Cubs bullpen news: Carl Edwards Jr. optioned to Triple-A Iowa; Mike Montgomery headed to 10-day IL

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MILWAUKEE — The Cubs are giving Carl Edwards Jr. a chance to try to right the ship in a lower-pressure environment.

They sent their 27-year-old reliever down to the minor leagues after another tough outing Friday evening in Milwaukee. Edwards had one minor-league option remaining, so he can be sent down freely without needing to be placed on waivers. 
 
It's been a tough week for Edwards, who walked both batters he faced Thursday night against the Braves, including forcing in a run on a wild pitch. It was his third outing of the young season and the second appearance in which he failed to retire even one hitter. Then on Friday, Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia took Edwards deep for a two-run homer to turn a three-run game into a five-run game. 
 
The right-hander has now walked 5 batters and allowed 6 runs in 2019 while recording just 5 outs. 
 
This comes after he struggled down the stretch a year ago, walking 12 guys in 7 September innings before winding up inactive for the Wild-Card game with a forearm injury. 
 
Edwards drew rave reviews all spring for his stuff as he tried out a new delivery that included a toe-tap on the ground while he was going through the windup. After his meltdown in Saturday's game against the Rangers, Major League Baseball ruled his delivery illegal, which forced him to change his mechanics less than one week into the season.
 
The Cubs entered the season with a clear weakness in the bullpen and Edwards was supposed to be one of the top arms in the group, looking to finally put it all together. Instead, things have gone the other way, as Edwards' control issues continue to plague him and the team. 
 
He'll get an opportunity to work on his mechanics and delivery in the minor leagues while the Cubs shake up their bullpen after a disastrous first week, adding right-hander Allen Webster and lefty Kyle Ryan.

In other bullpen news, the Cubs will also put Mike Montgomery on the 10-day IL.

Montgomery hasn't fared much better, carrying a 12.37 FIP over 2.2 innings pitched and 17 batters faced. He's allowed six earned runs on eight hits, with two of those also coming by way of the home run. 

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