Steve Mitchell - USA Today Sports
Steve Mitchell - USA Today Sports

Cubs announce several roster moves


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CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today recalled left-handed pitcher Tim Collins and right-handed pitcher Dillon Maples from Triple-A Iowa. To make room on the 25-man roster, right-handed pitcher James Norwood and outfielder Mark Zagunis were optioned to Triple-A following yesterday’s game.

Both Collins and Maples will be available for the Cubs this afternoon when they continue their three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field.

Collins, 29, joins the Cubs for the second time this season as he posted no record and a 2.70 ERA (1 ER/3.1 IP) in four relief outings during his first stint from April 10-25. He has gone 1-0 with one save and a 2.25 ERA (3 ER/12.0 IP) in 12 relief outings with Iowa this season, limiting foes to a .128 batting average, as he has yet to allow a hit to a left-handed batter. Collins signed a major league contract with the Cubs in March.

Overall, Collins is 12-17 with 48 holds and a 3.62 ERA (95 ER/237.0 IP) in 270 major league relief appearances with Kansas City (2011-14), Washington (2018) and the Cubs (2019). He returned to the big leagues last year with Washington after not pitching in the majors since 2014 due to a pair of Tommy John surgeries in 2015 and 2016. In his return with the Nationals last year, Collins posted no record with four holds and a 4.37 ERA (11 ER/22.2 IP) in 38 relief outings. He also made 30 relief appearances with Triple-A Syracuse, going 2-4 with a 3.94 ERA (14 ER/32.0 IP).

Maples, 27, also joins the Cubs for the second time this year, as he had three scoreless outings (2.2 IP) with five walks and six strikeouts during his first big league stay from April 26-May 6. He has gone 0-2 with one save and a 4.61 ERA (7 ER/13.2 IP) in 12 outings with Iowa this season, striking out 26 while walking 13 in 13.2 innings and limiting foes to a .149 batting average. Maples has spent parts of the last three years in the big leagues with the Cubs, going 1-0 with an 8.78 ERA (13 ER/13.1 IP) in 18 relief outings, as he has recorded 26 strikeouts and issued 16 walks in 13.1 innings.

The righthander went 2-3 with 10 saves and a 2.79 ERA (12 ER/38.2 IP) in 41 appearances with Iowa last season, striking out 75 batters in 38.2 innings pitched and limiting foes to a .162 batting average. Maples was originally selected by the Cubs in the 14th round of the 2011 Draft. Overall, he is 15-22 with 35 saves and a 4.32 ERA (143 ER/298.0 IP) in 188 career appearances (all but 30 in relief) covering eight minor league seasons. Over the last three seasons, he has struck out 201 batters in 115.2 innings across three minor league levels.

Norwood, 25, has gone 1-0 with three saves and a 4.95 ERA (11 ER/20.0 IP) in 15 relief outings with Iowa this year. He was recalled by the Cubs yesterday and tossed 1.0 scoreless inning against the Reds.

Zagunis, 26, has batted .257 (9-for-35) with three doubles and five RBI in 29 games with the Cubs this season. He was a member of Chicago’s Opening Day roster.

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