Cubs Place RHP Alec Mills on IL, Recall RHP Tommy Nance

The Chicago Cubs have placed RHP Alec Mills on the 10-day IL with a lower back strain. Mills pitched an ugly 1.2 innings in Saturday’s game against Detroit giving up two hits, two walks, and a wild pitch while getting charged with three earned runs. Mills has struggled to find a groove all season, posting a 5.96 ERA to date.

Tommy Nance was part of a four-pitcher no-hitter for the Iowa Cubs on May 9, 2021, and has been in the Cubs organization since 2016. He has a career 3.33 ERA, including a 1.50 ERA over six innings pitched this season with the I-Cubs.

Here’s the full press release from the Cubs:

DETROIT – The Chicago Cubs today placed right-handed pitcher Alec Mills on the 10-day injured list with a lower back strain and selected right-handed pitcher Tommy Nance from Triple-A Iowa.

Nance, who looks to make his major league debut, will wear uniform number 45 and is available for today’s 1:10 p.m. ET game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

Nance, 30, is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA (1 ER/6.0 IP) in three relief appearances for Iowa this season, walking one and striking out 10, good for an average of 15 strikeouts per 9.0 innings.

Originally signed by Chicago as a non-drafted free agent in January of 2016, the six-foot six-inch Nance is 8-7 with a 3.33 ERA (42 ER/113.2 IP) and eight saves in 71 career minor league relief appearances. He has walked 45, struck out 122 and recorded a 1.21 WHIP with an average of 9.7 strikeouts per 9.0 innings. In 2019 between Single-A Myrtle Beach and Double-A Tennessee, Nance was 2-5 with five saves and a 4.07 ERA (22 ER/48.2 IP) in 31 relief appearances, having walked 18 with 56 strikeouts.

Nance attended Long Beach State University in 2010, Cypress Junior College in 2011 and Santa Clara University in 2012-13. Prior to signing with Chicago, Nance appeared in 29 games for the Windy City ThunderBolts of the independent Frontier League in 2015.

Mills, 29, is 2-0 with a 5.96 ERA (15 ER/22.2 IP) and one save in 12 games (one start) for Chicago this season, walking eight and striking out 13.