CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today placed catcher P.J. Higgins on the 10-day injured list with a right forearm strain and selected catcher Jose Lobaton from Triple-A Iowa. Right-handed pitcher Dakota Chalmers was designated for assignment.

Lobaton will wear uniform number 7 and is available for today’s 1:20 p.m. CT game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field.

Lobaton, 36, has hit .179 (7-for-49) with three doubles, two home runs, nine RBI and a .347 on-base percentage in 15 games for Iowa this season, drawing 10 walks to contribute to a .757 OPS. The switch-hitter has started 10 games at catcher and two as a designated hitter. Lobaton was signed to a minor league contract on February 12 of this year.

In all or part of nine seasons with the Padres (2009), Rays (2011-13), Nationals (2014-2017) and Mets (2018), Lobaton has a .215 batting average (244-for-1134) with 47 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs and 107 RBI. He has caught 394 major league games with a fielding percentage of .993, with 21 errors in 2,982.1 innings caught.

Higgins, 28, is hitting .043 (1-for-23) in nine games for Chicago this season. He was selected from Triple-A Iowa May 19 of this year.

Chalmers, 24, was claimed off waivers June 5 from the Minnesota Twins and was optioned to Double-A Tennessee. He has no record and a 9.49 ERA (13 ER/12.1 IP) in five games (two starts) with Double-A Wichita, issuing 15 walks while striking out 13 batters in 12.1 innings.

COURTESY CHICAGO CUBS & MLBpressbox.com