Rusin signed a minor-league contract with the Rockies on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Rusin was with the Rockies from 2015 to 2019, but he spent most of the 2020 campaign with Atlanta before he was released in September. The southpaw has made just three relief appearances in the past two seasons but could be an option to fill in as bullpen depth at some point in 2021.
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Chris Rusin: Cut loose by Atlanta
Rotowire
The Braves released Rusin on Saturday.
Atlanta let Rusin go to pursue opportunities with other organizations just over a month after he was designated for assignment and outrighted to the Braves' alternate training site. The 33-year-old lefty has made 189 career big-league appearances, posting a 4.65 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 9.3 K-BB% in 468.2 innings.
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Braves' Chris Rusin: Outrighted to alternate camp
Rotowire
Rusin cleared waivers and was outrighted to the Braves' alternate training site Thursday.
Rusin was designated for assignment by the Braves on Tuesday after spending just three days on the active roster, but he'll remain in the organization. The southpaw struggled in his only appearance in the majors this year, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out three over 3.1 innings. Given his struggles to limit run production over time in the big leagues during the past three seasons, it wouldn't be surprising to see him spend the rest of the season at the alternate training site.
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Braves' Chris Rusin: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Rusin was designated for assignment by the Braves on Tuesday.
Rusin spent just three days on the team's big-league roster, allowing three runs in 3.1 innings in his lone appearance. Chad Sobotka and Huascar Ynoa were recalled Tuesday to bolster the bullpen.
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Braves' Chris Rusin: Contract selected by Braves
Rotowire
Rusin's contract was selected by the Braves on Saturday.
Rusin was part of the Braves' 60-man roster during camp and over the first few days of the season, but he'll join the major-league club after Jhoulys Chacin was designated for assignment Saturday. The southpaw spent the last five seasons with the Rockies but only made two appearances in the majors last year, allowing four runs on five hits and one walk while failing to record any strikeouts over one inning. Rusin should pitch primarily in lower-leverage situations out of the bullpen.
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Braves' Chris Rusin: Tabbed for 60-man roster
Rotowire
Rusin will be a part of the Braves' 60-man roster, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Rusin signed a minor-league contract with the Braves in January as a non-roster invitee, and he'll get a similar opportunity as the season is set to resume. The southpaw made six appearances in major-league spring training before play was suspended. He gave up two earned runs off six hits while striking out 12 over 8.2 innings.
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Braves' Chris Rusin: Lands with Braves
Rotowire
Rusin signed a minor-league contract with the Braves on Saturday as a non-roster invitee, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Rusin spent most of last season with Triple-A Albuquerque, posting a 4.93 ERA and 42:21 K:BB over 65.2 innings. He'll get the chance to work with the major-league coaching staff during spring training, although it's unlikely he'll open the season in the majors after struggling to generate production in 2019.
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Rockies' Chris Rusin: Sent outright to Triple-A
Rotowire
Rusin was outrighted to Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Rusin will stick in the Rockies' organization and report to the Isotopes after passing through waivers untouched. The southpaw made just two appearances for the big club prior to being designated for assignment last week, allowing four runs on five hits and a walk in one inning of work.
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Rockies' Chris Rusin: Removed from 40-man roster
Rotowire
Rusin was designated for assignment by the Rockies on Friday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Rusin was activated off the injured list last week but won't stick on the 40-man roster after allowing four runs in his two appearances. The 32-year-old also struggled last season with a 6.09 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 47:26 K:BB over 54.2 innings. Rusin could end up at Triple-A Albuquerque if he goes unclaimed on waivers.
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Rockies' Chris Rusin: Back from injured list
Rotowire
Rusin (back) was activated from the 10-day injured list Friday.
Rusin finished up his rehab assignment Wednesday with an outing for Triple-A Albuquerque and is set to join the big-league club for the first time this season. The left-hander had been nursing a back injury since the beginning of March, though he's finally back to full strength and will aim to get back to his 2017 form, when he posted a 2.65 ERA and 71:19 K:BB over 85 frames.
