Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Pitches well in relief Tuesday
Rotowire
Roberts tossed two scoreless innings of relief in Tuesday's 5-0 loss to the Pirates. He allowed one hit and struck out three.
Roberts was pulled from an appearance last week due to right ankle soreness, but he's now logged two scoreless outings since then. The righty is pitching in a low-leverage role for the Cubs and has mostly looked sharp with a 2.60 ERA and 17 strikeouts across 17.1 innings. Roberts still has a high 1.62 WHIP, however, due largely to the seven walks he's issued during his brief time in the majors this season. The 27-year-old will likely be a volatile option unless he starts to exhibit better command.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Nursing ankle injury
Rotowire
Roberts was lifted from Wednesday's appearance against the Pirates in the fourth inning due to right ankle soreness, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Consider the reliever day-to-day for the time being. Roberts was charged with two runs over 1.1 innings in the appearance before being pulled.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Exits appearance with injury
Rotowire
Roberts was removed from an appearance versus the Pirates on Wednesday in the fourth inning with an apparent injury, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Roberts retired the final batter in the bottom of the second inning and got through a scoreless third inning. However, he gave up a home run, hit a batter with a pitch and surrendered a single in the fourth before being visited by the trainer and exiting the field. It's unclear what injury he's dealing with, but the Cubs should provide an update soon. Roberts was charged with two runs over 1.1 frames before being lifted.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Back in majors
Rotowire
The Cubs recalled Roberts from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
The Cubs traded Mark Leiter to the Yankees on Tuesday, so Roberts will now come up from the minors to fill the open spot in Chicago's bullpen. The 27-year-old hasn't allowed a run in six MLB innings this season, though he has surrendered three earned runs in three frames since returning to Triple-A earlier this month.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Sent back to Iowa
Rotowire
The Cubs optioned Roberts to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Roberts threw two scoreless innings and struck out three batters during a loss to the Cardinals in Game 1 of Saturday's twin bill, and he'll now be sent back to the minors between games. Daniel Palencia was recalled from Iowa in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Optioned to Iowa
Rotowire
The Cubs optioned Roberts to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
The move is to make room on the 26-man roster for Mark Leiter (forearm), who was reinstated from the 15-day injured list. Roberts made three appearances out of the Cubs' bullpen since being called up from Iowa on June 28, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out three over four scoreless innings. Roberts hasn't allowed an earned run over 13.1 innings in Triple-A this season, and the 27-year-old right-hander should be in line for another call-up this season should the Cubs need help out of their bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Contract selected, sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cubs selected Roberts' contract Sunday and optioned him to Triple-A Iowa, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Roberts was added to the Cubs' 40-man roster Sunday, replacing Jose Cuas, who was designated for assignment. The right-handed Roberts has pitched 9.2 scoreless innings while striking out 13 batters over 10 appearances with Iowa this season and could be on the cusp of joining the major-league roster.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Re-signed to minors deal
Rotowire
Roberts (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Cubs on Saturday.
Roberts was non-tendered by the Cubs last month but is now back in the fold as organizational relief depth. The 26-year-old right-hander did not pitch in 2023 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, though he is expected to be fully recovered by the beginning of spring training in 2024.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Cleared to face hitters
Rotowire
Roberts (elbow) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Tuesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Roberts has finally received the green light to face hitters for the first time since he underwent Tommy John surgery July 13 of last year. He'll likely throw multiple live batting practice sessions before eventually heading out on an extended rehab assignment that will likely last close to the maximum 30 days. Barring any setbacks, Roberts still has a chance to make his return from the 60-day injured list before season's end, though the Cubs will most likely option him to Triple-A Iowa once he's activated.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Closing in on mound work
Rotowire
Roberts (elbow) progressed to throwing off flat ground from 105 feet before the end of spring training, MLB.com reports.
