With Marlon Byrd and Reed Johnson on the D.L., playing time has become available for 25-year old lefty swinging Tony Campana. Campana has played in 11 games for the Cubs so far this year and he is 6 for 21 (.286 avg, .652 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 1 RBI and 5 stolen bases (he stole 4 bases last night against the Astros). Campana played in 30 games in AAA-ball before his promotion to Chicago and he was 41 for 120 (.342 avg, .824 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 0 homers, 9 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Campana has stole 144 bases in his first four years in the minors, so he’s bringing speed to the table for the Cubbies. Campana will likely be the starting CF for the Cubs until either Johnson or Byrd are ready to return to action, as long as he can handle it.

The Cubs have designated 27-year old righty reliever Jeff Stevens for assignment. Stevens pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Cubs so far this year and he is 0-0 with a 5.14 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. He has pitched in 33 games (0 starts) in his three years with the Cubs and he is 1-0 with a 6.27 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. It will be interesting to see if the Cubs want to keep Stevens if he clears waivers as he has shown no signs of improvement as a pitcher.

The Cubs have placed 29-year old righty swinging infielder Jeff Baker on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin. Baker has played in 31 games for the Cubs so far this year and he is 32 for 87 (.368 avg, .865 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 1 homer and 14 RBIs. The Cubs have called up 23-year old righty swinging infielder D.J. LeMahieu to replace Baker on the active roster. LeMahieu has played in 50 games in AA-ball so far this year and he is 67 for 187 (.358 avg, .878 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 2 homers, 27 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He has now played in 226 games in his first three years in the minors and he is 294 for 905 (.325 avg, .767 OPS) with 116 runs scored, 4 homers, 134 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. LeMahieu came into this season as the Cubs’ #13 prospect according to Baseball America.

The Cubs have placed 34-year old outfielder Reed Johnson on the 15-day disabled list. Johnson has played in 34 games for the Cubs so far this year and he is 22 for 60 (.367 avg, 1.068 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 2 homers and 18 RBIs. The Cubs have called up 29-year old lefty swinging outfielder Brad Snyder to replace Johnson on the active roster. He has played in 38 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 50 for 146 (.342 avg, .943 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 7 homers, 29 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. His first taste of the majors came last season for the Cubbies. He played in 12 games for the Cubs last year and he was 5 for 27 (.185 avg, .437 OPS) with 1 run scored and 5 RBIs.

The Cubs have designated 26-year old righty starting pitcher Robert Coello for assignment. Coello pitched in 9 games (all starts) in AAA-ball for the Cubs this year and he was 3-5 with a 7.82 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP. He walked 24 batters and he gave up 61 hits (11 homers) in 48 1/3 innings in the minors this year, so he was wild and he didn’t miss many bats. Coello’s only major league experience came back in 2010 with the Red Sox. Coello pitched in 6 games (0 starts) for the Red Sox last year and he was 0-0 with a 4.76 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. Coello will likely hook on with another team but the Cubs won’t miss him.

The Cubs have acquired 35-year old righty starting pitcher Rodrido Lopez from the Braves for 24-year old lefty reliever Ryan Buchter. Lopez has pitched in 9 games (all starts) in AAA-ball this year and he was 6-1 with a 2.59 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. He has pitched in 227 games (199 starts) in his major league career and he is 75-82 with a 4.85 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. The company line is that the Cubs are going to use Lopez in the bullpen, but with all of the injuries in the rotation, I have a feeling that he will be starting for the Cubs soon. Ryan Buchter pitched in 16 games (0 starts) in A+AA-ball this year for the Cubs and he was 4-0 with 1 save, a 3.38 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He has 30 whiffs in only 21 1/3 innings in the minors this year, so he has a good arm, but his control is lacking. This was a nice move for the Cubs who need help right now.

The Chicago Cubs have placed 27-year old righty starting pitcher Matt Garza on the 15-day disabled list due to a right elbow contusion. Garza has pitched in 9 games (all starts) for the Cubs so far this year and he is 2-4 with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He has already whiffed 68 batters in his first 55 2/3 innings this year. The Cubs will activate 28-year old righty Randy Wells to replace Garza in the rotation when his turn comes up. Wells has started 1 game for the Cubs so far this year and he is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP.

Righty closer Lee Smith was one of the most dominating relievers the Chicago Cubs have ever had. His best season came in 1983 with the Cubs when he worked in 66 games (0 starts) and he was 4-10 with 29 saves, a 1.65 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. His 29 saves led the majors in saves back in 1983. Smith only gave up 70 hits in 103 1/3 innings pitched in 1983 as he was flat out intimidating. Smith pitched in 458 games (0 starts) in his 8 years with the Cubs and he was 40-51 with 180 saves, a 2.92 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Smith is the Cubs’ all-time leader in saves (180) and he’s #2 in games pitched (458). Lee Smith was the major league leader in saves (478) quite a while before getting passed up by Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera.

Pete (Grover Cleveland) Alexander pitched really well in his time with the Cubs. Alexander’s best season with the Cubs came in 1920. He pitched in 46 games (40 starts) for the Cubs in 1920 and he was 27-14 with 5 saves, a 1.91 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Alexander led the N.L. in wins, games started, complete games, strikeouts (173) and innings pitched (363 1/3) in 1920. He also led the majors in ERA with his 1.91 mark. Alexander pitched in 242 games (224 starts) in his 9 years with the Cubs and he was 128-83 with 10 saves, a 2.84 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He is #10 in Cubs’ history in complete games with 159 and he is also #7 in Cubs’ history in shutouts with 24 of them. Alexander finished his major league career with 373 career wins and he is tied for #3 in major league history in wins with Christy Mathewson. Alexander was inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1938.

33-year old righty swinging starting CF Marlon Byrd has been placed on the 15-day disabled list due to multiple face fractures that were the result of him getting hit in the face with a pitch by Alfredo Aceves last Saturday. He might miss the rest of the season as this reminded me of when Dennis Martinez (of the Indians) hit Kirby Puckett (of the Twins) in the face with a pitch. It was the last AB of Puckett’s Hall of Fame career. Byrd has played in 44 games for the Cubs so far this year and he is 53 for 172 (.308 avg, .765 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 3 homers, 11 RBIs and 1 stolen base. 34-year old righty swinging Reed Johnson will take over as the Cubs’ starting CF until Byrd is ready to return to action. Johnson has played in 31 games for the Cubs so far this year and he is 20 for 51 (.392 avg, 1.135 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 2 homers and 15 RBIs. He should do a decent job for the Cubbies. The Cubs have called up 26-year old righty reliever Justin Berg to replace Byrd on the active roster. Berg has pitched in 6 games (0 starts) for the Cubs so far this year and he is 0-0 with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. Cubs’ fans (and baseball fans in general) should say a few prayers for Marlon Byrd’s return to health.