SAN FRANCISCO — The Cubs activated right fielder Jason Heyward from the 10-day injured list, and he batted sixth in the Cubs’ 4-3 loss Saturday to the Giants. In a corresponding move, they designated outfielder Nick Martini for assignment.
Heyward had been out since May 20 with a strained right hamstring. He entered the game slashing .183/.254/.341 with four home runs and 13 RBI and went 0-for-4, including a game-ending grounder to second with runners at second and third.
It was thought that outfielder Jake Marisnick (strained left hamstring) might be activated from the IL, too. But after playing in back-to-back games during his rehab stint at Triple-A Iowa, his recovery has been a bit slower than expected. Marisnick did some on-field baseball activities before the game under the watch of the Cubs’ medical staff.
‘‘Still some soreness from playing,’’ manager David Ross said before the game. ‘‘We’ll test him and run him pretty diligently and then maybe give him one more day off [Sunday], just to see.’’
During the game, left fielder Joc Pederson was removed in the fifth inning with tightness on the right side of his lower back. He ran into the wall while trying to track down Alex Dickerson’s homer in the third.
Abbott up, Wieck down
The Cubs recalled right-hander Cory Abbott from Iowa and will use him primarily in relief. Abbott, who was a starter at Iowa, was pressed into service immediately, pitching two scoreless innings to help the Cubs survive their third short start in the first three games of their West Coast swing.
Abbott, the Cubs’ second-round pick in the 2017 draft, was 1-3 with a 6.39 ERA in five starts this season but has a respectable 3.14 overall ERA in his four minor-league seasons.
The Cubs optioned left-hander Brad Wieck to Iowa to make room for Abbott on the 26-man roster. Wieck has a 0.00 ERA in eight appearances with the Cubs this season.
‘‘We got to see [Cory] in spring training,’’ Ross said. ‘‘I think Cory’s a guy that has been around a little while and on the radar. I’ve heard nothing but good things about his performances of late.
‘‘We’re in a situation where we’ve used a lot of bullpen guys lately. You hate to send anybody down, [and] Brad Wieck has been really good for us. But with the situation we’ve been through with some short outings from the starters, we need some length down there.’’
Cubs claim RHP Chalmers
The Cubs claimed right-hander Dakota Chalmers off waivers from the Twins. He is 9-8 with a 4.38 ERA in five minor-league seasons and will report to Double-A Tennessee.
