Cubs roster moves: Russell activated, Strop on DL, Zobrist on leave, more |
CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today activated left-handed pitcher Mike Montgomery off of the 10-day injured list and recalled infielder Addison Russell from Triple-A Iowa. Right-handed pitcher Pedro Strop has been placed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to May 7) with a left hamstring strain and infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist has been granted a leave of absence due to personal reasons (placed on the restricted list).
Both Montgomery and Russell will be available for the Cubs tonight when they continue their four-game series against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field. Montgomery, 29, was placed on the injured list on April 6 with a mild left lat strain after allowing five earned runs in 2.2 innings pitched (16.88 ERA) in four relief outings with the Cubs to start the season. He made four rehab starts across three minor league levels as part of his return, going 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA (6 ER/16.0 IP). Montgomery most recently pitched for Iowa on Friday at Omaha, allowing one run in six innings (76 pitches) to earn the win. He is 20-25 with three saves and a 3.68 ERA (183 ER/447.1 IP) in 151 appearances (56 starts) covering five big league campaigns. Russell, 25, has batted .222 (10-for-45) with two doubles, three home runs and 13 RBI in 12 games for Iowa this season. Thanks in part to drawing eight walks, he has posted a .357 on-base percentage to go along with a .467 slugging percentage, good for an .824 OPS. Russell played in six games as part of a rehab assignment with Iowa from April 24-29 before being optioned to Triple-A on May 2 at the conclusion of his 40-game suspension. Russell is a career .242 batter (429-for-1,772) with 51 home runs and 230 RBI in 533 games with the Cubs covering four major league seasons. Strop, 33, is 1-2 with four saves and a 5.06 ERA (6 ER/10.2 IP) in 12 relief outings with the Cubs this season. Zobrist, 37, is batting .241 (20-for-83) with one double and 10 RBI in 26 games with the Cubs this season.
