Cubs activate Drew Smyly, option José Cuas to Triple-A Iowa ahead of series opener vs. Cardinals originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
The Chicago Cubs have shuffled their active pitching staff ahead of Saturday night’s opener against the St. Louis Cardinals, with veteran Drew Smyly being activated from the injured list, the club announced.
Smyly, who will be back in action for the first time since being placed on the injured list with a right hip injury on April 23, will replace Jose Cuas, who was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.
Now in his third season during his current stint with the Cubs, Smyly has achieved mixed results out of the bullpen in nine games so far in 2024.
Smyly posted a 4.97 ERA with five walks and 11 strikeouts in 12.2 innings, with a 4.63 FIP and 1.342 WHIP that mark measurable improvements over his final 2023 numbers.
Turning 35 next month, Smyly will add left-handed depth to the Cubs’ bullpen, while the North Siders expect the lefty to recapture much of what the club saw from him in 2022 and the first half of 2023.
As for Cuas, the 29-year-old right-hander will head to Iowa once again after posting mixed results in his last stint.
After going three straight scoreless games upon returning to the big league roster on May 11, Cuas was tagged for three hits and four runs, three of them earned, in a game against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.
Cuas posted a 7.43 ERA in nine games with the Chicago Cubs this year, with six walks and 14 strikeouts.
Following the postponement of Friday night’s game, the Cubs will face the rival St. Louis Cardinals for the first time in 2024 at Busch Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 6:15 p.m. local time.
