CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today activated left-handed pitcher Cole Hamels off of the 10-day injured list. Right-handed pitcher Brad Brach has been designated for assignment. Hamels will make the start for the Cubs today when they continue their three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field.
Hamels, 35, was placed on the injured list on June 29 with a left oblique strain and made a pair of rehab starts with Triple-A Iowa as part of his return: July 23 at San Antonio (2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO, 35 pitches) and July 28 vs. Round Rock (3.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO, 59 pitches). Hamels has gone 6-3 with a 2.98 ERA (33 ER/99.2 IP) in 17 starts this season. His most-recent big league outing was June 28 at Cincinnati, when he pitched just 1.0 inning before exiting due to injury and landing on the injured list the next day.
Brach, 33, went 4-3 with a 6.13 ERA (27 ER/39.2 IP) in 42 relief outings with the Cubs this season.