Chicago Cubs reliever Jose Veras shelved with an oblique issue

Feb 27, 2014; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs

(41) throws to the Arizona Diamondbacks during their spring training baseball game at HoHoKam Park. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports

According to ESPN Chicago Cubs beat writer Jesse Rogers, Cubs fans likely won’t see Jose Veras during the next few days, after the right-hander experienced left oblique soreness recently.

“Veras is a little sore in his left oblique so hopefully he’ll be OK,” manager Rick Renteria told Rogers Friday afternoon. “He’s been working hard.”

Rogers said that Renteria indicated that the injury didn’t take place during a specific outing, but rather is a result of the workload the right-hander has had early on this season.

In six games this season, Veras has struggled mightily, allowing ten earned runs in just 5 2/3 innings of work. His control has been a major issue – especially his offspeed pitches – issuing ten walks during that span, as well. Staff writer Nicholas Blazek took a look at Veras’ early season struggles earlier this week in a post here.

A stereotypical big league journeyman, Veras has pitched for eight teams in nine seasons, to the tune of a 19-22 mark with a 4.02 ERA. In those nine seasons, he has a total of 26 career saves. Chicago signed him during the offseason to fill the closer’s vacancy, which has been a soft spot in the organization in recent seasons, especially under former beleaguered closer Carlos Marmol, who lost the closer’s job early in the 2013 season before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

A disabled list stint has not been mentioned, of yet, but should Veras struggle to bounce back, it’s not out of the question moving forward.