Cubs Recall Matt Mervis, Hayden Wesneski in Series of Tuesday Roster Moves

Mervis made his MLB debut in 2023 and ultimately played in 27 games before being sent back to Iowa for the rest of the season. The left-handed slugger struggled in limited action, slashing .167/.242/.289. He hit three homer runs and drove in 11 during that span, but that was about the extent of his contributions. Now, he returns to take Garrett Cooper's slot on the roster after a hot start in Iowa. Mervis has a 1.008 OPS in 18 games so far. 

As for Cooper, the righty appeared in 12 games so far in 2024. In those games, the 33-year-old has one home run, six RBI, and 10 total hits. Despite a really nice start for the lefty masher, Cooper's .270/.341/.432 slash line isn't enough to keep him on the roster. Now, his designation for assignment could lead to the two sides parting ways, or Cooper reporting to Triple-A Iowa. 

For Wesneski, the righty made his 2024 debut during the Arizona series last week. After Jordan Wicks managed a solid 4.1 innings of work, Wesneski came out of the bullpen and saved a number of arms. Wesneski threw 4.0 shutout innings, allowing just one hit. 

Kyle Hendricks is heading to the IL. It's no secret that Hendricks has struggled mightily to begin the season, and he needs time to get right. The IL stint should provide him a chance to get fully healthy, if he is hurt, and time to turn things around. 

With Hendricks heading to the IL, it is likely that Wesneski will make a start as a result. However, Justin Steele is close to returning and he should ultimately reclaim his spot from Wesneski at that point.  

What's On Tap Next?

The Cubs and Astros begin their three-game set at 6:40 p.m. CDT on Tuesday. LHP Jordan Wicks will take the bump for the Cubs while the Astros trot out RHP J.P. France.