Strop Out 4-6 Weeks, Grimm Recalled From Iowa

The news came in on Pedro Strop today, and while the news was not good, it was not nearly as bad as it could have been. The MRI on his left knee revealed a torn meniscus, for which he will undergo arthroscopic surgery on Friday. He's expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks, which would put him right on track for a return in time for the postseason. The Cubs have recalled Justin Grimm and Grimm is at Wrigley for tonight's game.

Strop has been the Cubs setup man for most of this season, moving back to the 7th inning role when the Cubs acquired Aroldis Chapman. But Strop has been excellent in that role, going 2-2 with a 2.89 ERA along with 56 strikeouts and only 13 walks in 43 and two-thirds innings.

Grimm has bounced back and forth between Iowa and Chicago over the past two weeks, but he's only managed to pitch one scoreless inning in Iowa all season, allowing one hit but striking out the side. In Chicago, where he's spent most of the season, he's been 1-0 with a 4.58 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 35 and a third innings. Control has been his biggest issue, as he's walked 16 batters, although two were intentional.

For the Cubs, this move illustrates why the Cubs went out and got more depth in their bullpen with pitchers such as Mike Montgomery and Joe Smith. Also, Carl Edwards Jr. has come up from Iowa and has proven to be excellent, with a 1.42 ERA in 19 innings, striking out 26 and walking just five. I wouldn't be surprised to see Edwards slot into Strop's 7th inning role, especially after his performance last night.