Hill to Climb
Mike Kiley reports in the Sun-Times that Rich Hill has apparently been recalled from Iowa (presumably to replace Glendon Rusch in the starting rotation), and that David Aardsma has been optioned out, with Rusch transferred to the bullpen effective immediately.
No word yet on whether Michael Wuertz will be recalled, too, but if he is recalled prior to Thursday, Wuertz will not burn a minor league option and will accrue MLB service time for his time spent in AAA the last couple of weeks. (If a player spends less than 20 days on option to the minors in any given season, no minor league option is used, and the player continues to accrue MLB service time for the entire period of time spent in the minors).
If Will Ohman is next to go down, the Cubs might want to keep him around for a while longer (at least through Thursday), because the Diamondbacks are loaded with left-handed hitters. Ohman is at his best when he is used just as a LOOGY. On the other hand, Rusch is not effective against left-handed hitters, and he also gives up too many walks, hits, and home runs to be an effective relief pitcher.
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