Cubs Activate Brian Duensing, Place C.J. Edwards On Bereavement List

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Left-hander Brian Duensing has joined the Cubs' bullpen.

Duensing was activated from the disabled list and called up from Triple-A Iowa on Friday as the Cubs placed right-handed reliever Carl Edwards Jr. on the bereavement list.

Signed by the Cubs in the offseason, Duensing was expected to make the Cubs' roster to open the season before dealing with lower back tightness toward the end of spring training. He's made two rehab outings, throwing three scoreless innings.

His addition gives Chicago two left-handers in the bullpen, with Duensing joining Mike Montgomery in that regard. The Cubs open a three-game series against the Pirates on Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field.

"Everything is in order with him," manager Joe Maddon said of Duensing. "He has not pitched in a couple of days. He has pitched multiple innings. Everything is in order to come in and help us immediately."

Duensing pitched for the Twins from 2009-'15 and then for the Orioles in 2016. Left-handed hitters have a career .236 batting average against him.

"I feel fine," Duensing siad. "Back is good, arm feels fine. Everything is so far and so good. I look forward to how this team is going to do. They obviously had a great year last year winning the World Series. They want to do it again, and it would be fun to be a part of it. This is my first time at Wrigley ever. I am excited about that. Just excited to play and help out."

Under MLB rules, Edwards will have to be on the bereavement list for a minimum of three games and a maximum of seven. He has been sharp to open the season, throwing 4 2.3 scoreless innings.

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.