PITTSBURGH _ The Cubs shook up their roster before Friday night's game against the Pirates, recalling infielder Addison Russell and sending center fielder Albert Almora Jr. to Triple-A Iowa.
Russell gives the Cubs more flexibility in the middle of the infield. Thursday night, backup shortstop David Bote committed an error and second baseman Ian Happ couldn't cleanly field a grounder that led to a single that set up Bryce Harper's game-wining grand slam in the ninth inning for the Phillies.
Russell, who has struggled at times this season since returning from a 40-game suspension for violating MLB's domestic violence policy, was demoted July 24.
As expected, reliever Brandon Kintzler was activated from the injured list and reliever James Norwood was optioned to Iowa.
The Cubs will face Joe Musgrove, who has a 1.23 ERA in five career starts against the Cubs and hasn't allowed an earned run in nine innings covering two starts against them this season.
Musgrove is 2-1 with a 1.57 ERA in four starts against the Cubs at PNC Park.
