Colorado Rockies Call Up Chris Rusin For Doubleheader

Jul 5, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Chris Rusin (18) throws during the third inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Rockies are playing an afternoon doubleheader with the Arizona Diamondbacks today (well, weather permitting) after losing the first tow games of the series to rain, and Chris Rusin has joined the team.

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The Colorado Rockies look to be adding Chris Rusin to the active roster as their 26th man for today’s doubleheader with the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field.

After rain washed away the first two games in the series Monday and Tuesday nights, the Rockies and Dbacks are playing two games this afternoon, beginning at 1:10 pm MT, with the second game starting a half hour after the first ends.

Now, the Rockies have called up Chris Rusin from AAA Albuquerque to be their 26th man for game two of the doubleheader, per Thomas Harding.

If you’re not familiar with it, the 26th Man Rule, explained:

"Beginning on MLB Opening Day up through August 31st, a club can temporarily add (recall or select) a 26th player to its MLB Active List on any day where two games are scheduled, as long as the second game was scheduled at least 48 hours in advance. If the second game was scheduled less than 48 hours in advance, a 26th man can be temporarily added to a club’s MLB Active List for the second game of the doubleheader only."

So basically, Rusin is only made available for game two of the doubleheader, since game one had been scheduled well in advance of the 48-hour window, and game two is a make-up game for the rainouts Monday and Tuesday.

Rusin has been getting hit hard in AAA Albuquerque, allowing 34 hits and five walks against just ten strikeouts in 21.2 innings (four games/four starts). Nevertheless, the 26th Man Rule is often more about who’s fresh and available, rather than who’s the most effective and ready, since it’s a one-day call-up. Expect Rusin to mop up innings in game two, should he appear. This will simply give the Rockies a little more roster flexibility with the bullpen as the team plays 18 innings this afternoon.

Interestingly, the Rockies were the first team in Major League history (along with the Pittsburgh Pirates) to use the 26th Man Rule, benefitting on April 25, 2012 in the second game of a doubleheader in Pittsburgh by calling up relief pitcher Zach Putnam.

Putnam threw a scoreless inning in that game, in which the Rockies lost 5-1 to the Pirates.

Game one of today’s doubleheader begins at 1:10 pm MT.