Nam Y. Huh/AP
Amid right-hander Kyle Hendricks’ struggles to begin the season, the Cubs put him on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with what they identified as a lower-back strain.
‘‘We’ve got to get past an injury first and then put our heads together on a plan to get him pitching better, essentially,’’ manager Craig Counsell said before the game Tuesday against the Astros. ‘‘Obviously we, as he’s been going through this, [have been] trying to come up with ideas, and we’ll continue to do that.’’
Hendricks going to the IL was one of a series of moves as the Cubs opened a stretch of 16 games in as many days.