The Chicago Cubs swapped out injured relievers today, activating Jose Veras from the disabled list, while sending Zac Rosscup to it.
Veras is coming back from an oblique injury and a short rehab stint at AA Tennessee, where he pitched mostly effectively. He lost his closer job long before he was sent to the DL, so it’s not expected that he’ll be winning that job back any time soon. Indeed, he’ll probably have to show effective stuff/command in low leverage situations a handful of times before he’ll be appearing in the late innings at all.
Rosscup, 25, had pitched well for the Cubs so far this year in very limited duty (no runs in four innings, 1 hit, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts), but he goes to the disabled list with a sore shoulder. He hasn’t pitched since May 10, and his DL stint will be retroactive to that date. Hopefully it’s not a serious shoulder issue, as Rosscup has a promising future with the Cubs as a lefty reliever option going forward.
After the swap, the Cubs’ bullpen will remain at eight, although there are now six righties and two lefties.