18 Ryan Tepera RP

Tepera pitched two scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts to record a hold in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Marlins.

Tepera keeps rolling along for the Cubs, as he now hasn't allowed an earned run since early May and has a 1.82 ERA for the season to go along with a 0.61 WHIP. His 15 holds are also good for second on the team, behind Andrew Chafin's 17. Tepera has been a pleasant surprise and should remain in a high-leverage role in front of closer Craig Kimbrel.

Tepera, who tossed a scoreless inning in Saturday's loss to the Giants, now has a 2.36 ERA and 0.71 WHIP across 26.2 innings this season.

Tepera has been effective out of the bullpen for the Cubs and has worked his way into a high-leverage role in front of closer Craig Kimbrel. The 33-year-old has also continued to strike out batters at a good rate. His K/9 sits at 10.5 which follows the 13.5 figure he registered in 2020. If Tepera keeps generating the whiffs, he should remain an effective reliever for Chicago the rest of the season.

Tepera struck out two in 1.1 perfect innings to earn the save against the Pirates on Thursday.

Craig Kimbrel had pitched each of the last two days, so Tepera was called on to earn a four-out save in Thursday's matchup. The right-hander has earned 12 holds this year and has posted a 2.66 ERA in 23.2 innings as a setup man. While Tepera's save Thursday was encouraging, Kimbrel has plenty of job security as the Cubs' closer.

Tepera had his suspension reduced from three games to two and will begin serving the ban Sunday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Tepera was suspended for throwing behind Brandon Woodruff. He was available while the appeal was pending but will now be out until the second game of the team's series in Atlanta on Tuesday.

Tepera was issued a three-game suspension Thursday but is appealing, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Tepera threw behind the legs of Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff on Tuesday and will likely miss several games as a result. However, he'll be available to pitch until his appeal is heard. Tepera has made five relief appearances for the Cubs this year, compiling a 3.86 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 4.2 innings.

Tepera signed a major-league contract with the Cubs on Friday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

The 33-year-old was non-tendered by the Cubs in December, but he'll rejoin the team with spring training in its early stages. Tepera worked in middle relief during 2020 and had a 3.92 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 31:12 K:BB over 20.2 innings, and he should fill a similar role this season.

Tepera was non-tendered by the Cubs on Wednesday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

He logged a 3.92 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 31 strikeouts in 20.2 innings, but it seems like the Cubs just didn't want to pay what he would earn in arbitration. Assuming Tepera is healthy, he should generate plenty of interest on the open market.

Tepera was recalled from the Cubs' alternate training site in advance of Sunday's game against the Brewers.

Brad Wieck was placed on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring strain, so the Cubs needed a fresh arm for the bullpen. Tepera could be back and forth between the majors and the alternate training site all season.

Tepera was optioned to the Cubs' alternate training site in South Bend Thursday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Tepera was vying for a bullpen spot in his first year in Chicago but will now serve as organizational depth in South Bend. The righty appeared in 23 games for the Blue Jays in 2013, posting a 4.98 ERA and 1.29 WHIP.

Tepera will be a part of the Cubs' 60-man player pool this season and will head to Wrigley Field for summer camp.

Tepera had a down 2019 with a 4.98 ERA in 23 games with the Blue Jays, but he looked much sharper the previous two seasons. He's now one of 22 pitchers invited to camp at Wrigley Field, and the righty will have to pitch well to earn any type of regular role with the Cubs this season.

Tepera could earn one of the Cubs' final bullpen spots when the regular season is able to begin, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

If the Cubs and other MLB teams get to use expanded rosters when the regular season begins, many will likely deepen their bullpens to deal with what figures to be a compacted schedule. Tepera, who entered spring training on the roster bubble, would stand to benefit in this scenario. The righty had a down year in 2019 with a 4.98 ERA, but he posted sub-4.00 ERAs each season between 2015 and 2018, so there is some hope for a bounceback campaign.

Tepera signed with the Cubs on Friday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

The righty will make $900,000 if he makes the big-league roster but just $300,000 in the minors. Tepera endured a rough 2019 campaign, posting a 4.98 ERA in 21.2 innings when not battling an elbow injury. The 32-year-old recorded a 3.49 ERA over the previous four seasons, however, so he could certainly find himself handling a lower-leverage role in the Cubs' bullpen if he's able to get back on track this season.

Tepera has elected to become a free agent.

He was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays earlier this week and preferred to hit the open market rather than remain as a non-roster player in the organization. The 32-year-old reliever had a 4.98 ERA in 21.2 innings last season.

Tepera was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Monday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Tepera will head to waivers after posting a 4.98 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 14 punchouts over 21.2 innings this season with the Blue Jays.

Tepera will serve as the Blue Jays' opening pitcher in Tuesday's game against the Orioles.

Tepera hasn't worked more than an inning in any of his 17 appearances this season, so he'll likely just pitch the bottom of the first before his night comes to an end. Trent Thornton is in line to enter the contest behind Tepera and is the Toronto pitcher most likely to factor into any decision.

The Blue Jays reinstated Tepera (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Sunday.

He'll be up with the big club for the first time since late May after the right elbow injury kept him on the shelf for more than three months. Tepera looked sharp during his five-outing minor-league rehab assignment, giving up two unearned runs on two hits and two walks over five innings. The 31-year-old could quickly claim a key setup role in front of closer Ken Giles.

Tepera (elbow) is expected to be activated Sunday, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

Tepera has been out of action due to an elbow issue since late May. He's back with the Blue Jays and finished with his rehab assignment, but the team has little reason not to wait two more days until rosters expand so that no corresponding move is required.

Tepera (elbow) moved his rehab assignment to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday and tossed a scoreless inning in relief in the affiliate's 4-2 loss to Pawtucket.

Tepera made two appearances with High-A Dunedin over the past week before the Blue Jays determined he was ready for a stiffer level of competition. Since he's been on the injured list since late May, Tepera will likely require multiple appearances with the Triple-A club before he's reinstated by the Blue Jays.

Tepera (elbow) made his first minor-league rehab appearance with High-A Tampa on Saturday, striking out a batter over a scoreless inning in relief.

Tepera retired the side on just eight pitches, generating two groundball outs in addition to the punchout. Since he's been on the shelf since late May with the right elbow issue, Tepera will likely require at least a few more appearances in the minors before returning from the 60-day injured list. The Blue Jays are presumably counting on having him back when the roster expands Sept. 1.

Tepera (elbow) will throw live batting practice next week, Alexis Brudnicki of MLB.com reports.

He has been throwing bullpen sessions and is ready to advance to the next step in his rehab. It sounds like Tepera could return in late August or early September.