WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Chicago Cubs claimed right-handed pitcher Shawn Armstrong off waivers from St. Louis yesterday and today added him to the active roster. In corresponding moves, the team today optioned right-handed pitcher Daniel Palencia to Triple-A Iowa and released catcher Tomas Nido.

Armstrong, 33, is a 10-year MLB veteran who is 3-2 with a 4.85 ERA in 49 appearances—seven starts—this season for Tampa Bay and St. Louis. He was traded to St. Louis on July 30 and had a 1-0 record with a 2.84 ERA in 11 relief appearances, including an active scoreless streak of seven outings (7.2 ip). In those seven outings, he is holding hitters to a .130 batting average (3-for-23). A native of New Bern, N.C., Armstrong was designated for assignment by St. Louis on Tuesday.

Across his major league career, Armstrong is 11-7 with a 4.17 ERA in 291 games—16 starts—for St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Miami, Baltimore, Seattle and Cleveland. He was drafted in the 18^th round of the 2011 MLB Draft by Cleveland out of East Carolina University. He was originally selected in the 33^rd round of the 2008 MLB Draft by Houston but did not sign.

Palencia, 24, has made nine relief appearances for the Cubs this season and is 0-1 with a 7.11 ERA.

Nido, 30, hit .128 (6-for-47) in 17 games for the Cubs after being signed as a free agent on June 19.

The Cubs play the Washington Nationals today at 3:05 p.m. CT in Washington, D.C. at Nationals Park in a game that can be seen on Marquee and heard on 670 The Score.