With the Chicago Cubs in the midst of a stretch where they play 24 games in 24 days, the team is reconfiguring their bullpen and their pitching rotation to cope with the extra strain.

After calling up Carl Edwards, Jr. to pitch in the bullpen when Dexter Fowler was placed on the disabled list Monday, the Cubs made a slew of moves on Tuesday afternoon. They placed left-handed hurler Clayton Richard on the 15-day disabled list with a blister on his finger, and they also optioned right-handed pitcher Adam Warren to Triple-A Iowa.

With the two roster spots open, the Cubs called up right-handed pitcher Spencer Patton and left-handed pitcher Gerardo Concepcion to the big league roster.

According to Cubs manager Joe Maddon, Warren wasn’t sent down for a performance issue, but rather so that he could be stretched out and make a start for the team as the All-Star break approaches. He'll make two starts with the Iowa Cubs in Des Moines to prepare for his jump into the rotation. 

The Cubs will go with a six-man pitching rotation before the break in mid-July, and Warren could potentially make another start after the break as well if the Cubs are pleased with his performance.