MILWAUKEE (AP) - Looking to end an early season funk, the Chicago Cubs shook up their struggling bullpen Saturday by demoting right-hander Carl Edwards Jr. to Triple-A and placing left-hander Mike Montgomery on the 10-day injured list.
The Cubs called up relievers Allen Webster and Kyle Ryan from Triple-A Iowa. Chicago has dropped six straight since winning on opening day, and its bullpen entered Saturday with an 8.54 ERA.
Edwards has a 32.40 ERA in four appearances this season. Eight of the 13 batters he’s faced have reached safely, and three of them homered. That includes a two-run shot by Milwaukee’s Orlando Arcia in the Brewers’ 13-10 win Friday night.
Manager Joe Maddon wants Edwards to clear his head in Iowa for a bit. The lanky righty had a 2.60 ERA in 58 appearances last season, and Maddon expects he’ll be back at some point.
“We all know he wants to throw strikes,” Maddon said. “It’s more about developing his routine. … What do you do when things go badly? That’s what he needs.”
Montgomery hadn’t fared much better, posting a 16.88 ERA in four appearances. He missed most of spring training because of shoulder soreness and was diagnosed with a strained left lat Saturday.
“We’re hopeful it will only be 10 days,” Maddon said.
Chicago also designated right-hander Jen-Ho Tseng for assignment to clear space for Webster on the 40-man roster.
Webster, 29, had 1.50 ERA over 12 innings this spring. Ryan, 27, posted a 3.09 ERA in Cactus League play.
Both were in Milwaukee on Saturday and available to pitch in Game 2 of the Cubs’ series against the Brewers.
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