The Cubs optioned Rucker to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Keegan Thompson is up to replace him in Chicago's bullpen ahead of Thursday's series opener versus the Pirates. Rucker, 29, has registered a 4.91 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 40:19 K:BB over 40.1 innings of relief this year in the majors.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Recalled from Triple-A
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The Cubs recalled Rucker from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Rucker will return to the Cubs' bullpen mix ahead of Tuesday night's game against the White Sox. The 29-year-old right-hander has posted a 5.03 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 39:17 K:BB across 39.1 major-league innings this season.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Optioned to Iowa
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The Cubs optioned Rucker to Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Rucker has taken a notable step back from his 2022 campaign, accumulating a 5.17 ERA and 1.46 WHIP through 38.1 innings out of the bullpen. He could return to Chicago if he shows signs of improvement in the minors, but for now Hayden Wesneski will come up from Triple-A to take his spot on the staff.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Snags win in relief Wednesday
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Rucker (2-1) tossed two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win Wednesday against the Brewers. He didn't allow a hit and walked three.
Rucker wasn't his sharpest, as he needed 35 pitches to cover two frames and issued the three free passes, though he still managed his first win since April 11 when the Cubs scored three times in the top of the ninth to earn a 4-3 victory. The righty was sent to Triple-A Iowa at the end of May due to some struggles, but he's been good since returning in early June, allowing just one run across 11.1 innings.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Recalled from Iowa
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The Cubs recalled Rucker from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Rucker will rejoin the Cubs' bullpen following the placement of Edwin Rios (undisclosed) on the 10-day injured list. Rucker was enjoying a strong start to the season with Chicago but gave up 10 earned runs in 8.1 innings over his last four appearances, leading to his demotion May 28. Now that he's back, Rucker will likely return to a multi-inning relief role.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Cubs optioned Rucker to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Rucker has yielded 10 earned runs over 8.1 innings across his last four appearances, causing his ERA to balloon from 2.45 to 5.48. He will head to Iowa in order to right the ship, and Hayden Wesneski was recalled to take Rucker's roster spot.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Struggles with command in loss
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Rucker (1-1) allowed a run on two hits without retiring a batter to take the loss Friday against the Marlins. He also hit two batters.
Rucker got the bottom of the ninth inning in a 2-2 game and struggled mightily. He allowed a leadoff single to Jorge Soler, then plunked both Luis Arraez and Avisail Garcia with pitches. That loaded the bases for Jean Segura, who plated the winning run on a single. Rucker had come into the contest with six straight scoreless outings and still carries a solid 3.38 ERA overall, so he should be able to rebound from the tough performance.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Could start year in minors
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Rucker could be squeezed out of the MLB bullpen to begin the regular season, Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic report.
With veteran relievers Brad Boxberger and Michael Fulmer signed by the Cubs in the offseason, as well as Tyler Duffey on a minor-league deal, Rucker could get squeezed from the Opening Day bullpen and start the year with Triple-A Iowa. Rucker did pitch reasonably well in 2022 with a 3.95 ERA and 1.28 WHIP across 54.2 innings for Chicago, so he could certainly get extended run in the majors at some point in 2023.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Earns another win in relief
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Rucker (3-1) tossed two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. He didn't allow a hit or a walk, and struck out one.
Rucker now has three victories in his past seven appearances after having no wins across his first 39 games at the MLB level dating back to last season. That shows the volatility of relief pitching, though Rucker has also taken on a more prominent bullpen role for the Cubs with Scott Effross, Mychal Givens and David Robertson all getting traded before the deadline. Rucker should continue to appear in high-leverage spots, though his value will be capped unless he challenges Rowan Wick and Brandon Hughes for save opportunities.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Earns first MLB win
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Rucker (1-1) tossed a scoreless inning of relief and earned the win Wednesday against the Nationals.
