CHICAGO -- Joel Peralta was designated for assignment on Wednesday to make room on the Cubs' roster for Adam Warren, who was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to start against the Reds.
The right-handed Peralta, whom manager Joe Maddon had in Tampa Bay, had made five relief appearance with the Cubs since he joined them on June 27.
"It was very difficult," Maddon said of his conversation with Peralta, 40, on Wednesday. "It's just a matter of what we need now, and he understood that. If he chooses to not continue to play, he'll be a fabulous pitching coach or some kind of coach in Major League Baseball. ... He'll find his niche eventually."
Warren was sent to Triple-A Iowa to make two starts so he could go on Wednesday, giving the Cubs' other starters a breather. Wednesday was game No. 84 of the season, and this was the fourth latest that the franchise used a sixth starting pitcher. In 2003, the Cubs didn't use a sixth starter until game No. 99. In 1891 and 1892, they didn't need an extra starter until games No. 99 and 102, respectively. Those two seasons were the final ones before the mound was moved back to 60 feet, six inches.
• Catcher David Ross, who had to leave Tuesday's game after taking a foul ball off his mask, was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list on Wednesday and infielder Tommy La Stella was activated from the disabled list.

Ross, 39, was batting .234 with six homers and 23 RBIs in 43 games.
La Stella, 27, was batting .291 with eight doubles, one triple, two homers and seven RBIs in 38 games with the Cubs before he was sidelined June 8 with a with a right hamstring strain. He went 6-for-21 with one homer and three RBIs in a six-game rehab assignment with Iowa.
• Kyle Schwarber nearly has all of the range of motion back in his left knee, and he is continuing to strengthen it. The young Cubs outfielder tore two ligaments in his knee in the third game of the season.
"It's a slow process, but I'm pretty happy where I'm at right now," Schwarber said Wednesday.
If the Cubs are home, Schwarber gets his work done early so he can watch the game from the dugout. Because of the severity of the injury, Schwarber is not expected back until 2017. Could he return this season?
"I'm going to work my butt off to get back as soon as I can, whatever the timetable is," he said. "Whatever happens, happens."
• The Cubs' game July 19 against the Mets at Wrigley Field will start at 6:05 p.m. CT to accommodate a national broadcast by ESPN. The game was originally scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m.