Cubs place Carlos Zambrano on DL, activate Kerry Wood - MLB

So much for Carlos Zambrano not having to miss any time with the back injury that forced him from yesterday’s start.

He felt good enough to attend a softball game last night–and narrowly avoid getting hit with a foul ball while doing an on-camera interview–but the Cubs have placed him on the disabled list while activating Kerry Wood.

With the All-Star break coming up it makes sense that the Cubs would play it safe with the 30-year-old Zambrano, who leads the league in starts and ranks 10th in innings while posting a career-worst 4.34 ERA.

Wood has been out since early June with a blister on his right index finger, but tossed 24 innings with a 2.25 ERA and 21/10 K/BB ratio prior to landing on the shelf.

ST. LOUIS — Miles Mikolas is sticking with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The right-hander signed a three-year, $55.75 million contract on Friday that will carry through the 2025 season.

The new deal replaces a $68 million, four-year contract signed in February 2019 that covered the 2020-23 seasons and was set to pay $15.75 million this year.

Mikolas will receive a $5 million signing bonus payable July 1 and will make $18.75 million in 2023 and $16 million in each of the following two seasons. Mikolas can earn a $250,000 bonus for winning a Cy Young Award, $50,000 for All-Star election or selection or winning a Gold Glove, $100,000 for League Championship Series MVP and $150,000 for World Series MVP.

Mikolas is scheduled to make the second opening-day start of his big league career next Thursday when the Cardinals host Toronto. Mikolas went 12-13 with a 3.29 ERA last season while helping St. Louis to the NL Central title.

“Miles stands among the top pitchers in the game today, and has continued to provide a steady presence for us both in the rotation and inside the clubhouse,” St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak said in a statement.

Mikolas is 45-40 with a 3.79 in 143 games with San Diego, Texas and St. Louis. He recently pitched six shutout innings in two appearances for the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic.