Cubs Activate Adbert Alzolay, Dillon Maples from IL

The Cubs have activated right-handed pitchers Dillon Maples and Adbert Alzolay from the 10-day injured list. The active roster currently stands at 28 players, which is the limit as of September 1.

Maples went on the IL July 29 with a right middle finger blister after going 1-0 with a 2.28 ERA in 24 outings. He has stuck out 36 (11.7 K/9) and walked 19 (6.18 BB/9), the latter of which is less than stellar. You can live with some of the walks because he has held opponents to a .132 average, which is the second-lowest average against among MLB relievers (min. 90 batters faced).

Alzolay was placed on the 10-day injured list on August 14 with a left hamstring strain. He has gone 4-13 with a 5.16 ERA and 107 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .239 average in 21 starts. He has not made any relief appearances despite the Cubs saying that was part of the plan for this season, so an IL stint was a good way to limit his innings.

Here’s to hoping it also means Alzolay will come out sharp in his next start. He has tremendous stuff and most of his pitches are relatively new to him when it comes to incorporating them into his repertoire, so taking a little time to recalibrate mentally and physically can’t hurt.