Cubs DFA Brach to make room for Hamels

CHICAGO -- Given the recent additions to the bullpen and the emergence of rookie Rowan Wick, the Cubs were forced to loosen up a logjam on Saturday morning.

Prior to Chicago’s game against Milwaukee, the team designated right-hander Brad Brach for assignment to clear an active roster spot for lefty Cole Hamels, who was activated from the 10-day injured list to start against the Brewers Saturday after dealing with a left oblique issue.

"Every time he went out there, I expected a good result," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of Brach. "He was throwing the ball well all year. He was running into some bad luck. Velocity was good. It's really hard to understand why he had such a hard time. Saying that, I want him to get another opportunity quickly. Great guy."

In the days leading up to Wednesday’s Trade Deadline, the Cubs acquired righty David Phelps from the Blue Jays and lefty Derek Holland from the Giants. Chicago had also been carrying nine relievers over the past week due to not needing a fifth starter.

The Cubs signed Brach over the offseason to a one-year, $1.75 million contract that included potential bonuses and a team option for 2020. In 42 appearances this season, Brach posted a 6.13 ERA with 45 strikeouts, allowing 28 walks and 42 hits in 39 2/3 innings.

Under MLB’s new rules, a player who is designated for assignment in August can be claimed or released, but no longer traded.

Another factor in the decision on Brach was the recent performance of Wick, who has a 2.25 ERA with 13 strikeouts and a 53.6 percent ground-ball rate in 11 games. The righty has not allowed a run in his past six appearances for Chicago. Per Statcast, Wick has averaged 95.6 mph on his fastball and has paired that with a swing-and-miss curve.

"What Rowan's doing right now causes us to rethink a lot of this stuff," Maddon said. "His fastball's been explosive. He's got the good curveball. His confidence is there. He just needs more opportunity, but yes, he is playing into the decision making right now."

Wick does have Minor League options remaining, but Maddon said the Cubs have reached the point where performance needs to drive the team's decisions. The manager summed up that stance earlier this week by saying that "it's big boy time" for the team.

"You can't try to make a decision based on development right now or hold anything back if you think it's the right thing to do,” Maddon said. “It's the right thing to do. And Brad was not argumentative at all. Listen, he's going to get another chance and he's going to do well."

Worth noting

• Veteran utility man Ben Zobrist went 0-for-3 with a walk for Class A South Bend in the first game of what is expected to be a month-long comeback attempt with the Cubs. Zobrist, who has been on MLB's restricted list since May 8 while tending to a family matter, is scheduled to play Saturday and Sunday with South Bend before being re-evaluated Monday to determine the next step.

"He knows himself really well," Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said on Friday. "If he had real doubts about his ability to get ready to contribute to this team, he wouldn't be coming back. He's not doing it for any other reason than he thinks that he can help this team, and that's what this is all about, getting himself in position to do that."

• During the eighth inning of Friday's 6-2 win over the Brewers, home-plate umpire John Tumpane made Cubs reliever Brandon Kintzler change his glove. The umpire informed Kintzler that the glove -- one the reliever has used all season -- was a shade of gray that was not permitted by MLB. Kintzler switched to one of his black backup gloves.

"He just said, 'You can't use gray,'" Kintzler said. "I'm like, 'Well, I promise you, I've been using it for four years.' Whatever you've got to do. I was like, 'Just check the video.' He goes, 'OK,' but I don't know. ... Rawlings said they got the color approved by Major League Baseball, so I don't understand."

• Maddon noted that outfielder Ian Happ worked out at second base prior to Saturday's game. Happ can play all three outfield spots, but "the more flexibility we have with him the better," said the manager.