The Cubs announced they’ve placed right-hander Ryan Tepera on the 10-day injured list with a left calf strain and optioned right-hander Trevor Megill to Triple-A Iowa. Righty Tommy Nance was recalled from Iowa, while southpaw Adam Morgan was selected to the big league roster. To create 40-man roster space for Morgan, infielder Matt Duffy was transferred from the 10-day to the 60-day injured list.
Tepera has been quite productive this season. Through 37 2/3 innings, the righty has worked to a 3.35 ERA/3.28 SIERA. He’s punched out a strong 28.3% of opposing hitters- his second consecutive season missing plenty of bats- against a solid 8.3% walk percentage. Tepera has been a key piece of a Cubs bullpen that has surprisingly been one of the game’s best. Chicago relievers have a 2.95 ERA that trails only the Padres’ 2.85 mark, and they’re also near the top of the league in strikeout rate (29%), strikeout/walk rate differential (17 percentage points) and SIERA (3.67).
Morgan will try to emulate that work in his first taste of big league action this year. The 31-year-old pitched in the majors each season between 2015-20 with the Phillies, and he’ll now get an opportunity for a seventh straight campaign. While Morgan was generally underwhelming early in his career as a starting pitcher, he proved fairly effective upon a move to the bullpen. He has a 4.07 ERA/4.22 FIP with decent strikeout and walk numbers (25.5% and 9.1%, respectively) in 150 1/3 career innings as a reliever.
Unfortunately, Morgan was forced to undergo flexor tendon surgery last October. The Phillies outrighted him and he signed a minor league deal with the Cubs in January. He’s been fantastic over 16 1/3 innings with Iowa, working to a 2.20 ERA with a 32.3% strikeout rate and a 4.6% walk percentage.
Duffy went on the IL with a low back strain on May 23. Today’s transfer rules him out for sixty days from the date of his original IL placement, so he won’t return until at least July 22. The 30-year-old infielder has hit a solid .278/.377/.356 through 106 plate appearances this season.
Tepera on the IL with a bruised ego after last night.
coolstorybro
Left calf strain? More like needs a reset. He’s been a rock, probably just used too much as of late.
Bummer about Duffy though. Was hoping he’d be back long before that.
Seriously why are they not bringing up Marquez? They need a starter. He’s one of their best prospects. I think he’s 1 or 2. Feel like it’s an upper management call the Ricketts don’t want him called up. If that’s true they need to sell the team they don’t deserve to be the ownes.
He took a beating in that debut in September. I don’t think he’s even joined a Double A affiliate yet, still working out at the spring training complex. I think he got Covid in ST that set him back.
I heard about the covid issue. To be fair as much as I hate to admit it. Debuting vs the white sox is no easy task.
I’m just saying. If the cubs are sellers. And they trade the big 3. Contreras should be untouchable. If they trade Joc Pederson they don’t have a lot of OF options. They might as well call up some prospects. Specifically Brennan Davis. His ETA is 2022. No harm with an early call up.
Brennan is getting his first taste of AA ball this season, and seems to still be adjusting to that level. He’s not ready just as Marquez isn’t ready. They’ll be good when they get here but be patient.
Brennen Davis will play in Triple-A before MLB.
What would Ricketts have to do with a player getting called up from the minors? If Cubs thought he was ready, he would be up. Apparently, he’s not ready.
Brailyn Marquez has pitched in 0 games this season.
Tepera was not right in his last two appearances. Apparently dealing with the injury. Morgan might be a find. Was dealing in Iowa. Chafin and Kimbrel lights out so far this season. Not enough offense fading badly. Duffy and Horner are contact hitters and badly missed.
Watched Adam Morgan for years with the Phils one good game 10 bad ones.Balls will be flying out of Wrigley.He STINKS you heard it here first.
Don’t worry, they have Sogard, who has been one their most effective pitchers of late. Interesting that Chicago’s best bullpen pitcher sat idle (Kimbrel) while the Cubs fall 6 games back. They let Sogard pitch twice as the division slips away and they never use Kimbrel. Interesting.