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.
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Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Exits appearance with injury
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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.
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Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Nursing ankle injury
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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.
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Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Back in majors
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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.
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Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Sent back to Iowa
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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.
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Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Back with Cubs
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The Cubs recalled Roberts from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
With Luke Little (shoulder) headed for the injured list, Roberts will return to the majors in order to fill the open spot in Chicago's bullpen. The 27-year-old hasn't surrendered an earned run in 19 total innings this season -- four of which came during a prior stint in the big leagues.
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Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Optioned to Iowa
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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.
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Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Back in majors
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The Cubs recalled Roberts from Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
With Keegan Thompson (ribs) headed for the injured list, Roberts will now join the big-league squad for the first time since 2022. He missed the entire 2023 campaign and the first couple of months of the 2024 season as a result of Tommy John surgery. However, he has not allowed a run in 13.1 innings with Iowa this year and owns an 18:6 K:BB. He'll likely work in middle relief while with Chicago.
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Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Contract selected, sent to Triple-A
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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.
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Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Makes 2024 Triple-A debut
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Roberts (elbow) was reinstated from Triple-A Iowa's 7-day injured list Friday and debuted for the club Sunday, striking out one over a perfect inning of relief.
Roberts, who re-signed with the Cubs on a minor-league deal in December, missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in July 2022. Though he was expected to be fully cleared in advance of spring training, Roberts opened the season on the 7-day injured list, though it's unclear if he was deactivated due to complications with his surgically repaired elbow or because of another issue. Whatever the case, Roberts was cleared to make his 2024 debut at the Triple-A level over the weekend after he made rehab appearances for the Cubs' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate as well as Double-A Tennessee.
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Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Re-signed to minors deal
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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.
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Ethan Roberts: Cut loose by Cubs
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Roberts (elbow) was non-tendered by the Cubs on Friday.
Roberts underwent Tommy John surgery in July of 2022 and did not pitch at any level in 2023, though he's expected to be fully recovered by the beginning of spring training in 2024. The 26-year-old right-hander should get a fresh start with a new organization.
Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Full go heading into offseason
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Roberts (elbow) is expected to have a normal throwing progression this offseason, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Robert missed the entirety of the 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he's now more than 15 months removed from the operation and will head into the winter with no restrictions. The 26-year-old reliever has the upside to be used in high-leverage spots for the Cubs in 2024 but will have to show he's healthy and that he has his stuff is back first.
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Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Cleared to face hitters
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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.
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Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Ready for bullpen work
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Roberts (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Roberts, who is working his way back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent July 13, 2022, recently finished up a "de-load" period of his throwing program in which he was limited to throwing off flat ground, according to MLB.com. The right-hander will start up the ramp-up process Tuesday with a side session, and he should gradually increase the frequency and intensity of his bullpen work over the next few weeks before progressing to facing hitters. Roberts still has a chance to pitch in games in 2023, though any appearances he makes will likely come in the minors rather than with the Cubs.
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Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Closing in on mound work
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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.
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Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Placed on 60-day IL
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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.
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Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Begins throwing program
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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.
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Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Undergoes successful surgery
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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.
