The Cubs will call up Newcomb from Triple-A Iowa to start the second game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Cardinals, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Chicago added lefty Matt Dermody from Iowa ahead of the twin bill to serve as their 27th man, but the team will wait until after Game 1 to officially select Newcomb's contract from the minors. The southpaw has made all 39 of his appearances at the big-league level over the past two seasons out of the bullpen, but he'll be joining the Cubs as a starter after having recently moved into the rotation at Iowa. He built up to four innings and 71 pitches in his last minor-league outing, so Newcomb could struggle to work deep enough in Game 2 to factor into any decision.

The Cubs outrighted Newcomb to Triple-A Iowa on Monday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Newcomb will have until Wednesday to decide whether to accept the assignment to Iowa or elect free agency. Between stops with Atlanta and Chicago this season, Newcomb was charged with 12 earned runs on 16 hits and six walks while striking out eight over 9.1 innings.

The Cubs designated Newcomb for assignment Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Newcomb has now been DFA'd on two occasions this season; he was previously booted off Atlanta's 40-man roster in April before being dealt to the Cubs. He spent most of his six-week tenure with the Cubs on the 15-day injured list with a left ankle sprain before he was blasted for five earned runs in an inning of long relief in his first game back from the IL in Sunday's 18-4 loss to the Yankees.

Newcomb (ankle) was shelled for five earned runs on six hits and a walk while striking out one over an inning out of the bullpen in Sunday's 17-4 loss to the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

Back in action for the Cubs after a month-long stint on the 15-day injured list with a sprained left ankle, Newcomb entered the contest in the sixth inning with the Cubs trailing 10-3 and did little to clot the bleeding. He now sports an 11.57 ERA and 2.36 WHIP over 9.1 innings between stops in Atlanta and Chicago and could be in danger of being booted off the 40-man roster if he doesn't turn things around in the near future.

Newcomb (ankle) was activated off the injured list Sunday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Newcomb wound up missing over a month with a sprained left ankle. Prior to the injury, he struggled to a 7.56 ERA and 7:5 K:BB in 8.1 innings of relief, so he'll likely be limited to low-leverage opportunities.

Newcomb (ankle) is scheduled to make his third rehab appearance for Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

EDGE Analysis

Newcomb has worked 1.2 innings between his first two outings at Iowa, giving up two earned runs on one hit and two walks. Whenever the Cubs deem him ready to return from the 15-day injured list, Newcomb will occupy a low-leverage role out of the bullpen.

Newcomb (ankle) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday at Triple-A Iowa, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Newcomb has been on the shelf for under two weeks with the left ankle sprain, so he likely won't require more than an appearance or two in the minors before the Cubs are comfortable activating him. Between stops with Atlanta and Chicago this season, Newcomb has made six relief appearances covering 8.1 innings and has given up seven earned runs on 10 hits and five walks.

Newcomb (ankle) threw a 40-pitch bullpen session Saturday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Newcomb resumed playing catch last weekend, and he handled a fairly significant workload while throwing off a mound Saturday. The team will wait to see how he responds to Saturday's throwing session prior to determining the next steps in the southpaw's recovery, but he seems to be trending toward a relatively minimal absence.

Newcomb (ankle) played catch Saturday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Newcomb hit the injured list Wednesday with a sprained left ankle. The fact that he's playing catch three days later suggests that his absence may not be a particularly long one. He's expected to resume mound work soon.

The Cubs placed Newcomb on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a left ankle sprain, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

According to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times, Newcomb picked up the ankle injury while shagging flyballs in the outfield during batting practice Sunday. Since being acquired from Atlanta on April 20, Newcomb has made just three appearances out of the Chicago bullpen, working 3.1 innings while giving up three earned runs.