31-year old lefty reliever John Grabow tore his medial collateral ligament in his left elbow on a rehab assignment ending his season. Grabow is done for the year for the Cubbies. He pitched in 28 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last season and he 1-3 with a 7.36 ERA and a 1.87 WHIP. In his two years with the Cubs, Grabow has pitched in 58 games (0 starts) in which he is 3-3 with 1 save, a 5.33 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. The Cubs won’t miss Grabow as they are just playing out the string the rest of the way.

The Cubs have placed starting catcher Geovany Soto on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder sprain. Soto has played in 88 games for the Cubs this year and he is 76 of 264 (.288 avg, .920 OPS) with 41 runs scored, 15 homers and 45 RBIs. Koyie Hill could get a increase in playing time if he hits the ball. He has played in 48 games this year for the Cubbies and he is 22 of 114 (.193 avg, .477 OPS) with 6 runs scored and 8 RBIs. 23-year old righty swinging catcher Welington Castillo has been called up to replace Soto on the roster. He was the Cubs’ #27 prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. Castillo has played in 65 games in AAA-ball this year and he is 57 of 227 (.251 avg, .823 OPS) with 35 runs scored, 13 homers and 57 RBIs. He has now played in 359 games in his five years in the minors and he is 316 of 1,219 (.259 avg, .726 OPS) with 148 runs scored, 39 homers and 177 RBIs.

The Cubs have placed 31-year old righty starting pitcher Carlos Silva on the 15-day disabled list with a abnormal heartbeat. Silva has started 20 games for the Cubs this year and he is 10-5 with a 3.92 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. The Cubs have recalled 23-year old righty starting pitcher Chase Coffman to replace him in the rotation. Coffman came into this season as the Cubs’ #25 prospect according to Baseball America. Coffman started 20 games in AAA-ball this year and he is 10-7 with a 4.07 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. He has now pitched in 60 games (57 starts) in his three years in the minors and he is 28-16 with a 3.73 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP.

The Cubs have placed 24-year old righty reliever Brian Schlitter on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder impingement. Schlitter has pitched in 3 games (0 starts) for the Cubs this year and he is 0-0 with a 15.00 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. The Cubs have called up 24-year old righty reliever/starter Mitch Atkins to replace Schlitter in the pen. Atkins has pitched in 18 games (10 starts) in AAA-ball this year and he is 5-2 with 1 save, a 3.60 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. Atkins will be getting his second taste of the majors as he worked in 2 games last season for the Cubs pitching 2 scoreless innings allowing only 1 hit.

The Cubs have placed 31-year old lefty reliever John Grabow on the 15-day disabled list with a left knee sprain. Grabow has pitched in 28 games (0 starts) for the Cubs so far this season and he is 1-3 with a 7.36 ERA and a 1.87 WHIP. He has given up 35 hits (5 homers) in only 25 2/3 innings this season. The Cubs have recalled 24-year old lefty reliever James Russell to replace Grabow in the pen. Russell pitched in 20 games (0 starts) earlier this season for the Cubs in which he was 0-1 with a 4.71 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. Russell can’t be any worse than Grabow has been this season.