The Chicago Cubs are slowly but surely getting pitching reinforcements to what has already been an excellent staff over the last month.

The latest reinforcement came on Sunday when right-hander Edward Cabrera returned from the injured list. That meant the Cubs would need to both make a corresponding roster move, as well as move a starter to the bullpen.

Both of those moves were announced ahead of Sunday's series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Javier Assad has been optioned to Triple-A

Chicago's roster move was to option right-hander Javier Assad to Triple-A Iowa. Assad has made 21 appearances this season, going 6-1 with a 3.59 ERA.

Assad has consistently turned in solid work in any role that he's been asked to pitch in. While unfortunate, the move to option to Assad to Triple-A where he can continue to start and be stretched out is likely the correct one.

Javier Assad in his career:

As a SP
64 G | 324.0 IP | 3.47 ERA | 117 ERA+

As a RP
33 G | 82.1 IP | 3.39 ERA | 123 ERA+

The Cubs have asked him to play a lot of different roles, and he’s thrived in all of them. Such an underrated piece since debuting. pic.twitter.com/gJgRTdHAqC

David Peterson is headed to the bullpen

Despite having the depth and the ability for a six-man rotation, Chicago is sticking with the traditional five-man for the foreseeable future.

That means someone will be bumped to the bullpen and manager Craig Counsell said Sunday that it would be David Peterson who would go from a starter to a long reliever.

Peterson was acquired by the Cubs in late June and, outside of one horrendous outing, had been relatively solid in the rotation, pitching to a 4.19 ERA across eight starts. 

He does have experience as a reliever, so that could be the reason he was selected as the odd man out of the rotation for now.

What will the September pitching plans be?

Rosters will expand from 26 to 28 when Sept. 1 rolls around, and it is very likely that Assad will be one of the arms that comes back to the big leagues.

If that happens, the Cubs will have eight pitchers who are primary starting pitchers on their roster, giving them among the most pitching depth in the league.

Counsell will have plenty of pitching at his disposal and will have quite the time figuring out how to use arms and keep guys fresh headed into October.