PITTSBURGH — The Chicago Cubs today added right-handed pitcher Brandon Kintzler to the active 25-man roster. Left-handed pitcher Randy Rosario has been optioned to Triple-A Iowa.
Kinztler, who today celebrates his 34th birthday, will wear uniform number 20 and be available for tonight’s game against the Pirates at PNC Park.
Kintzler, yesterday acquired from the Nationals, is 1-2 with 15 holds, two saves and a 3.59 ERA (17 ER/42.2 IP) in 45 relief appearances with Washington this season. The righthander has turned in a 1.88 ERA (3 ER/14.1 IP) in 14 outings in more than a month since returning from the disabled list on June 25, issuing only one walk while turning in a 0.77 WHIP and .192 batting average against in that span. Going back further, Kintzler has posted a 2.33 ERA (10 ER/38.2 IP) in 41 outings beginning April 11 after allowing seven runs in his first four outings of the year (4.0 IP).
Overall this season, Kintzler is limiting foes to a .253 batting average against, including a .242 mark vs. left-handed hitters and a .261 mark vs. righthanders. He also has a 1.99 ERA (5 ER/22.2 IP) in his 23 outings on the road and a 2.84 ERA (2 ER/6.1 IP) against N.L. Central competition, his lowest mark against any division.
The 2017 American League All-Star with Minnesota combined to go 4-3 with 29 saves, 10 holds and a 3.03 ERA (24 ER/71.1 IP) in 72 relief outings between the Twins and Nationals, as he was acquired by Washington at the trade deadline last year. He was a closer his last two seasons with the Twins before pitching in a set-up role with the Nationals the last two seasons.
Kintzler has spent all or part of nine seasons in the majors and gone 15-16 with 48 saves, 63 holds and a 3.30 ERA (128 ER/349.1 IP) in 343 appearances, all in relief, with Milwaukee (2010-15), Minnesota (2016-17) and Washington (2017-18).
Rosario, 24, is 4-0 with a 1.97 ERA (7 ER/32.0 IP) in 26 relief appearances for the Cubs this season. Claimed off waivers from Minnesota in November of last year, he has no record and a 0.47 ERA (1 ER/19.1 IP) in 12 games with Iowa this season.
