Cubs put Kimbrel on IL with knee inflammation
The Chicago Cubs placed closer Craig Kimbrel on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Sunday, because of right knee inflammation and called up right-hander Duane Underwood Jr. on Monday.
Kimbrel underwent an MRI exam after feeling discomfort on Saturday, when he pitched a scoreless inning against the Milwaukee Brewers for his ninth save of the season. The veteran right-hander, who signed with Chicago as a free agent on June 7, is 0-2 with a 5.68 ERA in 14 appearances for the Cubs.
He said he would be able to pitch through the discomfort if it were the postseason or further into the playoff run.
"I think when you look at the options of pushing through it or taking time to let it calm down, this made sense," Kimbrel said in the Chicago Sun-Times.
Kimbrel, 31, helped the Boston Red Sox win the World Series last year and has 342 career saves and seven All-Star appearances.
Underwood, 25, made one start last season for the Cubs, allowing one run in four innings. He is 2-6 with a 5.09 ERA in 29 games (10 starts) for Triple-A Iowa this season.
--Field Level Media
