REPORT: Cubs recall Chris Rusin; Brian Schlitter sent to Triple-A

Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Rusin has been recalled from Triple-A Iowa and Brian Schlitter has been sent down, tweets MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat.

Schlitter made six appearances with a 6.35 ERA over 5 2/3 innings out of the pen this season. Rusin lost the fifth spot to Carlos Villanueva, so it appears the Cubs will turn to Rusin for long relief.

In Villanueva’s last start, he threw 71 pitches over five innings.

The taxed Cubs’ bullpen has pitched three extra-inning games in the first 10 games, so Rusin will provide some relief with James Russell‘s recent struggles and southpaw Wesley Wright‘s absence, who has not pitched this week.

Schlitter will stay at least 10 days in Iowa before he can rejoin the big league club and with Jake Arrieta on the verge of coming back this roster move makes the Cubs’ pitching situation very interesting at both levels.

Rusin, 27, had a woeful 7.45 ERA in three appearances over 19 1/3 innings during spring training. At Triple-A, he went 0-2 with a 6.52 ERA, striking out seven and walking four over 9 2/3 innings.