Contreras activated, Thompson goes on IL

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The Cubs made a pair of roster moves prior to Saturday's game against the Pirates.

Catcher Willson Contreras was activated off the 10-day injured list, while pitcher Keegan Thompson landed on the 10-day IL with right shoulder inflammation.

Contreras has been out the last three weeks with a right knee sprain, after tweaking the knee while doing blocking drills. He played three games with Triple-A Iowa this week on a minor-league rehab assignment, hitting a pair of home runs.

Contreras is hitting .226/.333/.417 with 17 home runs this season.

"He's a big part of our club, obviously," interim manager Andy Green said. "That's a huge presence — both behind the plate and at the plate — and anytime you get one of your absolute best back in the lineup, that's fun for all of us."

RELATED: Contreras on desire for extension: Show me the plan

Thompson is coming off a bad start Thursday against the Pirates in which David Ross went to the bullpen after 1 2/3 innings.

Green said Thompson began experiencing shoulder fatigue following that outing. 

"Nothing that I'm gathering from talking to Rossy and Tommy [Hottovy] and the trainers is in the too serious category," Green said of Thompson, "but it doesn't make sense not to proceed with an abundance of caution right now and make sure that he's good for the long haul."

Green said the Cubs are hopeful Thompson pitches again this season.

"I think that's the anticipation and the hope right now," Green said, "but we're just going to take care of him as much as possible."

Thompson has struggled since joining the rotation in late August. He threw 54 pitches in that start against Pittsburgh. In his start last Friday against the White Sox, he threw 62 pitches in two-plus innings and was charged with five runs.

His velocity and spin rates have noticeably been down from their season averages since he joined the rotation.

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