Bryant, Rizzo get some rest a day before deadline
Both Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo were out of the Cubs' starting lineup Thursday afternoon against Cincinnati.
The MLB trade deadline is looming at 3 p.m. Friday, so it's possible their Cubs careers will end, but manager David Ross had an explanation for the moves.
"I had this one earmarked for Riz for a while," Ross said. "This will be his first off day after the All-Star break. I think that just was normal. Then looking at the length of the game last night, KB all over the place and the issues he's had with his legs, it just made some sense to me with Javy coming back.
"I was going to give KB a day yesterday, was kind of on my radar. Then he hit the home run and said he felt good, so I put him back in there. After last night, I just don't want to push it."
Early in Thursday's game, the Cubs announced a trade sending reliever Ryan Tepera to the White Sox for left-handed pitcher Bailey Horn. Tepera was one of the Cubs' best reliever this season, with a 2.91 ERA in 43 appearances.
Horn was a fifth-round draft pick out of Auburn in 2020. He split time between the White Sox' two Single A teams this season, producing a 5.63 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 38 innings. He made 10 starts and four relief appearances.
Bryant started Wednesday's game in the outfield, then moved to shortstop for the eighth and ninth innings after Nico Hoerner was injured on a swing.
Hoerner was placed on the 10-day injured list before Thursday's game with a right oblique strain and Sergio Alcantara returned from Iowa.
The Cubs also optioned pitcher Cory Abbott to Iowa, placed Dillon Maples on the injured list with a blister, brought up pitchers Trevor Megill and Jake Jewell from Iowa, and transferred Kohl Stewart to the 60-day injured list.
Jewell, a right-hander, has posted good numbers in Iowa, with a 0.96 ERA in July. The 26-year-old Oklahoma native pitched for the Angels in 2018 and '19.
Abbott has been struggling in the majors this year. He has an 8.03 ERA with 5 home runs allowed in 12 innings pitched.
Javy Baez did return to the lineup after three days off with a bruised heel. Patrick Wisdom was at first base, Matt Duffy at third and David Bote at second.
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