MIAMI – The Chicago Cubs today activated right-handed pitcher Keegan Thompson off the 15-day injured list and optioned right-handed pitcher Jeremiah Estrada to Triple-A Iowa.

Thompson, 27, landed on the 15-day injured list August 20 with a low back tightness. He made one rehab start with Iowa on September 16, throwing 2.1 innings and allowing one hit, one run and one walk with four strikeouts.

Thompson this season is 9-5 with a 3.97 ERA (46 ER/104.1 IP) in 25 games (17 starts) for Chicago, walking 37 batters, striking out 91 and recording a 1.31 WHIP.  He leads the team with nine wins and ranks second in strikeouts. Thompson started the season in the bullpen then moved into the starting rotation for good on May 28. He has a 1.38 ERA (4 ER/26.0 IP) in eight relief appearances, his most recent coming on May 22.

The six-foot-one, 210-pound Thompson is in his second season with Chicago after being selected by the Cubs in the third round of the 2017 draft out of Auburn University. In 57 career major league games, 23 starts, he is 12-8 with a 3.77 ERA (66 ER/157.2 IP) and has allowed 68 walks with 146 strikeouts. 

Estrada, 23, has a 3.18 ERA (2 ER/5.2 IP) with eight strikeouts, two walks, a 1.59 WHIP and .286 opponent average (6-for-21) in five appearances with the Cubs. He made his major league debut August 30 at Toronto, throwing 1.0 inning with one walk and two strikeouts.