Cubs demote Adam after rough outing, Wick slowed in recovery

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The Cubs made a flurry of moves related to their bullpen ahead of Monday's game against Atlanta.

One day after a rough outing vs. the Brewers, the club optioned right-hander Jason Adam to the South Bend alternate site. Trevor Megill, whom the Cubs selected from South Bend, is joining the bullpen.

To make room for Megill on the 40-man roster, the Cubs transferred right-hander Rowan Wick to the 60-day injured list.

The Cubs also placed catcher Austin Romine on the 10-day IL with a left wrist sprain, recalling Tony Wolters from South Bend.

The club transferred Jonathan Holder to the 60-day IL (right shoulder sprain) to make room for Wolters on the 40-man roster.

Adam, 29, started off the season by allowing just two earned runs in his first seven appearances, allowing four hits and four walks in 6 2/3 innings. But he allowed five earned runs without getting an out on Sunday vs. the Brewers.

Adam surrendered three hits, two walks and a hit by pitch as Milwaukee broke the score open en route to a 6-0 win.

Megill, 27, hasn't made his big-league debut yet. The Cubs added him in the 2019 Rule 5 draft and he spent the 2020 season at the South Bend alt-site.

Cubs manager David Ross said Monday Megill has been pitching well in South Bend. The 6-foot-8 right-hander features upper-90s fastball velocity and a good curveball.

"His name jumped out when we were talking about some guys to bring up," Ross said. "He was the first name that kind of popped up and because of how well he's been throwing."

Wick, 28, has been slowed by an oblique injury sustained last September. It lingered into spring training as the Cubs were trying to pinpoint the area bothering the right-hander. He began a throwing program during camp but didn't appear in any games.

The Cubs placed Wick on the 10-day IL on Opening Day and Ross said he recently experienced soreness in the oblique area between bullpen sessions. The Cubs are exercising caution in Wick's recovery.

"We just slowed it down a little bit," Ross said. "It just makes more sense to to slow him down and with the procedural moves that we needed to make, it's kind of something that we needed to do."

Romine is 1-for-9 in six games this season. He made his season debut April 14 after being slowed in camp by a right knee sprain.

Wolters backed up Willson Contreras in Romine's place to begin the season before being designated for assignment on April 14. He cleared waivers and was reassigned to South Bend on April 17.

Holder last pitched on March 17, during spring training. He hit the 10-day IL on Opening Day.

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