Saturday could be a busy day for the Cubs’ front office. Not only will Jake Arrieta be activated from the 15-day DL in order to make his first start of the season, but it appears Ryan Sweeney will be placed on the disabled list with a right hamstring injury. Depending on which way the Cubs decide to go, there could be at least five roster moves prior to the second game of the Cardinals series.
Chris Coghlan was scratched from Iowa’s starting lineup against the Sounds on Friday night. According to multiple reports, Coghlan is on his way to Chicago to possibly take Ryan Sweeney’s spot on the active roster. Sweeney reportedly had an MRI on his right hamstring following Friday’s game to determine the severity of the injury. If the Cubs do not think he needs at least 15 days to get back on the field, they could choose to play with an even shorter bench for a couple of days. In all likelihood, Sweeney will be placed on the DL and the Cubs will transfer Kyuji Fujikawa to the 60-day DL in order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Chris Coghlan.
Chris Coghlan has been in Triple-A since not making the team out of Spring Training. The former NL Rookie of the Year is hitting .243/.379/.314 with five double and a .694 OPS in 24 games with the I-Cubs.
The Cubs will send at least one pitcher out on Saturday prior to officially activating Jake Arrieta from the disabled list. Brian Schlitter could be the odd man out of a crowded bullpen to make room on the active roster for Arrieta.
After missing the entire exhibition season, Arrieta has spent the last month in the minors rehabbing his right shoulder. Arrieta is ready to build on the improvements he made last season while working with Chris Bosio. Arrieta has always had the stuff. His trouble has been the inability to throw strikes. Arrieta was 4-2 in nine starts with the Cubs at the end of last season with a 3.66 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP (34 hits, 37 strikeouts and 24 walks in 51 2/3 innings). If Bosio can get Arrieta to throw strikes on a consistent basis and cut down on the walks, he could be a big part of the organization going forward.
Injury Updates
According to Carrie Muskat, Justin Ruggiano is at the Cubs’ facility in Mesa rehabbing his hamstring injury. Ruggiano was placed on the 15-day DL on April 24 with a left hamstring strain (tear) and was expected to miss at least three to four weeks at the time of the injury.
Jose Veras is apparently feeling much better and could be a little over a week from returning from a strained left oblique that landed him on the disabled list a week ago. The Cubs placed Veras on the DL on April 26, retroactive to April 25, with a left oblique sprain. Veras has been sent on a rehab assignment and could soon pitch in a game for Double-A Tennessee.