CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs placed their best reliever, Brandon Kintzler, on the 10-day injured list Tuesday after the right-hander hurt his right pectoral against the Oakland Athletics the previous night.
"I don't think there's anything spectacularly wrong with him, but it's there," manager Joe Maddon said Tuesday. "The guy has been a rock for us. We want him to continue to be a rock for us. Why push it right now and find out we're wrong? It's a conservative route."
Kintzler has a 2.33 ERA in 49 appearances while stranding 79% of his inherited runners this season.
Maddon thinks the 35-year-old veteran injured himself on a pitch to Matt Olson in the eighth inning Monday, when he came out of his delivery to "manufacture velocity or movement."
"That's what occurred," the manager said. "Whether it was knowingly or unknowingly on his part ... He's been probably our most consistent relief pitcher all year. To push it right now, we just didn't think it's wise."
In the corresponding roster move, the Cubs activated Pedro Strop (neck) from the injured list.