The Cubs haven't provided any recent updates on Roberts within the past month, but unless he's suffered an unreported setback in his recovery from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last July, he's presumably increased his throwing distance off flat ground over the last few weeks and could soon be ready to resume mound work. Given the timing of his elbow procedure, Roberts may face an uphill battle to get back in a minor-league rehab game before the end of the season, but he should be fully cleared ahead of next year's spring training.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Placed on 60-day IL
Rotowire
Roberts (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list by the Cubs on Friday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
This clears a spot on the 40-man roster, which needed an opening after the Cubs signed Edwin Rios on Friday to a one-year deal. Roberts is going to miss the overwhelming majority of 2023 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, and there's a decent chance he won't be able to pitch this season.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Begins throwing program
Rotowire
Roberts (elbow) has started a throwing program, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Roberts posted a video of him throwing at the Cubs' spring training complex in Mesa. The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in July, and he's expected to miss most -- if not all -- of the 2023 season while recovering.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Undergoes successful surgery
Rotowire
Roberts (elbow) underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Roberts sustained his right elbow injury during a rehab appearance at Triple-A Iowa in late June and will be unavailable for the remainder of the 2022 season and most or all of the 2023 campaign following Wednesday's procedure. The 25-year-old made his major-league debut in 2022 and posted an 8.22 ERA and 2.09 WHIP in 7.2 innings over nine relief appearances.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Requires Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
Roberts (shoulder) will require season-ending Tommy John surgery after sustaining a right elbow injury during his rehab appearance Sunday at Triple-A Iowa, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Roberts had been on the injured list since the beginning of May due to right shoulder inflammation, but he finally appeared to have put the injury behind him when the Cubs cleared him to go on the rehab assignment last weekend. Ultimately, Roberts faced only one hitter at Iowa before succumbing to a more serious injury that will keep him sidelined for the rest of the 2022 season and most, if not all, of the 2023 campaign. The Cubs haven't yet scheduled Roberts' surgery, but he'll presumably go under the knife within the next week or two.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Leaves early in rehab outing
Rotowire
Roberts exited four pitches into his rehab appearance Sunday with Triple-A Iowa after suffering an apparent aggravation of his right shoulder injury, Alex Cohen of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Roberts retired one batter before calling for the training staff and exiting the rehab appearance, which was his first since landing on the 10-day injured list May 1 before he was later moved to the 60-day IL. The Cubs should provide further word on the extent of Roberts' setback in the days to come, but he no longer looks on track to be activated when first eligible in the final week of June.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Starting rehab stint
Rotowire
Robets (shoulder) will report to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday to begin a rehab assignment, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Roberts recently threw a live batting practice session, which was his final hurdle before being cleared for game action. The 24-year-old has been sidelined by shoulder inflammation since late April, so he'll likely require at least a couple appearances with Iowa before being reinstated to the big-league roster.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Placed on 10-day IL
Rotowire
Roberts was placed on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation Sunday, retroactive to April 30, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Roberts struggled recently, as he posted an 11.81 ERA and 2.86 WHIP in 5.1 innings over his last six appearances, and he'll now be placed on the 10-day IL as part of a move to trim the Cubs' active roster to 26 players. Although the right-hander's injury may have contributed to his lackluster performance, it's possible he's sent to Triple-A Iowa once he's healthy.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Struggles Thursday
Rotowire
Roberts allowed three runs on four hits in an inning of relief work during Thursday's loss to Atlanta. He struck out two.
Roberts didn't take the loss, as he entered the contest in the eighth inning with the Cubs already trailing, but he didn't help keep his team in the game, either. The righty has nine strikeouts through seven innings this season, but he's otherwise struggled with a 7.71 ERA and 2.00 WHIP. Roberts should remain in a lower-leverage role until he shows a bit more consistency on the mound.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Wins roster spot
Rotowire
Roberts will break camp as part of the big-league bullpen, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Roberts recorded a 3.00 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 54 innings of relief split across the two highest levels of the minors last season, striking out 32.6 percent of opposing batters while walking 7.7 percent. He'll presumably start off in a lower-leverage role, but if he's able to maintain something close to that level of performance, he could move closer to the back of a wide-open Cubs bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Impressing this spring
Rotowire
Roberts has looked sharp this spring, though he seems likely to start the season in the minors, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Roberts has logged three scoreless innings in Cactus League action with five strikeouts, and manager Davis Ross said the 24-year-old "looks like a back-end arm right now." The right-hander likely will still start the year with Triple-A Iowa, which is where he finished off his 2021 campaign. In 54 innings between Double-A and Triple-A last season, Roberts struck out 72 batters, so there is definite upside here,
