CINCINNATI -- Minor-league pitcher Chris Rusin is a prime candidate to be called up to the Chicago Cubs and start Tuesday’s game at Milwaukee.

Manager Dale Sveum mentioned Rusin as a possibility to pitch this week when asked about the rotation over the last six-plus weeks.

The 25-year-old left-hander, who has no major league experience, is 8-8 at Triple-A Iowa with a 4.59 ERA over 24 starts. He has 87 strikeouts and 52 walks in 133 1/3 innings.

After a back-to-back starts in late June when Rusin gave up a combined 13 runs, he has rebounded to allow a combined four earned runs over his last four outings.

Since the Cubs used two of their five starters during Saturday’s doubleheader, they won’t have a starter with full rest for Tuesday’s game.

If Rusin were to stick around and start over the remainder of the season he would have to replace somebody in the current rotation or the Cubs would have to go to a six-man staff. If Rusin pitches well Tuesday there is a possibility he could take starts away from Chris Volstad, who has not won in 24 consecutive starts, including all 14 with the Cubs this season.