The Cubs trailed 2-0 after six innings before Rucker fired a scoreless top of the seventh and Chicago rallied for four runs in bottom half of the frame. The Cubs held on for the 4-2 win, giving the righty his first career MLB win. Rucker appeared in 20 games last season for Chicago and has now appeared in 20 games this year, mostly working in a middle-relief role with limited fantasy appeal.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Recalled from Triple-A
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Rucker was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.
After spending a month with Iowa, Rucker will return to Chicago for another stint with the big club. He figures to work in middle-to-long relief like he did last time he was in town.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Moves down to minors
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The Cubs optioned Rucker to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday.
With the Cubs needing to clear a spot on the 26-man active roster for Sunday's starter Drew Smyly (oblique) to return from the 15-day injured list, Rucker was deemed an expendable piece. During his one-week stint with the big club, Rucker logged three appearances out of the bullpen and gave up two earned runs on four hits and no walks over 4.1 innings.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Returns to big leagues
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The Cubs recalled Rucker from Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
He'll be joining the big club as a replacement for Alec Mills (back), who was placed on the 15-day injured list just seven pitches into his start in Saturday's win over the Red Sox. Since Mark Leiter came on in long relief and covered 5.1 innings out of the bullpen, he likely won't be available for at least a few days, so Rucker should provide a fresh arm in the interim. Over his previous 12 outings this season with the Cubs spanning 19.2 innings, Rucker posted a 5.49 ERA and 1.47 WHIP.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Sent back to Iowa
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Rucker was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Rucker's latest stint in the majors lasted just one day. He gave up two runs on four hits in three innings of relief Saturday against the Mets. Sean Newcomb is expected to take his place on the roster.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Recalled from Triple-A
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Rucker was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
He has a 5.40 ERA and 1.44 WHIP while working as a multi-inning reliever in the majors this season. Rucker should work in low-leverage spots.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Heading to Triple-A
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Rucker was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Rucker allowed four runs (three earned) without recording an out his last time on the mound June 4, and he'll now make his way back to the minors. Chris Martin (personal) was reinstated from the restricted list in a corresponding move.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Strikes out side Wednesday
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Rucker (toe) worked around a hit and delivered a scoreless inning of relief with three strikeouts in Wednesday's extra-inning win over the Brewers.
Rucker, who was reinstated from the 15-day injured list before the game, worked the seventh inning behind Kyle Hendricks and Daniel Norris. He struck out the leadoff man before allowing a one-out double, but he avoided any trouble with two more strikeouts. Rucker has been quietly solid for the Cubs this year with a 3.94 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 18 strikeouts across 16 innings. The righty was able to miss plenty of bats in 2021 as well, with 30 strikeouts over 28.1 innings, but he struggled overall with a 6.99 ERA and 1.52 WHIP. With a 3.45 FIP so far this season, Rucker's improved production seems sustainable, especially if he keeps missing bats.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Reinstated from 15-day injured list
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Rucker (toe) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Rucker was on the injured list since May 19, but he recently made a rehab appearance at Triple-A Iowa and allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless inning. The right-hander should reclaim his role as a low-leverage reliever in the Cubs' bullpen.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Begins rehab assignment
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Rucker (toe) began a minor-league rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, striking out one over a scoreless inning while working around a hit and a walk.
Rucker has been on the shelf since May 19 due to a bout with turf toe, but he looks on track to return when he's first eligible or shortly thereafter. It's unclear if the Cubs plan on having him make another tune-up appearance in the minors prior to being activated.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Advancing through throwing program
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Cubs manager David Ross said Tuesday that Rucker (toe) is progressing through a throwing program, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Rucker was placed on the 15-day injured list last Thursday after he was diagnosed with turf toe, but his ability to resume throwing a few days after being deactivated suggests that he'll be inactive for only a brief period of time. Prior to landing on the shelf, the 28-year-old righty worked 15 innings out of the Cubs' bullpen and submitted a 4.20 ERA and 1.20 WHIP.
