The Cubs placed catcher Miguel Amaya on the 10-day IL with a left oblique strain Sunday, and selected catcher Reese McGuire from Triple-A Iowa to the 40-man roster.

The injury occurred in Saturday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds when Amaya attempted to throw out Reds superstar Elly De La Cruz at second base in the fifth inning of a 6-4 loss. When Amaya tried to throw in front of Cubs head trainer Nick Frangella and manager Craig Counsell, the pain continued, and the catcher was taken out of the game. Carson Kelly finished the game as Chicago’s catcher.

Cubs left fielder Ian Happ experienced a similar injury on May 9, and returned to the lineup on May 20. Relief pitcher Porter Hodge experienced a similar injury earlier this month and also was placed on the IL.

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Counsell selected McGuire instead of Cubs prospect Moisés Ballesteros — who had a small taste of the majors earlier this month — because the young catcher needs playing time in Iowa.

“We want Moisés to play,” Counsell told reporters during his pregame scrum in Cincinnati. “I think that’s still critical at 21 years old as a catcher — a 21-year-old catcher likes the experience of playing as much as he possibly can. I think is really important in development still, and that’s a factor in this thing.”

McGuire, 30 is a seven-year veteran who had a .252/.300/.364 slash line and 16 home runs with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox. He signed a minor league contract with the Cubs before this season, was a non-roster spring training invitee before heading to Triple-A.

McGuire hit .280 with three home runs and 19 RBI in 22 games with Iowa. Incredibly, he homered in his first at-bat with Chicago, as he entered the lineup in the No. 9 hole after Carson Kelly was scratched with an illness.

Before the game, McGuire told reporters he’s able to stay ready in case there’s an injury on the big-league roster.

“I’m a confident player, and always believe that, you know, I belong in this league,” McGuire said. “So I was ready, you know, with Triple-A for that opportunity down there to just make the most of the games that I’m in and continue to hone in my skills, and be ready for moments like this and in moments beyond. But it’s a good group of players down there and coaching staff to make it fun to show up to the ballpark, and thankful for all of them down there.”

Counsell now will balance playing time between McGuire and Kelly.

“When you’re the catcher, you got to play,” Counsell said. “I mean, I would expect him to, once a series, be in there, and then as we start this stretch, kind of after the homestand, when there’s when we have, I think 26 (games) in 27 days, then they’ll probably be a little bit more just because the nature of the position.”