Duensing was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.
He cleared waivers after being designated for assignment and will serve as organizational depth.
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Cubs' Brian Duensing: Designated for assignment
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Duensing was designated for assignment Sunday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Duensing stumbled to a 10.29 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 3:2 K:BB through seven innings this spring, prompting the Cubs to drop him from their 40-man roster in order to free up a spot for Tim Collins. Chicago will now have 10 days to trade, waive or release the veteran southpaw.
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Cubs' Brian Duensing: Struggling this spring
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Duensing has an 8.10 ERA and 1.35 WHIP through seven appearances (6.2 innings) in Cactus League games.
It's not a reassuring start for a pitcher who regressed noticeably last season. Duensing was one of the team's most reliable relievers in 2017 with a 2.74 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, only to see those figures balloon to 7.65 and 1.88, respectively, in 2018. Chicago has Randy Rosario and Mike Montgomery available as left-handed options, and Xavier Cedeno (wrist) will also join the mix at some point, so Duensing could end up as a very low-leverage reliever if he doesn't rebound in 2019.
Cubs' Brian Duensing: Gives up three runs in return to mound
Rotowire
Duensing (shoulder) allowed three earned runs on a hit and two walks across 1.1 innings in Tuesday's loss to the Brewers.
Duensing, who was activated from the disabled list Monday, was making his first appearance since Aug. 2, and the 35-year-old lefty looked rusty. Duensing now has a 7.82 ERA this season, and with left-handed options Justin Wilson, Randy Rosario and Jorge De La Rosa available out of the Cubs' bullpen, he might not find himself in many high-leverage spots the rest of the season.
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Cubs' Brian Duensing: Activated from DL
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Duensing (shoulder) was activated from the disabled list Monday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Duensing wound up spending a month on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. He posted a 7.34 ERA across 34.1 innings with the Cubs prior to landing on the shelf. The southpaw figures to work in a middle-relief role down the stretch.
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Cubs' Brian Duensing: To begin rehab assignment Friday
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Duensing (shoulder) will start a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.
Duensing has been on the shelf for three weeks with left shoulder inflammation but appears to be nearing a return to the big-league bullpen. It's unclear how many rehab outings he will require with Iowa, but it seems likely that he will pitch in multiple minor-league games before rejoining the Cubs' bullpen.
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Cubs' Brian Duensing: Throwing from 105 feet
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Duensing (shoulder) is throwing from 105 feet, MLB.com reports.
Duensing, who landed on the disabled list at the beginning of August with left shoulder inflammation, is hoping to resume mound work when the Cubs return home from a road trip Aug. 23.
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Cubs' Brian Duensing: Placed on DL
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Duensing was put on the 10-day disabled list Friday due to left shoulder inflammation, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Duensing previously spent two weeks on the DL in July due to left shoulder fatigue, so this appears to be a related injury. He will be eligible to return against the Brewers on Aug. 14, though the Cubs may choose to give him more time to recover this time around. In a corresponding move, Randy Rosario was called up from Triple-A Iowa.
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Cubs' Brian Duensing: Returns from DL
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Duensing (shoulder) was activated from the 10-day disabled list Friday, Mark Gonzales of The Chicago Tribune reports.
Duensing will be available out of the bullpen for the series opener. The southpaw made a brief rehab appearance with Double-A Tennessee earlier this week, but didn't require much action after being on the shelf for 12 days. Across 26 innings for the Cubs this year, Duensing has logged a 6.92 ERA and 1.85 WHIP.
Duensing (shoulder) will head to Double-A Tennessee for a rehab assignment, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.
Duensing played catch before Friday's game, and he will now take the next step in his recovery. The 35-year-old lefty was placed on the 10-day disabled list at the beginning of July with left shoulder fatigue. Before landing on the DL, Duensing had a 6.92 ERA and 1.85 WHIP across 26 innings of work for the Cubs.
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Cubs' Brian Duensing: Playing catch Friday
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Duensing (shoulder) was playing catch prior to Friday's game against the Reds, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.
