Shaw Activated, Alcántara Optioned, Taillon to IL, Roberts Recalled
We already covered the news about Matt Shaw being activated from the IL and Kevin Alcántara being optioned to make room, so that’s easy. It’s also been known that Jameson Taillon would be placed on the IL with a hamstring strain, making that news easy as well. Ethan Roberts, who was recently optioned to Triple-A to make room for Javier Assad, has been recalled to fill the open spot.
The Cubs also placed Trent Thornton on the paternity list and recalled Tyler Ferguson (no relation to Turd).
Here’s the media release if you’re so inclined:
The Chicago Cubs today announced the following roster moves: infielder Matt Shaw has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list and right-handed pitchers Ethan Roberts and Tyler Ferguson have been recalled from Triple-A Iowa. In corresponding moves, outfielder Kevin Alcántara has been optioned to Triple-A, right-handed pitcher Jameson Taillon has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a left hamstring strain (retroactive to June 8) and right-handed pitcher Trent Thornton has been placed on the paternity list.
Shaw, 24, was hitting .242 (23-for-95) with six doubles, three home runs, 12 RBI, three stolen bases and a .400 slugging percentage ahead of being placed on the injured list on May 20 with mid-back tightness. He has played right field (14 games), second base (seven games), third base (five games), first base (two games), left field (one game) and center field (one game) this season, recording just one error in 70 chances (.986 fielding percentage). Shaw made four rehab appearances with the Iowa Cubs, going 4-for-14 (.286) with one double, one RBI and a .732 OPS.
Roberts, 28, is 0-1 with a 1.96 ERA (4 ER/18.1 IP), 14 strikeouts, seven walks and 1.09 WHIP in 14 relief appearances with the Cubs this season. He has allowed earned runs in just three of his outings, including only one home run, and has held opponents hitless in seven of his 14 games. He was optioned Saturday, June 6, and did not pitch for Iowa in the interim.
Ferguson, 32, has pitched to a 2.79 ERA (3 ER/9.2 IP) with eight strikeouts, five walks and a .176 opponent batting average in seven games with the I-Cubs this season, all out of the bullpen, since being acquired from the Athletics on May 7. Overall this season, he is 0-1 with a 4.64 ERA (11 ER/21.1 IP), 16 strikeouts and a 1.27 WHIP in 17 games at the Triple-A level. He made one major league appearance out of the bullpen with the Athletics this year, allowing four earned runs on four hits with one strikeout in 1.1 innings of work. Ferguson was recalled by the Cubs on June 2 but did not make an appearance before being optioned on June 5.
Alcántara, 23, recorded one hit in nine at-bats with two walks and a stolen base in 12 appearances, including two starts at DH, with the Cubs this season.
Taillon, 34, is 2-5 with a 5.19 ERA (39 ER/67.2 IP) this season. He was removed from the game on Sunday vs. San Francisco due to injury after pitching to one batter in the second inning.
Thornton, 32, is 2-2 with a 1.69 ERA (3 ER/16.0 IP) and a .185 opponent batting average in 12 appearances out of the ‘pen for the Cubs in 2026.
