and the intensity and the travel and the lack of sleep — but he delivered a performance that we needed.”
Brewer joined the organization this offseason on a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training. The 31-year-old has a little over two years of major-league service time spread across three organizations – Padres, Red Sox and Yankees – and five seasons.
“We signed Colten with major-league experience and good stuff, really, and impressed with his stuff.” Counsell said. “And he’s continued to pitch well in Iowa. I think he made a really good impression in spring training. So he was, leaving camp, for the non-roster players, definitely was somebody that we knew at some point would get here.”
Mastrobuoni in left
Giving left fielder Ian Happ a half-day of sorts, Counsell put him at designated hitter Wednesday and started utility player Miles Mastrobuoni in left field.
It was Mastrobuoni’s first regular season game in the outfield since last May.
“Nothing’s changed,” Mastrobuoni told the Sun-Times of his preparation for Wednesday’s game. “I’ve been out there taking reads out in the outfield pretty much every day during BP.”
Injury update
Cubs prospect Kohl Franklin (right elbow injury) saw orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister Tuesday, according to the team. They’re continuing to evaluate next steps.
Franklin left his Triple-A debut last Saturday in the third inning. Immediately clutching his arm after throwing a pitch.