The Chicago Cubs added two more players to their injured list Monday, placing utilityman Matt Shaw and right-hander Ethan Roberts on the IL before the start of a three-game series against San Diego.
Shaw, 24, has a sprained left hand. Roberts, 28, is dealing with elbow inflammation. To fill the roster spots, the Cubs recalled outfielder Kevin Alcantara and right-hander Gavin Hollowell from Triple-A Iowa.
Shaw had already missed time this season. He was on the IL from May 20 to June 9 with mid-back tightness. After returning, he hit .257 with two home runs and eight RBIs in 14 games. He had taken over as the team's primary right fielder after Seiya Suzuki hurt his right knee on June 13.
Manager Craig Counsell said veteran Michael Conforto will get more regular time in right field with Shaw out.
On Shaw's timeline, Counsell was cautiously optimistic. "I think there's a world where he's swinging a bat by the weekend," he said. "I think as soon as we get the inflammation out, we think we can move forward pretty quickly, so there's a chance that one's a minimum (stint)."
Roberts is the 13th Cubs pitcher on the injured list. He had a 4.21 ERA in a career-high 23 appearances out of the bullpen and pitched in 11 games in June.
Counsell was straightforward about Roberts. "Ethan's been one of the guys that has pitched a lot," he said. "I don't think we have anything serious here, but it's just, we got to give him a break, basically."
The Cubs are also waiting on closer Daniel Palencia, who was placed on the IL on June 16 with elbow inflammation. Counsell said Palencia could begin throwing this week.
Starter Jameson Taillon is scheduled to throw live batting practice against Chicago hitters on Tuesday. Taillon strained his left hamstring in the second inning of a 2-1 loss to San Francisco on June 7.
