Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Cubs News: Fowler activated from DL and will play on Friday


by -

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today added left-handed pitcher Mike Montgomery to the 25-man roster and activated outfielder Dexter Fowler from the 15-day disabled list. In corresponding moves, outfielder Albert Almora Jr. and right-handed pitcher Spencer Patton have been optioned to Triple-A Iowa.

Montgomery, 27, will wear uniform number 38. He was acquired Wednesday from Seattle, along with right-handed pitcher Jordan Pries, for infielder Dan Vogelbach and right-handed pitcher Paul Blackburn.

Montgomery is 3-4 with a 2.34 ERA (16 ER/61.2 IP) in 32 appearances, all but two in relief, with the Mariners this season. He has struck out 54 batters and walked only 18 in 61.2 innings, contributing to a 1.09 WHIP. Montgomery has limited left-handed hitters to a .164 batting average (11-for-67) and held all foes to a .220 average, a .294 on-base percentage and a .323 slugging percentage, good for a .617 opponent OPS.

The 6-foot-5, 215-pound southpaw broke into the big leagues by making 16 starts with the Mariners last year, going 4-6 with a 4.60 ERA (46 ER/90.0 IP) and two complete game shutouts. He has combined to go 7-10 with a 3.68 ERA (62 ER/151.2 IP) in 48 major league outings, including 18 starts and 30 relief appearances.

Montgomery was originally selected by Kansas City in the supplemental first round (36th overall) of the 2008 Draft out of high school. He was acquired by Tampa Bay as part of the trade that sent James Shields and Wade Davis to the Royals in December of 2012, and then acquired by Seattle for righthander Erasmo Ramirez at the end of spring training, 2015.

Fowler, 30, on Wednesday played both games of a doubleheader in a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa, combining to go 1-for-5 with a double, a walk and two runs. He landed on the 15-day disabled list, June 19, with a right hamstring strain.

Elected a starter to the N.L. All-Star team, Fowler is batting .290 (69-for-238) with 19 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 28 RBI in 64 games for the Cubs this season. He is hitting .312 (24-for-77) with a .391 on-base percentage against left-handed pitching and is batting .280 (45-for-161) with a .401 on-base percentage against righthanders. His .398 season OBP ranked ninth in the N.L. at the time of his injury.

Almora, 22, hit .265 (22-for-83) with seven doubles, two home runs and nine RBI in 34 for games for Chicago after he was selected from Iowa to make his major league debut, June 7. He is batting .318 (68-for-214) with 12 doubles, three triples, three home runs and 30 RBI in 55 games for Iowa this season.

Patton, 28, is 1-1 with a 5.11 ERA (7 ER/12.1 IP) in nine relief appearances spanning two stints with the Cubs this season. He has posted a 1.04 ERA (3 ER/26.0 IP) with eight saves in 26 relief outings for Iowa.

Comment on this story
Print   
Post your comments!