Duensing hit the disabled list at the start of July with left shoulder fatigue after a disastrous June in which he allowed 17 runs (16 earned) across 8.1 innings. The 35-year-old could throw a bullpen session when the Cubs are in San Francisco early next week, but it seems likely he won't be able to return when eligible Wednesday.
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Cubs' Brian Duensing: Headed for disabled list
Rotowire
Duensing was placed on the 10-day disabled list Sunday due to left shoulder fatigue.
Duensing hasn't quite been himself of late. After collecting two scoreless appearances to begin the month of June, the left-hander has posted a 19.64 ERA over his next eight outings. Command is at least partially to blame, as he's walked a batter in five consecutive appearances and has multiple walks in his last two. The Cubs are going to blame his struggles on shoulder fatigue, however, sending him to the DL to clear up a roster spot for fellow reliever Dillon Maples. Duensing will be eligible to return before the All-Star break, but it's unclear if that will be enough rest time for the lefty.
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Cubs' Brian Duensing: Gets touched up Saturday
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Duensing allowed five runs on four hits and a walk over 1.1 innings of relief in Saturday's loss to the Reds.
Duensing faltered in his first appearance since being reinstated from the bereavement list Friday. The lefty saw his ERA swell from 4.50 to 6.17, and memories of the pitcher who began the season with 12 consecutive scoreless innings have quickly faded. Duensing should still have a role out of Chicago's bullpen, but his fantasy value seems limited at this point.
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Cubs' Brian Duensing: Activated from bereavement list
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Duensing was reinstated from the bereavement list prior to Friday's game, Paul Sullivan of The Chicago Tribune reports.
Duensing will return to the Cubs' bullpen after being away from the team for the past few days. Across 31 appearances this year, he's logged a 4.50 ERA and 1.55 WHIP and has only managed to record a 15:14 K:BB over 22 innings. In a corresponding move, Justin Hancock was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.
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Cubs' Brian Duensing: Placed on bereavement list
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Duensing was placed on the bereavement list Monday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Rob Zastryzny will take Duensing's place on the active roster and in the bullpen. Duensing will be away from the Cubs for 3-to-7 days, meaning he'll be unavailable for the team's entire three-game series against the Dodgers that starts Monday.
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Cubs' Brian Duensing: Appears in left field Wednesday
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Duensing and fellow pitcher Steve Cishek both appeared in left field in Wednesday's 1-0 loss to the Brewers, though neither player had a fielding chance, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.
CIshek started the eighth inning and allowed a leadoff single to Orlando Arcia. That's when Cubs manager Joe Maddon turned to the lefty Duensing for the left-handed Eric Thames, but he kept Cishek in the game by moving him to left field. Duensing struck out Thames and then swapped places with Cishek, allowing the latter to face righty Lorenzo Cain. Cishek retired Cain, then gave way to Duensing to get another lefty, Christian Yelich, to end the inning. "It was a little terrifying, to be honest," said Duensing, who made his MLB outfield debut. The strategy was effective, so Maddon may be inclined to try it again down the road.
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Cubs' Brian Duensing: Implodes in Sunday appearance
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Duensing struggled in Sunday's loss to the Pirates, allowing four earned runs on two hits and two walks while retiring just a single batter.
Duensing came on to begin the sixth inning and promptly allowed a double to Austin Meadows. He retired the next hitter he faced, but then gave up a walk, a single and another walk before getting the hook. Luke Farrell then allowed a bases-clearing triple, with all three runs getting charged to Duensing. The lefty's ERA jumped from 2.29 to 4.05 after the tough outing.
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Cubs' Brian Duensing: Gets first save of season Sunday
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Duensing recorded his first save of the season in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Mets, working a scoreless ninth inning with one hit allowed.
Regular closer Brandon Morrow appeared in the previous three games, so Cubs manager Joe Maddon turned to the lefty Duensing to finish Sunday's contest. Steve Cishek, who appeared in the eighth inning to retire a single hitter, appeared to be next in line for saves behind Morrow, but Maddon played the matchups with left-handed hitters Michael Conforto and Adrian Gonzalez up in the final inning. Duensing now has a solid 1.93 ERA this season.
