PHILADELPHIA -- As Ethan Roberts examined the damage to the middle finger on his right hand ahead of Monday’s game against the Phillies, the Cubs reliever had one prevailing thought immediately following a freak accident during a routine workout.
“Of course it happens to us,” Roberts said. “Because everything is happening to us right now.”
On Tuesday, Roberts was the latest member of the Cubs’ bullpen to land on the 15-day injured list, creating an increasingly complicated situation for manager Craig Counsell. Roberts’ setback was a laceration on the middle finger of his pitching hand -- the result of a metal vent coming loose.
Roberts said he was on his ninth rep in a 10-throw workout involving a medicine ball, which is part of his daily routine. Without space to do the drill in the weight room, he moved to a tunnel at Citizens Bank Park. On the ill-fated throw, the medicine ball rebounded off one wall and hit a vent cover on another, dislodging it.
The vent was about to strike Roberts' leg, so the pitcher reached back out of pure reaction. The cut is on the underside of the pitcher’s fingertip, which impacts his ability to throw. He did not require stitches, but he needs to let the wound heal before he can ramp up his throwing intensity.
“Just random bad luck,” Counsell said. “You can’t even make it up.”
With Roberts landing on the 15-day IL and lefty Charlie Barnes (who threw three innings on Monday) optioned to Triple-A Iowa, Chicago recalled left-handers Ryan Rolison and Luke Little from Iowa. At the moment, that means the Cubs have five lefties (including Caleb Thielbar, Hoby Milner and Riley Martin) in the bullpen.
Counsell said this is not a strategy against the Phillies, but rather a case of just needing arms that are ready to help right now. Righties Phil Maton (right knee), Hunter Harvey (right triceps) and Porter Hodge (right flexor strain) are also on the 15-day IL. The only other righty on the 40-man roster, Gavin Hollowell, is on the Minor League IL with a right elbow issue.
“This is just who we have available,” Counsell said. “This is what we’re going to have to do for the next week or 10 days. There’s going to be a lot of lefties pitching. That’s just the way it is. Matchups are going to be a little bit out the door. We’re just going to go with our best guys in big spots, and that’s how it’s going to be.”
Right-handers Javier Assad and Colin Rea are currently in the rotation due to the losses of Cade Horton (upcoming right elbow surgery) and Matthew Boyd (15-day IL, left biceps). Righty Ben Brown is able to offer multiple innings out of the bullpen, which also includes righties Jacob Webb and Daniel Palencia.
Roberts, who has embraced his role as an arm who covers innings to help offer rest for the Cubs’ main bullpen group, was especially frustrated by the timing.
“What a mess,” Roberts said. “I know, personally, it stinks for me, because I want to throw. But I also want to throw because these guys need help. This older crew here that we have, my job is to take the load off of them. And it stinks, because now I can’t. … Bad timing for everybody. But, more importantly, it’s bad timing for the team.”