Cubs place left-handed reliever Brad Wieck on the 10-day injured list and promote Ryan Tepera from the taxi squad
The shuffling of the Cubs bullpen started Sunday as they placed left-hander Brad Wieck on the 10-day injured list (right hamstring strain) and called up reliever Ryan Tepera from their South Bend taxi squad.
Wieck allowed a two-run home run to Christian Yelich in Saturday’s 8-3 loss to the Brewers. Manager David Ross emphasized that Wieck was healthy prior to the homer, in which he hurt his leg while throwing the pitch.
Wieck’s velocity has dipped to 89 mph since summer camp started. He missed the start of spring training in Arizona because of a procedure to repair an abnormal heart flutter.
Tepera may serve as a valuable member of the Cubs bullpen, as he has limited right and left-handed batters to a .220 batting average.
Tepera, 32, missed some time in summer camp due to delays in COVID-19 testing protocol. He has a lifetime 3.64 ERA in 216 appearances with the Blue Jays (2016-19).
Tepera, who pitched in only 23 games last season because of a right elbow impingement, is available to pitch in Sunday’s series finale against the Brewers.
“I told him, ‘I trust you,' " Ross said. “I trust you and he’s proven, in my opinion. I played in every division, but the American League East is real and so are those ballparks and those lineups. So he’s a guy that’s battle-tested, and I love his attitude.”
For the Cubs today, Nico Hoener will return to second base, and Victor Caratini will handle the designated hitter duties against Freddy Peralta.
Here is the Cubs lineup:
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