Cubs Make Another Bullpen Move As Steve Cishek Goes On Injured List

You knew this was coming. Right-handed reliever Steve Cishek hasn’t been effective for the Cubs lately and prior to Saturday’s game against the Reds he was placed on the 10-day injured list with a hip issue.

Righty Dillon Maples has been called up from Triple-A Iowa to take Cishek’s spot in the bullpen.

Steve Cishek to IL w left hip inflammation. Maples recalled.

— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) August 10, 2019

Cishek’s allowed seven earned runs during his last four innings pitched.

Steve Cishek's last six outings:

4 IP, 8 H, 7 R/7 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) August 10, 2019

So, the Cubs bullpen is currently without Craig Kimbrel, Brandon Kintzler, Kyle Ryan and now Cishek.

More bullpen updates:

• Kimbrel (10-day IL) meeting team in Philadelphia, where it’s possible he’ll throw a bullpen session.
• Kintzler (10-day IL) throwing bullpen today.
• Ryan (bereavement list) will meet team in Philly as well.

— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) August 10, 2019

Maples returns to the Cubs after struggling in July with the Iowa Cubs. As always, he has nasty stuff, but the issue will be his control. Maples has 63 strikeouts, 30 walks and six hit batters in 34.1 innings at Triple-A this year. He’s struck out 13, walked 10 and hit two in eight innings with the Cubs earlier this season.