Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs Designate Carlos Gonzalez for Assignment in Flurry of Roster Moves

Gonzalez batted .175 for the Cubs in 15 games

The Chicago Cubs made a pair of roster moves prior to Saturday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds, placing pitcher Cole Hamels on the 10-day injured list and designating outfielder Carlos Gonzalez for assignment.

Hamels, who suffered an injury during his start Friday night, has been diagnosed with an oblique strain. The hurler has a 6-3 record with a 2.98 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 99.2 innings of work so far this season, and his injury comes at a time when the Cubs are still without right-handed pitcher Kyle Hendricks, who is nursing inflammation in his shoulder.

Fortunately for the Cubs, Hendricks is nearing a return to the rotation, although he might require a rehab start before he does, manager Joe Maddon said Saturday.

The Cubs also said goodbye to Gonzalez on Saturday, as the outfielder could never quite get his bat working at the plate. In 49 plate appearances, Gonzalez had three extra base hits and three runs batted in, but his .175 batting average and lackluster .300 slugging percentage weren’t good enough for a Cubs offense in desperate need of a shake-up.

That shake-up is going to have to wait, as the team replaced Gonzalez and Hamels with a pair of pitchers. Reliever Dillon Maples was recalled by the club from Triple-A Iowa, where he has been pitching better of late. Maples has struck out 39 batters with the club this season, and has held opponents to a .121 batting average. His big bugaboo is walks, as he’s allowed 18 in just 20 innings of work.

The Cubs also brought back Rowan Wick, who was optioned to the minors earlier this week. Wick has a 2.45 ERA in three appearances with the Cubs, and posted a 2.22 ERA in 20 relief appearances in the minor leagues.

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