Cubs Recall Zac Rosscup, Option Kyle Hendricks And Blake Parker

Here are the Cubs roster moves prior to Friday's game:

Zac Rosscup recalled from Iowa .Blake Parker and Kyle Hendricks optioned back to Triple A . Darwin Barney reinstated from paternity list

— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) July 11, 2014

Hendricks goes back (as did Dallas Beeler and Tsuyoshi Wada before him) because the Cubs will not need a fourth or fifth starter until the San Diego series at Wrigley Field, which begins July 22. Thus all those pitchers can get in an extra outing at Triple-A Iowa before they come back, in whatever form management decides to fill the two rotation slots past Jake Arrieta, Travis Wood and Edwin Jackson, who will start (in some order) the series at Arizona after the break.

Thus, at least for three days, I get my wish of an extra position player. Darwin Barney's reinstatement from the paternity list gives the Cubs six infielders, five outfielders and two catchers -- 13 position players.

They still have an extra reliever, because with just three starters on the staff at the present time, there are nine relief pitchers with the addition of Rosscup. In four appearances in three previous recalls, Rosscup has thrown four innings, allowed one hit and two walks and struck out five. This will give Rick Renteria quite a bit of bullpen flexibility this weekend, as he'll have three lefthanders to call on in relief -- as well as a bonus bench position player.