Cubs shuffle their pitching deck
Changes are coming to the Cubs' pitching staff.
Travis Wood, who has struggled as a starter, is moving to the bullpen. He got his first look-see there Saturday, working a perfect ninth inning to earn his first career save in a 4-1 victory over the Pirates. When asked if one could assume Wood would make his next scheduled start, manager Joe Maddon replied: "No, you can't assume that."
The Cubs will announce a roster move or moves Sunday, and it's likely they'll activate left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada off the disabled list. Wada, who had a mild left-groin strain, has completed a rehab assignment at Class AAA Iowa, where he went 1-3 with a 2.86 ERA in 6 starts. Last year, he came up and went 4-4 with a 3.25 ERA in 13 starts.
Wood is 2-2 with a 5.45 ERA. Saturday's relief appearance was the fifth of his career. He made 4 with the Reds in 2011.
The Cubs added a 14th pitcher to the roster Saturday when they recalled right-handed reliever Brian Schlitter from Class AAA Iowa. To make room, they optioned outfielder Matt Szczur to Iowa.
Szczur had the game-winning RBI on a bloop single in Friday's 11-10, 12-inning victory.
"That happens sometimes," said Maddon. "Szczur was wonderful. He understood it. Of course, he didn't like it. But he understood it, and that's just the way it has to be. We had to pick up the pen, and there are just no other options.
"We had to do this just for today. And then we'll figure out tomorrow."
Schlitter may go right back to Iowa, and the Cubs may make another move. Currently their bullpen contains four lefties: Wood, Zac Rosscup, James Russell and Phil Coke. Until retiring the only batter he faced Saturday, Coke had not worked since May 9, and there has been speculation he could be let go.
Minor matters:
Northwestern product Eric Jokisch got the win Friday night for Class AAA Iowa, tossing 6 innings and giving up 1 earned run in a 6-5 victory over Nashville. Jokisch is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA.
Javier Baez was 3-for-4 with 2 stolen bases. He had a six-game hitting streak entering Saturday and hiked his average to .311 for the season.
Kyle Schwarber hit his seventh homer of the year for Class AA Tennessee in a 9-4 victory over Montgomery. Schwarber, last year's top draft pick of the Cubs, was 3-for-4 and raised his average to .333). Dan Vogelbach (. 360) was 2-for-3 with 2 doubles.
Duane Underwood improved to 4-0 with a 1.09 ERA for Class A Myrtle Beach in a 7-3 victory over Carolina. Underwood, who pitched last year for the Kane County Cougars, worked 5 innings, giving up 4 hits.
This and that:
The Cubs are 6 games over .500 for the first time since Oct. 3, 2009, when they were 83-77. They have won six in a row for the first time since July 31-Aug. 6, 2011 ... Jon Lester became the 22nd active pitcher to reach the 1,500-strikeout mark ... Anthony Rizzo has hit safely in nine straight games ... Kris Bryant has reached base in 7 of his last 11 plate appearances.