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Cubs send Mervis down to Iowa, recall Mastrobuoni

The Cubs brought back infielder Miles Mastrobuoni and sent Matt Mervis to Triple A Iowa before Saturday's game.

Mervis got eight starts at designated hitter but hit just .115. Last year when he made his major-league debut, Mervis hit .167 in 27 games.

The Cubs have been struggling offensively this week and decided to try some different players at DH. Patrick Wisdom got the nod on Saturday and hit his first home run of the season in the sixth inning.

“We're certainly at a place where we're looking for offense, there's no question about it,” manager Craig Counsell said. “In the end we're looking for production and we just didn't get it.

“It's unfortunate. Matt's produced at a high level in the minor leagues, a very high level. He just went through a stretch where it didn't play here. We've just got to go back to the drawing board with him a little bit.”

Matt Mervis takes the field Friday at Wrigley. Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs

Mervis hit .288 with 5 home runs in Iowa earlier this season. Mastrobuoni hit .231 in 10 games at Triple A after starting the season with the Cubs.

One step closer:

Manager Craig Counsell believes it's possible injured Cubs outfielders Cody Bellinger (rib fracture) and Seiya Suzuki (oblique strain) will return to the field by next week.

Both players went through baseball activities Saturday. Depending on how they progress, Counsell thinks Suzuki could be ready for a short rehab assignment, while Bellinger might not need one.

“They're both largely in the same spot,” Counsell said. “Belli may be a little bit ahead of Seiya. Seiya's got some baserunning days ahead of him because it happened on the bases and it happened running.”

Cubs bear down:

Bears first-round draft pick Caleb Williams attended Saturday's game at Wrigley Field. He sat in a suite between new teammates Keenan Allen and Cole Kmet.

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