Jake Arrieta’s release wasn’t the only move the Cubs made before Thursday’s game against the Brewers. The team put catcher Willson Contreras on the 10-day injured list with a right knee sprain. Contreras has been a workhorse behind the plate for the Cubs this season and has started more games behind the plate than any catcher in baseball.
It’s the first time Contreras has missed time this season and with his importance to the Cubs, giving him a chance to recover was priority No. 1 for the team. Contreras is slashing .226/.333/.417 with 17 homers and 40 RBIs in 104 games season.
“Just tweaked his knee a little bit,” manager David Ross told reporters before the game. “That’s a that’s a tricky spot for a catcher. He was doing some stuff, some pregame work in hiis normal routine to get ready. It was bothering him a little bit and was able to play through it. Just talking to the trainers it didn’t make a whole lot of sense to continue that on that path.
The Cubs activated catcher Austin Romine from the 60-day injured list to take Contreras’ place on the roster. Romine has been out with a severe left wrist sprain since the end of April.
With the team down a pitcher following Arrieta’s release, right-handed Ryan Meisinger was selected from Triple-A Iowa. Meisinger is 2-2 with a 4.25 ERA and three saves in 24 appearances in the minors this season.
Left-hander Kyle Ryan was designated for assignment, clearing space on the team’s 40-man roster. Ryan had a 6.75 ERA in 13 appearances this season.
