Cubs place LHP Wade Miley on 15-day injured list

The Cubs have placed left-hander Wade Miley on the 15-day injured list due to a left shoulder strain, the team announced. Mark Leiter Jr. was called up from Triple-A to take Miley’s place on the active roster.

Miley was supposed to start Saturday’s game against the White Sox, but was held back to shoulder soreness. Both Miley and the Cubs held out the possibility that Miley would be able to return to the mound as early as Monday, but clearly something was still amiss following the bullpen and long-toss sessions that Miley was scheduled to throw Sunday.

This is already the second IL stint of the year for Miley, who didn’t make his first start of the season until May 10 due to some elbow inflammation that developed during Spring Training. When he has been able to pitch, Miley has been quite effective, posting a 3.38 ERA in 16 innings over three starts.

Leiter has made three starts for Chicago this season, and is likely the short-term fill-in for a start on Monday when the Cubs host the Brewers for a doubleheader. Going forward, Keegan Thompson is the most probable candidate to take Miley’s spot in the rotation, as Thompson’s transition from long reliever to proper starting pitcher has thus far been very successful. Thompson has an outstanding 1.58 ERA over 40 innings in 2022, which breaks down as a 1.38 ERA in 26 relief frames and a 1.93 ERA in 14 innings as a starter.