According to reports from the Tribune and ESPN Chicago, the Cubs will place OF Chris Denorfia on the 15-day DL Tuesday with a left hamstring injury. OF Matt Szczur is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Iowa to take Denorfia’s spot on the roster.
Chris Denorfia has been dealing with a left hamstring issue since the middle of Spring Training. Denorfia started the season on the DL and was held out of the starting lineup last week after the injury flared back up. Denorfia said he “felt something” in the left hamstring going to third base on a single by Addison Russell in the third inning of Monday’s game. Denorfia grabbed the back of his leg, limped into third base and waived to the dugout that he had to come out of the game. Junior Lake replaced him on the bases and played the remainder of the game in right field.
Denorfia told the Tribune and ESPN Chicago he hit the second base bag awkwardly and he felt something going to third base. Denorfia was sidelined on March 17 and was activated from the DL on April 17 thinking the hamstring issue was behind him.
Chris Denorfia was 9-for-21 in 12 games with a double, a walk and seven strikeouts (.429/.455/.476).
Matt Szczur was lifted from Iowa’s game in the bottom of the eighth inning. Szczur is reportedly on his way to St. Louis to take Denorfia’s spot on the active roster.
Szczur played his way on the Opening Day roster in the spring. Szczur was 2-for-10 in eight games with a double, two stolen bases, three walks and two strikeouts (.200/.357/.300) before he was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.
In 11 games for the I-Cubs this season, Matt Szczur was 11-for-42 with a triple, two home runs, three walks and 11 strikeouts (.262/.298/.452) for a .750 OPS.
The Cubs are expected to make both roster moves official at some point before Tuesday’s game.