The Cubs have placed OF Alfonso Soriano on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right calf. He was off to a rough start this year for the Cubs. In his first 13 games, Soriano is 10 for 57 (.175 avg, .528 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 2 homers, 5 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. The Cubs have recalled Eric Patterson to replace Soriano on the roster. He has played in 3 games this season for the Cubs and he is 0 for 6 with 1 RBI and 1 stolen base so far this year. The Cubs need Soriano back and quickly.

The Cubs won’t likely have 26-year old righty Angel Guzman pitching for them this season as he recovers from elbow surgery. Guzman pitched in 12 games (3 starts) last season for the Cubs and he was 0-1 with a 3.56 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. He has now pitched in 27 games (13 starts) in his major league career and he is 0-7 with a 6.05 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. This hurts Guzman a lot more than it hurts the Cubs as he showed potential last season before his injury.

The Chicago Cubs have placed outfielder Angel Pagan on the 15-day disabled list with colitis.  He has played in 71 games this season and he is 39 for 148 (.264 avg, .745 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 4 homers, 21 RBIs and 4 stolen bases.  The Cubs have recalled Felix Pie to take Pagan’s place on the roster.  He has played in 48 games this season for the Cubs and he is 30 for 139 (.216 avg, .617 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 2 homers, 18 RBIs and 6 stolen bases.

The Chicago Cubs have lost Alfonso Soriano for the next 2-4 weeks with a strained right quadriceps injury.  This will really hurt the Cubs as Soriano is the guy who makes the whole offense click.  He has played in 104 games this season and he is 132 of 444 (.297 avg, .847 OPS) with 74 runs scored, 18 homers, 42 RBIs and 19 stolen bases.  The Cubs will need to tread water until Soriano returns to the lineup.  The Cubs have recalled outfielder Eric Patterson to replace Soriano on the Cubs roster.

The Cubs have placed Ryan Dempster on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique muscle.  This will hurt the Cubs a little bit as Dempster has pitched pretty well this season for the Cubbies.  In 33 games this season Dempster is 1-3 with 16 saves, a 3.38 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP.  He has thrown 34.2 innings this season and he’s allowed 21 hits, walked 14 batters and whiffed 33.  Look for Bobby Howry to take over as the closer of the Cubs until Dempster is ready to return.