The Cubs enter a two-game series at Cleveland with a shorthanded outfield. The club announced Tuesday it had placed center fielder Jake Marisnick on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain. Cubs manager David Ross described the injury as "mild to moderate."
Marisnick left the Cubs’ 6-5 loss Sunday to the Pirates in the first inning. Chasing down a fly ball in the gap, Marisnick fell. He’d been managing hamstring tightness for a couple weeks, Marisnick said.
"It's just, for me, taking things slow, make sure it's 100 percent," Marisnick said. "I don't have a timeline, but I can tell you that I feel better today than I did yesterday."
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In a corresponding move, the Cubs recalled left-handed reliever Brad Wieck from Triple-A Iowa, giving them a short bench for the upcoming series.
"Facing this team," Ross said, "they've struggled a little bit against lefties this year."
As a team, Cleveland entered play Tuesday hitting .194 against southpaws, compared to .221 against right-handers. Wieck's last Triple-A outing was a combined no-hitter. He contributed two hitless innings and five strikeouts.
Playing at an American League park, with a designated hitter, gives the Cubs flexibility in how they use their bench. National League rules create a higher demand for pinch hitters. The Cubs also avoid having to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.
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Still, the Cubs carry just three fulltime outfielders on their active roster. One of those outfielders, Jason Heyward, was dealing with swelling in his right hand in Sunday’s game. He didn’t hit in the ninth inning but was back in the lineup Tuesday.
Third baseman Kris Bryant has also started in the outfield in 17 games this season. The Cubs recalled outfielder Nick Martini from Triple-A last week.
The Cubs could invite back reinforcements as soon as the end of the week. Center fielder Ian Happ (left rib contusion) and infielder Nico Hoerner (left forearm strain) become eligible to return from the IL on Friday, when the Cubs open a three-game series at Detroit. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Cubs had not yet announced a date for their reinstatements.
Hoerner was scheduled to take ground balls and swings Tuesday, according to Ross. Though Happ's recovery has been "slower than anticipated," Ross said, "he's moving in the right direction."