Cubs send Schwarber down to minors
The Chicago Cubs are hoping a stint in the minors will help Kyle Schwarber find his swing again.
The 24-year-old outfielder/ catcher was sent down to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, giving the slumping slugger a chance to catch his breath after a difficult start to the season.
“We talked to him after the game yesterday, and he took it really well,” manager Joe Maddon said. “We’re doing it to help reset him and get him back to a fresh start. As you would expect, he was very professional about it. He understood it entirely.”
Schwarber made his major league debut in 2015 and hit .246 with 16 homers and 43 RBIs in 69 games. He missed most of last season with a leg injury after a frightening outfield collision, then returned in October to help the Cubs win the World Series for the first time since 1908.
But the No. 4 pick in the 2014 amateur draft has struggled so far this year. He is batting just .171 with 12 homers and 28 RBIs.
The Cubs also placed outfielder Jason Heyward on the 10-day disabled list before their series opener at Miami. Outfielder Mark Zagunis and right-hander Dylan Floro were brought up from Chicago’s top farm club.
Heyward has an abrasion on his left hand. His DL stint was made retroactive to Monday.
Astros: Outfielder George Springer sustained a left hand contusion after being struck by a 92-mph fastball from Jesse Hahn leading off against the Oakland Athletics.
The ball grazed Springer’s left shoulder. Springer is tied for second in the American league with 21 home runs. His status is day-to-day.
Red Sox: Boston will retire David Ortiz’s No. 34 tonight before its game against the Los Angeles Angels. It will be the 11th number on the Fenway Park facade, and the third in three seasons.
Mayor Marty Walsh stopped by Thursday afternoon to help rename the street from the ballpark to the nearest train station “David Ortiz Drive.”
Angels: Reliever Huston Street was activated after recovering from a strained latissimus dorsi muscle in his back that had sidelined him since spring training.
The 33-year-old righthander allowed one hit over 1⅓ innings for Triple-A Salt Lake in a rehab outing Monday.
Los Angeles opened a roster spot by optioning righthander Mike Morin to the Bees.
Brewers: Corey Knebel broke Aroldis Chapman’s modern-era record for most consecutive games by a reliever with a strikeout at a season’s start, fanning a batter for the 38th straight game and closing out the Brewers’ 4-2 win over the Pirates. Knebel struck out Josh Bell on a foul tip leading off the ninth.