Cubs call up Vince Velasquez for roster move tied to Edward Cabrera IL stint

The Chicago Cubs are preparing a pair of pitching-related roster moves tied to a hamstring issue for Edward Cabrera, with Vince Velasquez set to join the active roster from Triple-A Iowa. According to Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports, the Cubs plan to select Velasquez’s contract on Wednesday, creating an active-roster spot for the right-hander to take over in the rotation mix once Cabrera moves off the 26-man list.

Cabrera’s availability has been impacted by a hamstring strain that has landed him on the 15-day injured list. The move was described by Cubs manager Craig Counsell as having been announced the night before, setting up a scenario in which the Cubs need to shuffle their pitching depth for the day’s baseball, including a doubleheader.

For the Mets doubleheader, the Cubs also plan to use an extra active option through the “27th man” designation that applies to day/night split-format games. Tyler Ferguson, a right-hander from Triple-A Des Moines, is expected to be called up to serve in that 27th-man role, giving Chicago additional bullpen flexibility and a deeper pitching mix for two games.

Velasquez’s call-up is also not simply a promotion in isolation. The Cubs will need to make a corresponding 40-man roster move to accommodate the added player on their Major League roster track, a reminder that promotions in the middle of the season often require a parallel transaction to stay within MLB roster limits.

The practical effect of these moves is straightforward: they protect innings management across two games while the Cubs absorb Cabrera’s absence. With the 15-day IL taking Cabrera off the active picture, Chicago’s immediate task is to cover leverage and middle-inning needs without relying on a thin bullpen allocation.

From a team-building perspective, Velasquez’s selection can be read as both a short-term necessity and an opportunity for a pitcher to contribute while the Cubs manage depth in a condensed stretch. Ferguson’s 27th-man role suggests Chicago wants more than one right-handed option available throughout the twin bill, reducing the need to stretch specific relievers beyond typical usage patterns.

What to watch next is whether the Cubs keep Velasquez on the active roster beyond the day’s competition, and how they map their pitching plan once Cabrera’s IL window takes full effect. For now, the sequencing of the moves indicates Chicago is prioritizing coverage for the immediate Mets games while rebalancing bullpen and starter options around Cabrera’s injury status.