CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs today selected right-handed pitcher Luke Farrell from Triple-A Iowa, optioned right-handed pitcher Anderson Espinoza to Triple-A Iowa and transferred right-handed pitcher Kyle Hendricks to the 60-day injured list. The Cubs today also recalled right-handed pitcher Kervin Castro from Iowa and placed left-handed pitcher Steven Brault on the 15-day injured list with a left shoulder strain. Additionally, right-handed pitcher Nicholas Padilla was returned to Triple-A Iowa following last night’s game.

Farrell (uniform No. 60) will make his Cubs debut and start tonight’s 7:05pm CT game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field.

Farrell, 31, is 3-4 with a 5.03 ERA (33 ER/59.0 IP) in 17 games (11 starts) for Triple-A Iowa this season. The right-handed pitcher has struck out 49, compared to 28 walks, good for a 1.46 WHIP. He did not allow a run and struck out four batters in 2.2 innings pitched during his last start for the I-Cubs August 16 at Indianapolis.

The six-foot, six-inch Farrell was signed as a free agent by the Cubs, May 8, 2022. Farrell made 20 appearances (one start) with the Minnesota Twins last season, compiling a 4.74 ERA (12 ER/24.2 IP) and striking out 25 batters. The righthander played for the Cubs during the 2018 season, where he recorded a 3-4 record with a 5.17 ERA (18 ER/31.1 IP) in 20 games (two starts) after being selected off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds.

In all or parts of five professional seasons with the Kansas City Royals (2017), Reds (2017), Cubs (2018), Rangers (2019-2020) and Twins (2021), Farrell is 5-5 with a 4.93 ERA (48 ER/87.2 IP) and 93 strikeouts in 63 career major games (five starts). A Westlake, Ohio native, Farrell was selected by the Royals in the sixth round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft after pitching three seasons for Northwestern University.

Castro, 23, begins his second stint with the Cubs this season after being claimed off waivers from the San Francisco Giants August 2. He was optioned to Triple-A Iowa August 23 after compiling a 0-1 record with an 8.22 ERA (7 ER/7.2 IP) in six relief appearances for the Cubs. All told, he owns an 11.57 ERA (12 ER/9.1 IP) in eight appearances with the Giants and Cubs this year.

The six-foot Castro was signed by the Giants as an international free agent on July 2, 2015. Castro has gone 14-9 with a 3.52 ERA (65 ER/166.0 IP) and one save in 87 career minor league games (14 starts), averaging 9.8 strikeouts per 9.0 IP and allowing only nine home runs in 699 batters faced.

Hendricks, 32, is 4-6 with a 4.80 ERA (45 ER/84.1 IP) in 16 starts for the Cubs this season. He was originally placed on the 15-day injured list on July 6 with a right shoulder strain.

Brault, 30, has posted a 3.00 ERA (3 ER/9.0 IP) in nine outings out of the bullpen for Chicago in 2022. He tossed seven-straight scoreless outings to begin his season (8.1 IP).

Espinoza, 24, is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA (11 ER/18.1 IP) in seven relief appearances for the Cubs this season.