Cubs put Jason Motte, Jorge Soler on disabled list
CHICAGO -- For the most part, the Chicago Cubs have experienced good health this season, but they were dealt a double blow on Monday when right-hander Jason Motte (right shoulder strain) and outfielder Jorge Soler (left oblique strain) were placed on the 15-day disabled list.
Both were expected to fill key roles down the stretch as the Cubs try to secure their first playoff spot since 2008.
"It's one of those things that happens, everybody faces," manager Joe Maddon said. "There are different dilemmas this time of year and you just have to play through it."
The Cubs recalled left-hander Zac Rosscup and infielder Tommy La Stella from Triple-A Iowa to fill the roster spots. La Stella started Monday's makeup game against the Cleveland Indians at Wrigley Field, batting sixth and playing second base. Rosscup was available out of the bullpen.
With the loss of Soler, Maddon shuffled the set lineup he had been using for the last couple of weeks. Chris Coghlan, who had been playing second base, moved to right field. La Stella will play second base against right-handers, and Starlin Castro will continue to start at second against left-handers.
Castro was in the starting lineup at shortstop Monday because Addison Russell left the team when his girlfriend went into labor. The Cubs were unsure whether Russell would return during the game.
"[Tuesday] for sure," Maddon said. "I've been looking to get the guy time off. This little rest might be good."
La Stella, 26, was on the Opening Day roster, but went on the DL after just two games because of a right oblique strain that he re-injured in May during rehab. When he finally was activated on Aug. 11, he was optioned to Iowa.
Maddon said the Cubs have no plans to call up highly-touted prospect Javier Baez at this time.
"Baez is doing well," Maddon said. "The point with him is to have him continue to do well. Just because a guy starts to do well doesn't mean he has to be called up immediately. He's still learning his craft. I think he's getting better with his swing. The reports we're getting back are all good. His time is coming. He's definitely on our radar screen."
The Cubs are hoping that Soler's time on the disabled list is brief -- he is batting .295 with 16 RBI in his last 16 games -- but it's difficult to project with oblique strains.
"It's an unpredictable injury," Maddon said. "It could be relatively fast; it could take a while. I'm not sure."
Soler, 23, also spent a month on the DL earlier in the season because of a sprained left ankle.
The loss of Motte, 34, is a blow to a bullpen that has logged a lot of innings of late. The veteran has been asked to fill a variety of roles this season and is 8-1 with six saves and a 3.91 ERA in 57 appearances this season.
Rosscup, 27, had an earlier stint with the Cubs this season, going 2-1 with a 4.30 ERA in 26 appearances before going on the DL on June 17. He was optioned to Iowa when he was activated on Aug. 14. He was 0-0 with a 7.36 ERA in eight appearances for Iowa.
With the addition of Rosscup, the bullpen now has four left-handers, but Maddon doesn't view that as a problem.
"You've got lefties out there that can get out righties," the manager said. "All four of them can. It's not a bad thing at all. As long as your guys are not left-on-left matchup guys, that's fine."
