MILWAUKEE (AP) - The Chicago Cubs have placed struggling reliever Jose Veras on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique.
Right-handed reliever Brian Schlitter was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to take Veras’ spot in an inconsistent bullpen, and arrived in Milwaukee in time for Saturday night’s game against the Brewers.
Veras had a 15.88 ERA over six games, blowing both his save opportunities. Chicago signed the righty in the offseason to a one-year deal after he had 21 saves in 2013 between Houston and Detroit.
Schlitter pitched six games for the Cubs this season before being sent down April 12. He had a 6.35 ERA with no record in Chicago, and a 3.60 ERA with three saves for Iowa.
The Cubs’ bullpen overall was 1-5 with a 4.03 ERA entering Saturday.
Pedro Strop is Chicago’s closer. Veras had only pitched twice since blowing a save April 11, last taking the mound Thursday and giving up two runs in the eighth inning of a 5-2 loss to Arizona.
Veras said he started feeling the strain a couple of days ago.
“It’s the best thing to for him to get him back on track,” manager Rick Renteria said.
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