Cubs select Nicky Lopez's contract while latest roster moves confirm yet another injury

As expected, after the Chicago Cubs traded for Nicky Lopez on Thursday, the team has added him to the 26-man roster ahead of their game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night. Lopez will be taking the spot of Scott Kingery on the roster, and Porter Hodge was transferred to the 60-day IL to make room for a veteran infielder on the 40-man roster.

After Kingery made two errors in the same game earlier this week, it seemed that there would be a change on the bench. While Kingery had been used primarily as a pinch-runner through the early weeks of the season, being a defensive liability likely wasn't something the Cubs were going to withstand for very long. Lopez's bat is limited, but he has defensive versatility and grades as an above-average fielder.

More notably, the Cubs will be without veteran relief pitcher Caleb Thielbar for at least the next 15 days. Thielbar exited Thursday's victory against the Philadelphia Phillies, and further testing confirmed he suffered a hamstring strain.

Dating back to last season when Thielbar posted a 2.64 ERA in 67 appearances out of the Cubs' bullpen, the veteran lefty has cemented his spot in Craig Counsell's circle of truth. When Daniel Palencia went on the IL with a lat strain earlier this month, Thielbar was immediately looked to as the team's closer.

Hamstring strains can be a tricky injury, as the timeline is often loose. Complicating matters is that Thielbar is on the wrong side of 30. Counsell referred to the strain as mild. The best-case scenario would be that the Cubs get Thielbar back before the start of June.

Help is on the way for a depleted Cubs' bullpen.

Vince Velasquez was among the plethora of depth minor-league signings Jed Hoyer made over the winter. He last was in the majors during the 2023 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, posting a 3.86 ERA in eight starts. For now, after playing extras on Thursday, the Cubs simply need a fresh arm capable of pitching multiple innings if called upon. Velasquez checks that box.

If you squint, reinforcements are on the way. Phil Maton is starting a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend, and Hunter Harvey resumed his throwing program today. Both are still likely a couple of weeks away from being considered for a return to the bullpen.

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