Cubs option Edwards, place Montgomery on injured list
MILWAUKEE - Both Carl Edwards Jr. and Mike Montgomery pitched during the final inning of the 2016 World Series for the Chicago Cubs.
On Saturday, Edwards found himself optioned to Class AAA Iowa while Montgomery was placed on the 10-day injured list with what the Cubs said was a mild left-lat strain.
It's been a rough start to the season for both pitchers. Edwards was 0-1 with a 32.40 ERA in 4 games. In 1⅔ innings pitched, he gave up 3 hits and 6 earned runs with 5 walks, contributing to a WHIP of 4.80.
Montgomery appeared in 4 games and had a 16.88 and a WHIP of 3.38.
Edwards pitched in Friday night's 13-10 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers and gave up a 2-run homer to the first man he faced, Orlando Arcia.
"We felt like it got to a point where he would really benefit from a bit of a reset," said team president Theo Epstein, who made the trip up to Miller Park. "He hasn't been right. He had a really good spring training, but he hasn't been right since his first appearance, trying to make some mechanical changes.
"I just think it would benefit him fundamentally and then mentally, also, to get a break, get a reset, come up really focused on attacking (hitters) and throwing strikes. He hasn't looked like himself. He had a hard time finding the zone early. They're getting better swings off him than we typically see off CJ when he's himself."
Montgomery reported to spring training in February with a "dead arm" and eased himself into action. He said the current issue is different. He said the lat stiffened up during his last outing, Thursday in Atlanta.
"The next day I went through the routine, and that's when I knew that it probably wasn't serious but I'm going to need a little bit more than the normal recovery," he said.
The IL assignment is retroactive to Friday, and Montgomery voiced optimism that he won't need any more time than 10 days.
Cubs add two, cut one:
The Cubs added two pitchers to take the spots of Carl Edwards Jr. and Mike Montgomery. They recalled left-hander Kyle Ryan from Iowa and selected the contract of Allen Webster from Iowa.
To make room for Webster on the 40-man roster, the Cubs designated pitcher Jen-Ho Tseng for assignment.
Webster pitched in 3 games for the Cubs last year, going 1-0 with a 6.00 ERA. He has 31 games of big-league experience, having also pitched for Boston and Arizona.
Ryan has seen action in parts of four seasons with Detroit, going 8-6 with a 3.87 ERA. He recorded the win in Iowa's season opener Thursday in Nashville. The Cubs signed him to a major-league deal in November after he pitched for Iowa last season.
Tseng pitched in 1 game for the Cubs year and 2 in 2017.