The Chicago Cubs lost the first game of the three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewer yesterday and head into play today with a 19-14 record. They are second in the National League Central and are two games back from the Brewers for the division lead. Once the Brewers leave town, the Cubs will host the San Diego Padres for a three-game series. Today, before the game, they announced two roster moves.
2B – Miles Mastrobuoni
The Cubs recalled Miles from the Iowa Cubs today ahead of game two with the Brewers. He has played in eight games for the Cubs so far this season without a hit and two runs scored. While in Triple-A, he played in ten games for the Iowa Cubs with ten runs scored, nine hits, five doubles, one home run, four RBIs, five walks, 13 strikeouts, and two steals. He slashed .231/.318/.436 with a .754 OPS with Iowa.
1B – Matt Mervis
The Cubs Optioned Mervis back to Triple-A today, where he will continue to play with the Iowa Cubs. In nine games with the Cubs this season, he scored one run, three hits, one double, three RBIs, one walk, and eight strikeouts. He has slashed .115/.148/.154 and a .302 OPS with the Cubs. He started the year in Iowa, playing in 18 games with eight runs scored, 19 hits, six doubles, five home runs, and 13 RBIs. He started the year slashing .288/.402/.606 with a 1.008 OPS with Iowa.
Wrap Up:
The Cubs faithful are more focused on five blown saves from Alzolay, with the most recent coming yesterday in the eighth inning. The team has played well but is still missing many critical pieces in the lineup and the pitching rotation. They should be getting Justin Steele back sometime during the Padres series, and hopefully, this will be followed by Cody Bellinger’s return soon. The team will look to take game two from the Brewers this afternoon to get back to within one game of the National League Central division lead. I am a little shocked today’s moves did not have anything to do with a bullpen arm, but it looks like Manager Craig Counsell will continue to try and rebuild Alzolay’s confidence from Wrigley rather than Iowa.
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