Samardzija up; Ascanio down

PITTSBURGH – The Chicago Cubs today recalled right-handed pitcher Jeff Samardzija from Triple-A Iowa. In a corresponding move, right-handed pitcher Jose Ascanio has been optioned to Iowa.

Samardzija, 24, has a 5-3 record with a 3.72 ERA (28 ER/67.2 IP) in 13 games, 12 starts, for Iowa this season, including a 3-1 mark with a 2.67 ERA (8 ER/27.0 IP) in his last four starts since June 9. He has struck out 53 compared to 20 walks and has held the opponent to a .239 batting average (16-for-67) with runners in scoring position.

Samardzija begins his second stint with the Cubs this season, as he made five relief appearances for Chicago from April 23-May 6, and logged an 8.10 ERA (3 ER/3.1 IP) with no record.

Since making his big league debut in July of 2008, Samardzija is 1-0 with one save and a 2.90 ERA (10 ER/31.0 IP) in 31 career relief appearances for the Cubs. He has averaged 8.71 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched, recording 30 strikeouts in 31.0 innings of work while issuing 17 free passes.

Ascanio, 24, is 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA (6 ER/15.1 IP) in 14 relief appearances for the Cubs since he was recalled from Iowa May 10. In his second season with the organization, he went 1-1 with a 1.01 ERA (3 ER/26.2 IP) in six starts to begin the year with Iowa.