The Chicago Cubs have a new-look bullpen after the team placed right-handed reliever Ethan Roberts on the injured list. Roberts has been added to the active roster twice this season because of injuries, and now he’s on the 15-day injured list because of a right-finger laceration.
Prior to Tuesday night’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Cubs also optioned Charlie Barnes to Triple-A. So, the Cubs called up a pair of left-handed pitchers from Triple-A, as Luke Little is back, and Ryan Rolison will be making his Cubs debut soon, too.
The roster moves now give the Cubs five left-handed pitchers in the bullpen.
Chicago Cubs Bullpen
Riley Martin (LHP)
Luke Little (LHP)
Ryan Rolison (LHP)
Hoby Milner (LHP)
Caleb Thielbar (LHP)
Ben Brown (RHP)
Jacob Webb (RHP)
Daniel Palencia (RHP)
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Since the season began, the Cubs have moved Colin Rea from the bullpen to the starting rotation. Javier Assad has been called up to fill in as a starter, while Roberts, Riley Martin, Little, Rolison, and Barnes have all been called up after injuries to Phil Maton and Hunter Harvey.
(Previous Update)
The Chicago Cubs are reportedly calling up not one, but two more left-handed relievers to add to the bullpen ahead of Tuesday night’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Unfortunately, this probably does signal an injury that has yet to be announced.
Tommy Birch first reported on Tuesday morning that Luke Little was getting the call-up from the Cubs. Little, 25, first made his MLB debut at the end of the 2023 season and then made 30 appearances in 2024. However, the hard-throwing lefty had trouble with his command last year, which made him unusable for Craig Counsell. Little was called up in the middle of March last year, and in his season debut, he walked four batters, including one with the bases loaded against the San Diego Padres.
That performance earned Little a ticket back to Triple-A, where he remained until he was called up for a brief time in August. Little made only two relief outings in 2025 and walked six batters in 2.2 innings. That’s been the main issue for Little because the numbers on paper look solid, a 2.80 ERA in 35.1 innings with 44 strikeouts, but he’s walked 28 batters as well in his MLB career.
In 2025, Little struck out 75 hitters in 59.2 innings at Triple-A and recorded a 2.87 ERA in 43 games. You obviously love that 29.8 K%, but averaging more than five walks per nine innings is worrisome.
Meanwhile, Birch later reported that former first-round pick Ryan Rolison is also being called up from Triple-A. The Cubs picked up Rolison in the offseason, claiming him off waivers from the White Sox. The 28-year-old had a rough showing in 2025 with the Colorado Rockies, posting a 7.02 ERA in 31 games, but the lefty does have good stuff that should play against MLB hitters.
Rolison has a 3.68 ERA in 7.1 innings in five games with the Iowa Cubs at Triple-A this season. The lefty has 11 strikeouts, six walks, and has surrendered nine hits.
The Cubs haven’t made the roster moves official just yet, but it’s probably safe to assume that Charlie Barnes will be removed from the bullpen. He pitched three innings on Monday, coming in to pitch in a blowout. Yet, with a second reliever getting promoted, there’s most likely going to be an injury announced as well.
Right now, the bullpen is composed of Barnes, Riley Martin, Hoby Milner, and Caleb Thiebar from the left side, and Jacob Webb, Ethan Roberts, Ben Brown, and Daniel Palencia from the right. So, we’ll see whether the Cubs are replacing one of their other left-handed relievers or if one of the right-handed relief options is dealing with something. If it is one of the righties, then the Cubs would have five left-handed pitchers in the bullpen.
