Matt

Swarmer

The 29-year-old posted a 5.03 ERA and 36/20 K/BB ratio across 34 innings with the Cubs last year. He will serve as relief help if he makes the team out of spring.

Swarmer was designated for assignment and he cleared waivers. He’s registered a 5.03 ERA and 36/20 K/BB ratio over his 34 innings with the Cubs in 11 appearances, five of those starts.

Swarmer was a phenomenal story for the Cubs earlier this season when he broke through to the majors, but he’s been hit hard ever since, compiling an underwhelming 5.03 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 36/20 K/BB ratio across 34 innings (11 appearances, five starts). There’s a chance the unheralded 28-year-old righty sneaks through waivers and remains with the Cubs’ organization as extra pitching depth.

He was sent out to make room on the active roster for the return of Daniel Norris from the injured list. The 28-year-old right-hander registered a 5.03 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 36/20 K/BB ratio over 34 innings in 11 appearances (five starts) with the Cubs.

Swarmer had a 1-2-3 fourth in his final inning of work, but there were baserunners all over the place otherwise. That was particularly the case in the third, when the Pirates dinged him for three runs on three hits, a walk, an error and a wild pitch. Swarmer had a terrific first two big league starts but has now been roughed up in three straight. If he sticks around, he could start in St. Louis this weekend.

Perhaps because he was thinking about those six homers he gave up last time out, Swarmer nibbled today and wound up walking five of the 20 batters he faced. He has a nice matchup against the Pirates coming up next, but he really shouldn’t be long for the Cubs rotation.

It’s scary to imagine how much worse Swarmer’s line could’ve been if some of the home runs that he allowed weren’t solo home runs. In total, the Yankees hit six solo home runs off of Swarmer on Saturday -- tying an MLB record. The Yankees hit one in the bottom of the first, two in the bottom of the fourth, and three in the bottom of the fifth. The rookie right-hander might make another start sometime next week.

The 28-year-old right-hander struck out five on the afternoon while issuing only two free passes. The only blemish on his day was a solo homer off the bat of Tommy Edman in the sixth inning. Swarmer generated 14 swinging strikes in the contest -- 13 of those on his slider -- while posting a CSW of 31 percent. He has now posted two straight quality starts to begin his Major League career and will carry an impressive 1.50 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 11/3 K/BB ratio into next weekend’s start against the Yankees -- provided he sticks in the rotation.

Swarmer served up five hits, including a solo homer to Jace Peterson in the third inning, and a game-tying two-run blast to Tyrone Taylor in the sixth inning. The 28-year-old righty recorded six strikeouts and only issued one walk. It was a solid debut effort and he’ll likely stick around to start again on Saturday against the Cardinals in another doubleheader.

Swarmer is expected to make his big-league debut in the first contest of Monday’s twin bill against the Brewers. The 28-year-old righty has compiled a strong 2.08 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 42/14 K/BB ratio across 39 innings (nine appearances, five starts) this season at Triple-A Iowa. There’s some modest streaming intrigue for fantasy managers in extremely deep mixed leagues and NL-only formats.