Atlanta released Swarmer on Thursday.
Swarmer lost his roster spot at Triple-A Gwinnett after the club activated right-hander Dereck Rodriguez, who was outrighted to the minors upon being designated for assignment. After joining Atlanta on a minor-league deal in February, Swarmer remained at Triple-A all season prior to his release, compiling an 8.07 ERA and 1.87 WHIP in 32.1 innings. The 29-year-old right-hander had previously made his MLB debut with the Cubs last season.
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Braves' Matt Swarmer: Gets opportunity with Atlanta
Rotowire
Swarmer signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Saturday.
Swarmer elected free agency in November, coming off a 2022 season in which he made his big-league debut after a seven-year climb through the minors. The 29-year-old right-hander did little to demonstrate he was worthy of a spot in the Cubs' long-term plans, however, as he posted a 5.03 ERA and 1.56 WHIP while serving up 12 home runs in 34 innings in the majors. Atlanta will bring him aboard as organizational depth, and he'll presumably be ticketed for a role as a swingman at Triple-A Gwinnett.
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Cubs' Matt Swarmer: Clears waivers
Rotowire
Swarmer cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Swarmer lost his spot on the Cubs' 40-man roster Saturday but will remain in the organization after he went unclaimed on waivers. The right-hander has made nine appearances (five starts) in the minors this year and has posted a 2.08 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 39 innings.
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Cubs' Matt Swarmer: Cast off 40-man roster
Rotowire
Swarmer was designated for assignment by the Cubs on Saturday, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Swarmer was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday and will lose his spot on the 40-man roster as part of a move after Steven Brault's contract was selected Saturday. Swarmer has logged a 2.08 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 39 innings over nine appearances (five starts) in the minors this year and will likely remain in Iowa if he goes unclaimed on waivers.
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Cubs' Matt Swarmer: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Swarmer was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Swarmer shifted to a relief role in late June and allowed six runs (three earned) on 10 hits and 10 walks while striking out 12 in 9.1 innings over six appearances out of the bullpen. However, he'll head to the minors after Daniel Norris (finger) was reinstated from the injured list Wednesday.
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Cubs' Matt Swarmer: Earns win in relief Tuesday
Rotowire
Swarmer (2-3) pitched two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win Tuesday against the Brewers. He allowed a hit and three walks while striking out one.
Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks departed after three innings with right shoulder soreness, so Swarmer got into the contest early. He wasn't dominant but was able to avoid trouble and pick up his first win since June 4. Swarmer had shifted into a bullpen role, but if Hendricks is forced to go on the injured list, the former could move back into the rotation. The 28-year-old had a 5.84 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across five starts earlier this season.
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Cubs' Matt Swarmer: Shifting to relief role
Rotowire
Swarmer isn't starting Sunday's game against the Cardinals and will move to a relief role, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Swarmer allowed five runs (four earned) over four innings during his last start Tuesday and lined up for his next turn through the rotation Sunday, but the Cubs will instead pitch Alec Mills. Swarmer posted a 5.84 ERA and 24:10 K:BB in 24.2 innings over five starts, but manager David Ross said the team now wants to see how the right-hander looks out of the bullpen.
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Cubs' Matt Swarmer: Takes third loss
Rotowire
Swarmer (1-3) allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits across four innings to take the loss Tuesday against the Pirates. He walked two and struck out five.
Swarmer has shown the ability to miss some bats, as he now has 24 strikeouts across 24.2 innings this season. The 28-year-old has otherwise struggled with a 5.84 ERA, and home runs have been a big reason why, as he's surrendered 11 of them during his limited action. The Cubs are a bit thin in the rotation at the moment, however, so Swarmer may be able to hold onto his spot in the short term. If so, he'd be in line to start again Sunday against the Cardinals.
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Cubs' Matt Swarmer: Charged with another loss
Rotowire
Swarmer (1-2) allowed four runs on four hits and five walks while striking out four in 3.2 innings to take the loss in Thursday's game against the Padres.
After allowing just two earned runs in 12 innings over his first two major-league starts, Swarmer has struggled in his last two outings, giving up 10 runs in 8.2 innings to take back-to-back losses. The 28-year-old had command issues during Thursday's series finale against San Diego, as he threw just 42 of his 86 pitches for strikes. The right-hander will likely maintain his rotation spot for now since several of the Chicago's starters are on the injured list, and he tentatively lines up to make his next start on the road against Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
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Cubs' Matt Swarmer: Serves up six homers in loss
Rotowire
Swarmer (1-1) took the loss against the Yankees on Saturday, pitching five innings and allowing six runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out six.
Swarmer hung tough through three frames, yielding only one run on a solo homer by Aaron Judge in the first inning. However, he gave up two additional solo shots in the fourth and three more -- including the second of the day by Judge -- in the fifth to end up with the unhappy final stat line. Per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com, Swarmer became the second pitcher in MLB history to serve up six solo home runs in one game, joining Hollis "Sloppy" Thurston, who did so in 1932. Despite the dubious feat, there were some positives to the rookie's performance, including his racking up of 15 swinging strikes. This was his first loss as a major-leaguer, and he has posted a 4.24 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 15:3 K:BB over 17 innings.
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Cubs' Matt Swarmer: Earns first MLB win
Rotowire
Swarmer (1-0) allowed one run on two hits across six innings to earn the win in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. He walked two and struck out five.
A Tommy Edman solo home run accounted for all the offense against Swarmer. The 28-year-old has been excellent through two starts, allowing just two earned runs across 12 innings with 11 strikeouts. Home runs have been his weak spot, however, as he's allowed three of them already. If Swarmer can keep the ball in the park, he may be able to have some sustained success. He's lined up to start again next Saturday against the Yankees.
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Cubs' Matt Swarmer: Stays in rotation
Rotowire
Swarmer is scheduled to start one game of Saturday's doubleheader with the Cardinals in Chicago, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
The rookie right-hander will end up getting two starts this week after he struck out six Brewers while giving up four runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk in his MLB debut Monday. With Drew Smyly (oblique) joining Wade Miley (shoulder) and Alec Mills (back) on the injured list Wednesday, Swarmer looks like he'll have a path to sticking around as the Cubs' No. 5 starter beyond Saturday if he doesn't completely melt down against the Cardinals.
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Cubs' Matt Swarmer: Slated to debut Monday
Rotowire
Swarmer will start the first game of Monday's doubleheader against the Brewers, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Swarmer has spent the last three minor-league seasons at Triple-A Iowa, and he had success over the first two months of the year in 2022. He's made nine appearances (five starts) in Iowa in 2022 and has posted a 2.08 ERA, 42:14 K:BB and 0.95 WHIP in 39 innings. If Swarmer performs well during his major-league debut, he'll likely be an option to draw another start since the Cubs also have a doubleheader against the Cardinals on Saturday.
