Cubs place Kyle Hendricks (back) on injured list, designate Garrett Cooper for assignment amid a series of roster moves

(670 The Score) The Cubs placed struggling veteran right-hander Kyle Hendricks on the 15-day injured list amid a series of roster moves Tuesday.

The Cubs cited a lower back strain for Hendricks in making the transaction. Hendricks has had a nightmare start to the season, posting a 12.00 ERA and 2.10 WHIP in his first five starts of the season.

In other roster moves, the Cubs also placed left-hander Drew Smyly (right hip impingement) on the 15-day injured list, designated first baseman Garrett Cooper for assignment and recalled right-hander Hayden Wesneski, left-hander Luke Little and first baseman Matt Mervis from Triple-A Iowa.

Smyly has a 4.97 ERA in nine appearances this season.

Cooper was hitting .270 with one homer, six RBIs and a .774 OPS in 12 games.

Wesneski threw four scoreless innings in his lone appearance for the Cubs this season, while Little has posted a 2.35 ERA in eight appearances.

Mervis struggled mightily in 27 games for the Cubs in 2023, when he hit .167 with a .531 OPS. He’s had a strong start at Triple-A this season, hitting .288 with five homers and a 1.009 OPS in 18 games.