PHILADELPHIA — After reliever Nate Pearson opened the game with a scoreless inning, right-hander Caleb Kilian made his season debut in the Cubs’ 6-2 loss Monday to the Phillies.
‘‘Not exactly how I wanted it to go,’’ Kilian said after allowing five earned runs and eight hits in 5⅔ innings. ‘‘Kind of hurt myself there, getting behind, walking people. But toward the end I settled in a little bit better, started using my new slider a little bit more, and I thought that seeing how that played up here was pretty encouraging.’’
The Cubs already had been eliminated from playoff contention, but the result enabled the Phillies to clinch their first National League East title since 2011.
Kilian suffered a strained pitching shoulder in spring training and was on the injured list through the end of July. After being activated and optioned to Triple-A, he posted a 2.45 ERA at Iowa. He worked on developing his new slider and on continuing to throw strikes and get ahead in the count.
Kilian carried progress from the former but not the latter into the game Monday, as he issued four walks. He also yielded home runs to J.T. Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber.
Roster moves
The Cubs recalled Kilian before the game and put reliever Jorge Lopez on the 15-day IL with a strained groin, ending his season. It was the same injury that landed him on the IL earlier this month.
‘‘He was up in the bullpen [Sunday] and, essentially, just not getting past it,’’ manager Craig Counsell said. ‘‘And it’s getting a little worse again.’’
The Cubs also optioned reliever Trey Wingenter to Iowa and recalled Gavin Hollowell, whom they claimed off waivers from the Diamondbacks last month. Hollowell threw 1⅓ scoreless innings and got some unsolicited praise from Counsell afterward.
Adding to their bullpen depth, the Cubs also claimed right-hander Enoli Paredes off waivers from the Brewers.
Happ update
Left fielder Ian Happ, who was scratched from the lineup Sunday because of tightness in his lower back, was out again.
‘‘It’s still just day-to-day,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘Nothing that we’re super-concerned about.’’
Shortstop Dansby Swanson was also out of the lineup, but that was for a scheduled day off, Counsell said.