MICHAEL RUCKER NEWS

Elects free agency Rucker elected free agency Monday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact The Nationals booted Rucker from their 40-man roster and he has decided to try out free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment. The 30-year-old spent the entirety of the 2024 campaign in the minors, holding a 6.16 ERA and 39:11 K:BB over 30.2 innings.

NOVEMBER 5 • ROTOWIRE

Claimed by Washington The Nationals claimed Rucker off waivers Friday and optioned him to Triple-A Rochester.

Impact The right-hander was designated for assignment by the Phillies on Wednesday, and he'll stick in the NL East after being claimed off waivers. Rucker hasn't pitched in the majors this season and has struggled at the Triple-A level with a 7.36 ERA across 22 innings, though he was a solid bullpen piece for the Cubs in 2022 with a 3.95 ERA in 41 appearances.

SEPTEMBER 6 • ROTOWIRE

Removed from 40-man roster The Phillies designated Rucker for assignment Wednesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Impact Rucker has missed much of 2024 due to injury, posting a 6.58 ERA but also a 36:11 K:BB over 26 innings in the minors. The 30-year-old will cede his 40-man roster spot to Nick Nelson, who was called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Wednesday.

SEPTEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE

Sent to Triple-A The Phillies optioned Rucker to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday.

Impact He'll give up his spot on the 26-man active roster and in the Philadelphia bullpen to right-hander Carlos Estevez, whom the Phillies acquired from the Angels over the weekend. Rucker has spent most of the season recovering from a right hand arterial vasospasm, but the Phillies brought him back from the 60-day injured list Friday. The righty didn't end up making any appearances out of the bullpen over the weekend in the Phillies' series with the Guardians, however.

JULY 29 • ROTOWIRE

Returns from injured list The Phillies reinstated Rucker (hand) from the 60-day injured list Friday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic report.

Impact Philadelphia acquired Austin Hays in exchange for Seranthony Dominguez and Cristian Pache earlier Friday, and Rucker will fill the open roster spot. The right-hander was acquired from the Cubs in February but has been sidelined by an arterial vasospasm in his right hand. Rucker posted a 4.91 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 40:19 K:BB over 40.1 innings for Chicago last season and is now on the cusp of his debut in Philadelphia.

JULY 26 • ROTOWIRE

Restarts rehab assignment Rucker (hand) resumed his rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday, working one inning while striking out a batter and giving up one run on three hits and one walk.

Impact Rucker had been pulled off his rehab assignment last Sunday due to turf toe in his right big toe, but he evidently made a swift recovery from that injury. The 30-year-old is still in the process of building back up while he's been on the injured list all season due to a right hand arterial vasospasm. He'll likely work in middle relief for the Phillies once he's activated from the 60-day IL.

JULY 15 • ROTOWIRE

Phillies place OF Brandon Marsh on injured list with right hamstring strain

The Philadelphia Phillies have placed outfielder Brandon Marsh on the 10-day injured list with a strained right hamstring

JUNE 3 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Phillies acquire reliever Michael Rucker, DFA Andrew Bellatti Rucker, 29, has appeared in 96 games (123.1 innings) over the last three seasons for the Cubs.

FEBRUARY 6 • MCALL.COM

Phils add bullpen depth, acquire Rucker from Cubs PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies are trying to create more flexibility for their 2024 bullpen. The Phils announced Tuesday afternoon that they a...

FEBRUARY 6 • MLB.COM

Phillies acquire RHP Michael Rucker from Cubs The Philadelphia Phillies acquired reliever Michael Rucker from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.The 29-year-...

FEBRUARY 6 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Exits 40-man roster Rucker was designated for assignment by the Cubs on Thursday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

Impact Rucker loses his spot on the 40-man roster in favor Hector Neris, whose signing became official. The 29-year-old reliever has put up a 4.96 ERA and 120:50 K:BB covering 123.1 innings out of the Cubs' bullpen over the last three seasons.

FEBRUARY 1 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Iowa The Cubs optioned Rucker to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact 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.

AUGUST 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Recalled from Triple-A The Cubs recalled Rucker from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact 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.

AUGUST 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Iowa The Cubs optioned Rucker to Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact 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. Rucker could certainly 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 pitching staff.

JULY 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Snags win in relief Wednesday 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.

Impact Rucker wasn't his sharpest with the three walks and needing 35 pitches to cover two frames, 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.

JULY 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Recalled from Iowa The Cubs recalled Rucker from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact 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.

JUNE 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A The Cubs optioned Rucker to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact 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, meanwhile Hayden Wesneski was recalled to take Rucker's roster spot.

MAY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Struggles with command in loss 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.

Impact 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 hit 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 he still carries a solid 3.38 ERA overall, so he should be able to rebound from the tough performance.

APRIL 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Could start year in minors Rucker could be squeezed out of the MLB bullpen to begin the regular season, Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic report.

Impact 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.

FEBRUARY 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Aquino hits 2 home runs, Reds beat Cubs 7-1

Aristides Aquino hit two more home runs against the Cubs and helped the Cincinnati Reds pull away from Chicago 7-1

SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Reyes, Hoerner help Cubs beat Blue Jays 7-5, avoid sweep

Franmil Reyes homered, Nico Hoerner drove in a pair of runs and the Chicago Cubs beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5 to avoid a three-game sweep

SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hernández, Guerrero homer to back Gausman, Jays top Cubs 5-3

Teoscar Hernández hit a three-run homer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also went deep and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Chicago Cubs 5-3

AUGUST 31, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Yelich, Woodruff spark Brewers to 7-0 victory over Cubs

Christian Yelich went 4 of 5 with a three-run homer, Brandon Woodruff pitched six strong innings and the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Chicago Cubs 7-0 on Saturday night

AUGUST 28, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Morel, Wisdom homer, Cubs top Brewers for 4th straight win

Rookie Christopher Morel and Patrick Wisdom each hit two-run homers and the Chicago Cubs topped the Milwaukee Brewers 8-7 for their fourth straight win

AUGUST 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Earns first MLB win Rucker (1-1) tossed a scoreless inning of relief and earned the win Wednesday against the Nationals.

Impact 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.

AUGUST 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE