Cubs roster moves: Luke Little, Ryan Rolison called up; Charlie Barnes optioned, Ethan Roberts to injured list

The Cubs are loading up on left-handers as they play the Phillies the next two days — and then four times next week at Wrigley Field:

The Cubs are calling up @IowaCubs LHP Luke Little from Triple-A. Little has pitched parts of the previous three seasons in Chicago.

— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) April 14, 2026

The Cubs are also calling up @IowaCubs LHP Ryan Rolison from Triple-A. Rolison made 31 appearances in the big leagues last season with the Rockies.

— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) April 14, 2026

You all know about Luke Little. Throws hard, but often does not know where the ball is going. In 35.1 MLB innings over the last three years, Little has a 2.80 ERA — which is good! He’s struck out 44 batters in those innings, which is also good! He’s also walked 28 batters in those innings, which is… not good. If Little could ever harness command and control, he could be a useful MLB reliever. So far this year at Triple-A Iowa, Little has walked 10 batters (and struck out nine) in 7.2 innings, so… not yet, anyway.

Ryan Rolison, as noted, pitched for the Rockies last year. He was their first-round pick (22nd overall) in 2018 out of the University of Mississippi. Last year Rolison posted a 7.02 ERA and 1.772 WHIP in 42.1 innings. The Cubs claimed him on waivers in January. At Iowa this year, Rolison has a 3.68 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 7.1 innings over five appearances.

Here are the moves to make room for Little and Rolison:

#Cubs Roster Moves:

-Charlie Barnes optioned to Triple-A.
-Ethan Roberts placed on the 15-day IL with a right middle finger laceration.
-Luke Little recalled from Triple-A.
-Ryan Rolison recalled from Triple-A.

— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) April 14, 2026

Charlie Barnes was called up to the Cubs over the weekend and threw the last three innings of Monday’s loss to the Phillies. I assume he’ll be on the Iowa Shuttle his year.

Ethan Roberts, who has a 0.00 ERA in three games (2.2 innings) with the Cubs this year. Hopefully this injury is nothing serious. He seems like he could also be a useful Iowa Shuttle piece.

This gives the Cubs four left-handers in the pen as they face the lefty-heavy Phillies for six more games over the next week. In addition to Little and Rolison, Hoby Milner and Caleb Thielbar round out the southpaw relief crew. The Mets, who visit Wrigley Field this weekend, are a more right-handed hitting team, though they do have a couple of switch-hitters in Francisco Lindor and Jorge Polanco.

As always, we await developments. Today’s game preview will post at 3:30 p.m. CT.