The Canberra Cavalry has acquired pitcher Steven Chambers from the Brisbane Bandits, injecting him immediately into the starting rotation.
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The 23-year-old right hander debuted for the Cavalry in Sunday night's 3-2 loss against the Perth Heat at Barbagallo Ballpark in Perth.
The Heat swept the series 4-0 to put a gap between itself and the second-placed Cavalry at the top of the Australian Baseball League ladder.
The Cavalry desperately needed reinforcements as it copes with a mid-season reduction in import players from 16 to 14.
Other ABL teams have 10 imports each while the Adelaide Bite can have 12.
Chambers tried out with the Cavalry during a practice session on Friday and was signed for the rest of the season to add depth to the team's depleted pitching staff.
Steven Kent and Hayden Beard are out for the rest of the season with injuries, while Chris Morgan is also unlikely to return from an elbow complaint.
Another pitcher, American Mike Morgan, has been taken off the club's active roster because of the new import restrictions.
Chambers threw just three innings in as many games for the Bandits this season coming out of the bullpen and spent the off-season playing in Japan.
Cavalry general manager Thom Carter said the addition of Chambers would help alleviate stress on the team's pitching stocks.
''You can never have too much pitching,'' Carter said. ''We want to make sure we're not taking away anything from our title defence.
''We're aware the other clubs aren't going to do anything in their power to help us win again, but they want to make sure the league is strong and players get good opportunities.''
The Cavalry was outplayed in its first three games against the Heat, going down 6-0 on Friday before back-to-back losses (5-1 and 10-4) in Saturday's double-header.
The teams will again square off for a three-game series in Canberra, starting Friday night at Narrabundah Ballpark.
Before then, six Cavalry players and manager Michael Collins will be involved in the ABL All-Star game in Melbourne on Wednesday night.
Casey Frawley, Shane Opitz, Mike Crouse, Jon Berti, Sean Toler and Nick Pugliese will line up for the World side.