The Cubs placed RHP Kyle Farnsworth on the disabled list on August 28th. Farnsworth sprained his right knee and bruised the ends of the bones in the joint when he kicked an electric metal fan while traveling from the dugout to the clubhouse after a giving up six runs while pitching the ninth inning of Chicago's August 27th game against Houston. Prior to kicking the fan, he reportedly had already thrown his glove into the stands and upended a Gatorade jug. The 28-year-old will now have three weeks to think about the consequences of his actions, as estimates indicate he will need at least that long to recover from the injuries he incurred. Given that he is unable to play because of his own negligent off-field actions, the Cubs should pursue some sort of disciplinary action, though there have been no reports of the organization seeking to exact penance from Farnsworth. While Farnsworth has demonstrated an ability to pitch extremely effectively for the Cubs, his inconsistency already had caused them to question his reliability and with this injury he likely will not have a chance to restore their confidence in him prior to the post-season.

Chicago recalled RHP Todd Wellemeyer to replace Farnsworth on the roster and in the bullpen. After coming off the disabled list on July 16th, Wellemeyer had been demoted on August 1st. His shoulder no longer appears to be bothering him, so he should be a useful middle reliever for the Cubs' over the remainder of the season.