The Cubs announced four roster moves Monday morning and updated Addison Russell’s status.
The Cubs placed OF Jorge Soler on the 15-day DL with a left oblique strain. Soler could be out about a month. The injury happened late in Sunday’s game and he had an MRI on Sunday night.
Jason Motte was placed on the disabled list with a right shoulder strain. Motte is expected to be out three-four weeks. Motte said Monday he felt the problem in his shoulder for the first time Sunday. Motte will not throw for 7-10 days.
The Cubs recalled INF Tommy La Stella and LHP Zac Rosscup to take the spots of Soler and Motte on the active roster. Tommy La Stella is in Monday’s starting lineup playing second base.
Addison Russell is listed as day-to-day with tightness in his left groin.
With Monday’s roster moves, the active roster consists of 13 pitchers (five starters, eight relievers) and 12 position players.
Chris Coghlan is expected to see a lot of playing time in right field with Jorge Soler on the disabled list. Losing Soler at this time of the season is a big hit to the Cubs lineup. As Jon Paul Morosi pointed out, the Cubs are 53-35 with Soler in the lineup and 18-16 in games he did not start.
Tommy La Stella was expected to be recalled when the roster expanded on Sept. 1. La Stella was 11-for-33 in nine games with Iowa since he was option to Triple-A on Aug. 11. La Stella hit two doubles, a triple and a home run in 33 at bats. In 19 minor league games this season between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa, La Stella hit .290/.359/.435 with five doubles, a triple and a home run for a .794 OPS.
Zac Rosscup, 27, joins the Cubs for the second time this season as he went 2-1 with a 4.30 ERA (11 earned runs in 23 innings) and 1.39 WHIP in 26 relief appearances before being placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 17 with left shoulder inflammation. He was activated from the disabled list and optioned to Iowa on August 14.
With the Cubs, Rosscup has struck out 25 batters in 23.0 innings while limiting foes to a .241 batting average, including a .111 average (3-for-27) and .384 OPS by left-handed hitters.
With Iowa this year, Rosscup has posted no record with a 7.36 ERA (six earned runs in 7 1/3 innings) in eight relief outings, fanning 13 hitters in 7 1/3 innings. A season ago, Rosscup went 1-0 with a 9.45 ERA (14 earned runs in 13 1/3 innings) in 18 appearances covering seven stints with the Cubs, striking out 21 batters in 13 1/3 innings pitched.
Overall, Rosscup is 3-1 with a 5.44 ERA (26 earned rus in 43 innings) and 1.58 WHIP in 54 relief appearances with the Cubs covering the last three seasons (2013-15).