Cubs Make Flurry of Roster Moves for Memorial Day

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net | By Ron Luce | Last updated 5/30/22

Ahead of the national holiday, the Chicago Cubs made a number of moves prior to their doubleheader with the Milwaukee Brewers. Among those moves, the Cubs placed INF Jonathan Villar on the IL, transferred RHP Ethan Roberts to the 60-day IL, officially recalled OF Nelson Velazquez, and more.

.@Cubs place INF Jonathan Villar (mouth) on the 10-day IL; select the contract of RHP Matt Swarmer from Triple-A Iowa; recall OF Nelson Velazquez; transfer RHP Ethan Roberts from the 10-day IL to the 60-day IL
— MLB Roster Moves (@MLBRostersMoves) May 30, 2022

RHP Matt Swarmer is making his big league debut on Monday in the first of two games for the Cubs and Brewers. Although not a household name, Swarmer has been excellent at Triple-A Iowa posting a 2.08 ERA thus far in 2022. The 28-year-old hasn’t had the most direct route to the big leagues, but his story is pretty incredible.

Unfortunately for Villar, he is on the IL with a mouth injury. According to reports, Villar was working out and had a band snap and hit him in the face, requiring some dental work.

In addition to the above moves, the Cubs promoted Anderson Espinoza to serve as the team’s 27th man for the doubleheader.

.@Cubs recall RHP Anderson Espinoza to serve as the 27th man for todays doubleheader
— MLB Roster Moves (@MLBRostersMoves) May 30, 2022

The Cubs begin a stretch of nine games in seven days at Wrigley Field on Monday. Monday’s doubleheader consists of games one and two in the four-game set with Milwaukee. Following the Brewers series will be five games with the St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend.

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

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