Catcher Willson Contreras leaves game with mild right thigh tightness

CINCINNATI – Catcher Willson Contreras was removed in the fifth inning of Friday’s game against the Reds with mild right thigh tightness.

Contreras singled to lead off the top of the fifth and jogged to first base, but immediately called for the training staff and was quickly taken out of the game. Catcher Tony Wolters finished the game behind the plate for the Cubs.

“He’s getting checked by the trainers,” manager David Ross said. “He felt a little tightness coming out of the box there [in the fifth inning]. We’ll have to see how it presents tomorrow. But as of right now, just a precaution taking him out of the game.”

The Cubs are limited with catching depth with catcher Austin Romine currently on the 10-day injured list with a severe left wrist sprain. The only other catcher currently on the team’s 40-man roster is prospect Miguel Amaya, who is unlikely to be called up if Contreras is forced to miss any time.

Catcher PJ Higgins is the other internal option and is slated to begin the season at Triple-A Iowa next week.

Arrieta allows three homers in first hiccup of 2021

Jake Arrieta has been everything the Cubs have wanted and more in his first season back with the club and in April, he was the team’s best starting pitcher. But the month ended on a sour note as the 34-year-old right-hander, who lasted just 3 1/3 innings in his final start of April.

After the Cubs took an early 2-0 lead, things took a turn in the third inning as Arrieta allowed an RBI-groundout to cut the lead in half before first baseman Joey Votto unloaded on a two-run homer to give the Reds a 3-2 lead.

Arrieta would surrender two more home runs to Eugenio Suarez and Nick Senzel in the Reds’ four-run fourth inning, leading to an early exit for the veteran right-hander. It was the first time this season Arrieta allowed more than three runs this season.

He allowed seven runs on seven hits in his outing, walking one batter and striking out two. It was also the first time Arrieta didn’t make it through five innings this season.

Cubs place Megill on the 10-day injured list

The Cubs placed right-hander Trevor Megill on the 10-day injured list before Friday’s game with a right forearm strain and recalled lefty Kyle Ryan off the team’s taxi squad. Megill had two scoreless appearances with two strikeouts. Ryan has pitched two scoreless innings this season with two strikeouts.