Tepera back from IL; concern for Wieck
The top of the Cubs' bullpen is intact once again as Ryan Tepera was activated from the injured list before Friday's game against St. Louis.
Tepera didn't allow a run from May 7 to June 22, then had a couple of rough outings against Los Angeles and Milwaukee before being placed on the injured list with a calf strain.
Meanwhile, there is concern for left-handed reliever Brad Wieck, who went on the injured list with a irregular heartbeat. Wieck had a procedure done in February 2020 to correct an atrial flutter found during preseason medical testing.
"With his history, everything you're dealing with is extremely serious," manager David Ross told reporters before the game. "The docs (say) the concern is not a great concern, but having to deal with that as a player, and then with your mental state being out there - that coupled with either adrenaline or ... the nerves and anxiety of getting ready for a game and the good stuff you draw from, knowing if that's natural or it's something (else)."
Wieck has been maybe the most underrated Cubs reliever. He sports a 0.00 ERA this season in 17 innings pitched.
The Cubs also brought up left-hander Kyle Ryan from Iowa and sent Cory Abbott back to the minors. Ryan pitched with the Cubs earlier this season and fared well in Iowa, with a 1.59 ERA in 23 innings.
Bryant still out:
Kris Bryant was out of the lineup for the second consecutive day, dealing with right-hamstring tightness. Javy Baez was a late addition after missing a couple of games with a sore right thumb.
With Bryant, Cubs manager David Ross said it's just the normal routine of making sure Bryant is back on the field as soon as possible, not a matter of keeping him healthy for a potential trade.
"His words are more 'achy' than tight," Ross said. "He already feels better every day. I don't think it's any kind of IL thing at this moment. I don't think there's anybody pushing to get MRIs or anything like that."
The Cubs have just two games left before the all-star break, and Bryant was selected to make his fourth All-Star Game appearance on Tuesday in Denver.
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