The Cubs placed infielder Ildemaro Vargas on the injured list Monday and recalled right-handed pitcher Adbert Alzolay from their South Bend alternate site.
The Cubs claimed Vargas off waivers from the Twins two weeks ago. In that time, he’s started two games at second base and played in late innings in four others. The utility man has two hits in nine at-bats as a Cub, including a home run in the Cubs’ ninth-inning comeback at Milwaukee last week.
Alzolay will be available in Monday’s game at Pittsburgh. With José Quintana scheduled to start Tuesday, after a three-week stint on the injured list, pitching depth becomes more important in the next couple days.
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Cubs manager David Ross said he will give Quintana “a little bit of a leash,” when it comes to pitch count. But a pitcher like Alzolay, who is stretched out to multiple innings, could come in handy out of the bullpen, considering the time constraints on Quintana’s post-injury throwing program.