Cubs place RHP Alec Mills on 10-day injured list, select RHP Tommy Nance from Triple-A Iowa

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.