Cubs make several roster moves |
MILWAUKEE – The Chicago Cubs today placed right-handed pitchers Jason Adam, Dan Winkler and Brandon Workman on the COVID-19 related injured list. Left-handed pitchers Justin Steele and Brad Wieck have been recalled from the South Bend Alternate Training Site while right-handed pitcher Pedro Strop has been selected as a replacement player from the alternate site.
Steele, Wieck and Strop will be available for tonight’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Steele, 25, spent the majority of 2020 at the South Bend Alternate Site and was recalled by the Cubs, August 2, but did not appear in a game prior to his option back the alternate site, August 5. He owns a 16-23 minor league record with a 3.62 ERA (129 ER/320.2 IP) in 80 outings, all but five as a starter, pitching as high as the Double-A level in 2018 and 2019. Steele, who was selected by the Cubs in the fifth round of the 2014 draft out of George County High School in Lucedale, Miss., has averaged nearly a strikeout an inning in his minor league career with 316 strikeouts in 320.2 innings, along with 131 walks. Wieck, 29, made the 2020 Cubs Opening Day roster but appeared in just one game before being placed on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain that sidelined him for the rest of the season. In 2019, Wieck pitched in a career-high 44 major league games between the Padres and Cubs, going 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA (4 ER/10.0 IP) in 14 games with Chicago. He was acquired by the Cubs at the 2019 trade deadline for pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. and international bonus money. In 50 career major league relief appearances for the Padres (2018-19) and Cubs (2019-20), Wieck is 2-2 with a 5.27 ERA (25 ER/42.2 IP) with 14 walks and 61 strikeouts. Strop, 35, signed a minor league deal with the Cubs in February after pitching for the Reds in 2020. From 2013-19 for Chicago, Strop was 21-24 with 29 saves, a franchise-record 120 holds and a 2.90 ERA (120 ER/373.0 IP) in 411 relief appearances. Last season with the Reds, he appeared in four games and pitched to a 3.86 ERA (1 ER/2.1 IP). All told, Strop is 28-30 with 153 holds, 32 saves and a 3.22 ERA (180 ER/503.2 IP) in 559 career relief appearances with Texas (2009-11), Baltimore (2011-13), the Cubs (2013-19) and Cincinnati. He has averaged 9.8 strikeouts per 9.0 innings, collecting 551 strikeouts in 503.2 frames. Adam, 29, has no record and a 2.45 ERA (1 ER/3.2 IP) in four outings for Chicago thus far, walking two and striking out seven. Winkler, 31, has no record with a 2.25 ERA (1 ER/4.0 IP) in five relief appearances for the Cubs this season, walking four, striking out five and allowing two hits in 18 batters faced. Workman, 32, is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA (2 ER/3.2 IP) in four outings for Chicago, walking two and striking out five.
