Cubs activate Remlinger; Mercker on DL

CHICAGO, May 22 (UPI) -- After a minor league rehab assignment, veteran reliever Mike Remlinger was activated by the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.

Remlinger will replace fellow lefthander Kent Mercker, who became the third Cub to go on the disabled list in four days, following slugger Sammy Sosa and pitcher Kerry Wood.

Remlinger, 38, was with Class AAA Iowa on a rehab assignment after undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery last October.

Remlinger went 6-5 with a 3.65 ERA in 73 appearances for the Cubs last season, allowing 54 hits in 69 innings. He spent the previous four years with the Atlanta Braves.

Mercker, 36, has been bothered by back stiffness. He last pitched on May 15 and is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA in 19 appearances.