The Chicago Cubs are reportedly calling up left-handed hitting prospect Matt Mervis from Triple-A. According to Iowa Cubs beat reporter Tommy Birch, Mervis will join the Cubs in time for Tuesday night’s series opener against the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field.

Mervis, 26, is once again destroying pitching at Triple-A, slashing .288/.402/.606 in 18 games so far this year. The left-handed hitter has 5 home runs in 82 plate appearances and has posted a 151 wRC+ with Iowa.

In 2023, the Cubs called up Mervis in early May after the team released veteran first baseman Eric Hosmer, ending that failed experiment. Unfortunately for Mervis and the Cubs, the rookie could not get going in his first stint in the majors and was optioned back to Triple-A in June after struggling in 99 plate appearances. Mervis hit 3 home runs and slashed .167/.242/.289, with a 46 wRC+.

So, the Cubs are getting a left-handed bat and well this probably means the Cubs are going to lose another key player on the roster. Ian Happ was taken out of Friday’s game against the Miami Marlins because of a hamstring issue, the same thing that bothered the outfielder in spring training. The Cubs were cautious with Happ during the weekend and did not play the switch-hitter in the final three games of their series against the Marlins.

The Cubs have already been hit with several injuries through the first month of the season up and down the roster. Justin Steele has been out since Opening Day, Julian Merryweather is on the 60-day injured list, Seiya Suzuki won’t be back until the middle of May at the earliest and now Happ may be gone for at least another week.

UPDATE

The Cubs are also calling up right-handed pitcher Hayden Wesneski along with Mervis.

Wesneski will most likely take Colten Brewer’s roster spot. Brewer was called up last week and made two relief appearances against the Marlins.

Maybe Happ is OK

So, Ian Happ was on 670 The Score this morning right around the time of the Matt Mervis call up news and well this is why you shouldn’t assume. Happ, who did miss the last three games because if some hamstring soreness, sounded optimistic that he would be back Tuesday night against the Houston Astros while talking to the Bernstein & Holmes Show.

All right, that’s good to hear. However, now I have no idea who could be getting replaced by Mervis. I can’t imagine it would be Alexander Canario because without Seiya Suzuki the Cubs are have Mike Tauchman starting regularly and need Canario as the fourth outfielder. I mean, I guess Patrick Wisdom could fill in like he did in right field against the Marlins and that would push Canario back to Triple-A?

Hmmm, we’ll see how the Cubs rearrange their roster later today.