OF Seiya Suzuki returns as Cubs lose reliever Phil Maton to IL

The Chicago Cubs reinstated outfielder Seiya Suzuki from the injured list before Friday afternoon's series opener against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.

Suzuki, 31, has been sidelined by a sprained knee ligament sustained while playing for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic.

The Cubs designated outfielder Dylan Carlson for assignment to make room on the roster.

In other moves Friday, Chicago placed reliever Phil Maton on the 15-day injured list with right knee tendinitis and recalled fellow right-hander Ethan Roberts from Triple-A Iowa.

Suzuki batted .429 (6-for-14) with a pair of doubles and one RBI in five rehab games with Double-A Tennessee.

Suzuki had his most productive season with the Cubs last year when he hit 32 home runs with 103 RBIs. Over four seasons in Chicago, he has batted .269 with an .818 OPS, 87 home runs and 296 RBIs in 532 games.

Carlson, 27, is hitless in four at-bats with two strikeouts in three games this season, his first with the Cubs. He was a first-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2016.

Maton, 33, is 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA in five appearances out of the bullpen this year. His IL designation is retroactive to Wednesday.

Roberts, 28, appeared in one game for the Cubs earlier this season. He allowed one hit in 2/3 scoreless innings in a 6-5 loss at Cleveland on April 5.

--Field Level Media