OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland A’s reinstated right-handed pitcher Drew Rucinski from the 15-day injured list and optioned right-handed pitcher Chad Smith to Triple-A Las Vegas, the club announced today.
Rucinski began the season on the injured list with a strained left hamstring and is scheduled to start tonight against the Reds. He was assigned to Las Vegas for a rehab assignment on April 12 and went 1-1 with a 6.52 ERA in three starts. The 34-year-old right-hander will be making his first Major League appearance since Sept. 28, 2018 and his first start since April 14, 2015, as he spent the last four seasons pitching in Korea. Rucinski went 53-36 with a 3.06 ERA in 121 starts for the NC Dinos from 2019-22 and is 4-4 with a 6.33 ERA in 41 games, including one start, in four seasons in the majors with the Angels (2014-15), Twins (2017) and Marlins (2018).
Smith was recalled from Las Vegas on April 12 and was 1-1 with a 6.30 ERA and .807 OPS in eight relief appearances with Oakland. He allowed seven runs on 11 hits and five walks in 10.0 innings and struck out six. Smith has a loss and a 2.25 ERA in three relief appearances with the Aviators.
