Report: Cubs Place Mike Montgomery on IL, Promote Kyle Ryan
In a move that had been widely speculated, the Cubs will place Mike Montgomery on the injured list and will recall lefty Kyle Ryan from Triple-A Iowa. After pitching in parts of four seasons with the Tigers, Ryan signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs last December and made 22 appearances (eight starts) for Triple-A Iowa this past season. The Cubs then agreed to a major league deal with Ryan last November.
The 27-year-old southpaw is a finesse pitcher whose fastball sits around 90-91 mph and who needs to have good control to be effective. That was not the case in 2017, when he posted a 5.36 BB/9 mark in 45.1 Triple-A innings and then walked seven in only 5.2 big league innings. He had things dialed in with Iowa, though, and notched 8.32 K/9 (his highest at any professional level) and 2.45 BB/9.
Headed to the park soon. Cubs trying to break a 6 game skid. So Kyle Ryan and Allan Webster will take Edwards and Montgomery’s (IL) place.Tough not making it to home opener for Edwards. Not sure I’ve seen that before,guy optioned for performance before team has played a home game
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) April 6, 2019
This should give the Cubs more competent depth while also improving their overall strike-throwing, a bullpen bugaboo for the past several years. Though many had been discussing the likelihood of Montgomery going to the IL for the last couple days, ESPN’s Jesse Rogers was first with the report that it happening and the Ryan would join the roster.
