MILWAUKEE _ The Cubs made several moves to address their ineffective bullpen Saturday, including the demotion of Carl Edwards Jr. to Triple-A Iowa.
Edwards, 27, was optioned after allowing five walks and six earned runs in 1 2/3 innings _ a 32.40 ERA _ covering four appearances. Edwards gave up a three-run, game-winning home run to Joey Gallo of the Rangers on March 30 and a two-run, opposite-field home run to the Brewers' Orlando Arcia in the Cubs' 13-10 loss Friday night, dropping them to 1-6.
Edwards has a career 3.36 ERA in 176 appearances with the Cubs dating to 2015. The right-hander surrendered runs in three of his four appearances, but he is only part of a struggling bullpen that has posted an 8.54 ERA with 21 walks in 26 1/3 innings.
Left-hander Mike Montgomery, who missed most of spring training because of shoulder tightness, was placed on the 10-day injured list because of a minor left lat strain. Montgomery has allowed eight hits in 2 2/3 innings over four appearances.
The Cubs promoted relievers Allen Webster and Kyle Ryan from Iowa. Webster, 29, didn't give up a run in his only appearance for Iowa and has pitched in 31 major league games with the Red Sox, Diamondbacks and Cubs. He posted a 1.50 ERA with 11 strikeouts and only five hits allowed in 12 innings this spring.
Ryan, 27, had a 3.09 ERA in spring training and allowed a run in 1 2/3 innings Thursday for Iowa. He has pitched in 86 major league games with the Tigers over four seasons (2014-17), posting a 3.87 ERA. Ryan had a 2.86 ERA in 22 games for Iowa last season.
To make room for Webster on the 40-man roster, the Cubs designated right-hander Jen-Ho Tseng for assignment.
Tseng, 24, pitched in three games for the Cubs in 2017-18. Tseng was 2-15 with a 6.27 ERA in 26 starts at Iowa in 2018.
