After leaving Monday’s game with a groin injury, Mike Tauchman has been placed on the injured list. Miles Mastrobuoni joins the team from Triple-A Iowa in his place.
The Chicago Cubs are coming off one of their worst losses of the season. Monday’s collapse leaves the Cubs with a 34-39 record and firmly in last place in the NL Central. However, Monday also saw the Cubs lose outfielder Mike Tauchman to injury.
On Tuesday, the Cubs are placing Tauchman on the injured list with a groin strain. In his place, utility man Miles Mastrobuoni joins the active roster.
Certainly, Cubs fans were hoping one of Alexander Canario or Brennen Davis would get a look with the Cubs. Instead, Mastrobuoni returns after a few stints in Chicago this season. On the season, Mastrobuoni is slashing .125/.222/.150 with one double, two RBIs, and five runs scored in 19 games. His numbers are underwhelming, but the team clearly values his positional versatility.
Worth noting, calling up Davis or Canario would not have required a 40-man roster move. In fact, they’re both on the 40-man roster with a number of other players who will need to get chances soon. However, the team would rather leave them in Iowa and bring back the .372 OPS Mastrobuoni.
Mastrobuoni was spotted arriving at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, and Craig Counsell mentioned on 670 The Score that Tauchman is out will likely miss four weeks or so. Counsell also confirmed the Mastrobuoni addition.
The Cubs and Giants do battle again on Tuesday night. The 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch will feature Justin Steele for the Cubs and Logan Webb for the Giants.