Chatwood (back) goes on IL
The Cubs put right-hander Tyler Chatwood on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Thursday, with a mid-back strain. He missed his scheduled start Friday after experiencing tightness in his back hours before the game.
Chatwood’s status seemed to improve Saturday, when he played catch and looked to be in line to start one of the two games Monday against the Cardinals. But the back tightened again Sunday, forcing the Cubs to put him on the IL.
Chatwood is 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA in three starts this season.
In a corresponding move, the Cubs recalled right-hander Jason Adam from their alternate training site in South Bend, Indiana. They designated righthander Jharel Cotton for assignment to make room for Adam on their 40-man roster.
‘‘As a staff, anytime somebody goes down here, you try to pick them up,’’ said left-hander Jon Lester, who allowed five runs in six innings in the Cubs’ 6-5 loss Sunday. ‘‘We’ve got a long week ahead of us with some doubleheaders, so I knew coming in I was trying to get a little bit deeper in the game than that.’’
The Cubs will have their starting-pitching depth tested with two doubleheaders this week against the Cardinals and two starters — Chatwood and lefthander Jose Quintana — now on the IL.
Right-hander Kyle Hendricks will start the opener of the doubleheader Monday. The starter for the nightcap is to be determined.
Kimbrel trending upward?
Right-hander Craig Kimbrel has taken some heat amid his early struggles, but it looks as though he might be returning to form. Kimbrel threw his second consecutive scoreless inning with a 1-2-3 eighth against the Brewers.
It was his first 1-2-3 inning of the season.
Kimbrel struck out two, one each with his fastball and his curve. He fanned Avisail Garcia on a 96 mph fastball up in the zone and Justin Smoak by dropping back-to-back curves on the outer third of the plate.
‘‘He looks good, looks clean, looks repetitive,’’ Lester said. ‘‘This game is all about confidence, and I feel like when hitters struggle, they’re always 0-2. When pitchers are struggling, you’re always 2-0.
‘‘Maybe not pitching in highleverage situations kind of lets that guard down just a little bit to where he can go out there, work on the things that he’s working on and get better. The last couple of times he’s gone out, you see the old Craig right there.’’
Back tightness idles Heyward
Right fielder Jason Heyward was scratched from the lineup with mid-back tightness. He is hitting .350 with a home run, six RBI, four walks and a 1.040 OPS in the last week.