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Rockies' Chris Rusin: Another rehab appearance on tap
Rotowire
Rusin (back) will make another rehab appearance with Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday, Kyle Newman of The Denver Post reports.
Rusin has already made seven rehab appearances between Triple-A Albuquerque and Double-A Hartford, posting a 5.84 ERA and 9:5 K:BB across 12.1 innings during those outings. While Rusin is inching closer to a return, the Rockies want to play it safe and build his innings up before activating him from the injured list, leaving the left-hander without a concrete return date.
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Rockies' Chris Rusin: Set for another rehab outing
Rotowire
Rusin (back) is expected to make his next rehab appearance Tuesday with Triple-A Albuquerque, the Associated Press reports.
Rusin has already completed three outings at Albuquerque, covering one inning on each occasion. Manager Bud Black said Sunday that the Rockies don't have a clear target date for Rusin's return, so the lefty may need to pitch on back-to-back days in the minors to convince the organization he's back to full health.
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Rockies' Chris Rusin: To throw live BP on Tuesday
Rotowire
Rusin (back) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Tuesday, Kyle Newman of The Denver Post reports.
Rusin was placed on the injured list at the end of March with a back issue, and though his progress has been slow to this point, he's finally ready to face live hitters. He's slated to throw two separate BP sessions this week, and assuming all goes well, he'll be given the green light to embark on a rehab stint.
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Rockies' Chris Rusin: Plays catch Saturday
Rotowire
Rusin (back) played catch on the field Saturday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Rusin has been dealing with back pain since early March and reportedly hadn't been making great progress. It's a positive that he's now throwing, but it's not clear when he's expected to return.
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Rockies' Chris Rusin: Lands on IL
Rotowire
Rusin (back) was placed on the 10-day IL.
He hasn't pitched in a game since March 1 due to back pain, and remains without a timetable to return.
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Rockies' Chris Rusin: Opening Day status in doubt
Rotowire
Manager Bud Black said Rusin (back) is doubtful for Opening Day, Nick Groke of The Athletic reports.
Rusin hasn't pitched in a game since March 1 due to back pain, and with Opening Day less than two weeks away, it doesn't sound like the southpaw will have enough time to get up to speed before the start of the season. It's unclear when Rusin will be ready to join the Rockies at this point.
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Rockies' Chris Rusin: Dealing with back pain
Rotowire
Rusin hasn't pitched in a Cactus League game since March 1 due to back pain, but he is hopeful that he will be ready for the start of the season, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
He will throw a side session Wednesday, and as a reliever, he doesn't need to make more than a few appearances to get ready for the start of the season. Consider Rusin questionable for Opening Day.
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Rockies' Chris Rusin: Makes second rehab appearance
Rotowire
Rusin (heel) covered 1.1 innings in relief Sunday for Triple-A Albuquerque in his second rehab appearance with the affiliate. He gave up two earned runs on three hits and walk and struck out one.
While Rusin wasn't particularly sharp Sunday, he didn't report any setbacks during the outing and should soon be ready to return to the big club. The Rockies may want to see Rusin pitch on back-to-back days in the minors before activating him from the 10-day disabled list.
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Rockies' Chris Rusin: Headed to DL
Rotowire
Rusin was placed on the 10-day disabled list Tuesday with plantar fasciitis.
Rusin had a 6.81 ERA in 39.2 innings for the big club prior to hitting the shelf. He trades places with Harrison Musgrave (hip), who was activated from the DL in a corresponding move.
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Rockies' Chris Rusin: Keeping ball in park better before break
Rotowire
Rusin produced a 2.31 ERA in his final 12 appearances before the All-Star break.
The 2018 campaign has been a down year for the veteran lefty, as his season ERA sits at a lofty 6.18 despite the recent string of strong appearances. Home runs and a lack of control are largely to blame, as his 1.6 HR/9 and 4.4 BB/9 are easily career highs. However, he hasn't allowed a homer since June 7 and has walked just seven hitters since then. If Rusin can keep this up in the second half, he could see more high-leverage situations again and gather more holds down the stretch.
