Michael James Wuertz was originally signed by Cubs scout Mark Servais...is married, Megan, and has one child, Braxton...is a 1997 graduate of Austin (MN) High School.
2010
Was 2-3 with a career-high six saves and a 4.31 ERA in 48 relief appearances with the A's...that was a drop of 26 games from 2009 as he spent the first month of the season on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis...tossed just 39.2 innings, which were his fewest since his rookie season of 2004
(29.0)...his ERA was the second highest of his career as were his opponents batting average (.240),
on-base percentage (.335) and slugging percentage (.411)...matched his career-high in losses...struck
out 40 batters in 39.2 innings, the sixth time in his seven seasons he finished with more strikeouts that
inning pitched...now has 412 career strikeouts in 380.2 innings, an average of 9.74 per nine innings...
has 10 saves in two seasons with the A's after recording just one save over his first five seasons with the
Cubs...allowed just 3-of-26 (11.5%) inherited runners to score, which was the lowest percentage among
American League relievers with 25 or more inherited runners...has allowed just 11-of-66 (16.7%) inherited
runners to score in his two seasons with Oakland...first batters faced were 9-for-42 (.214) with five
walks...converted all six of his save opportunities and has a streak of seven consecutive saves without a
blown save...his opponents average included a .227 (22-for-97) mark against right-handed hitters, .265
(13-for-49) against left-handers...yielded a .182 average with runners in scoring position and has held
the opposition to a .171 (21 for 123) average with RISP in his two seasons with the A's...had a 5.60 ERA
and .290 opponents average in 24 appearances before the All-Star Break, a 3.27 ERA, .195 opponents
average and five of his six saves after the break...now has a 4.14 ERA (91 er in 198.0 ip) in his career
before the break and a 2.71 ERA (55 er in 182.2 ip) after the break...compiled an 8.64 ERA in 11 outings
on no days rest, a 3.16 ERA in his other 37 appearances...recorded all six of his saves in Oakland, where
he had a 3.57 ERA and .192 opponents batting average...had a 5.29 ERA and .294 opponents average
on the road...posted a 3.44 ERA during the day, a 5.06 ERA at night...did not allow a run in two appearances
against the Angels and has not allowed a run while striking out 20 in 9.2 innings over nine career
appearances against Los Angeles...tossed 1.0 inning or fewer in 44 of his 48 outings...his season-high
for innings pitched was 1.1 on four occasions.
OAKLAND: Appeared in just two games during Spring Training (March 21 and 25) and was placed on
the 15-day disabled list April 3, retroactive to March 26, with right shoulder tendinitis...it was his first
career stint on the DL...began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento April 16...was transferred
to Single-A Stockton April 25...did not allow a run in six rehab appearances overall (7.2 ip, 7 h, 3 bb, 6
so) and was reinstated from the DL May 3...also did not yield a run over his first four outings with the
A's (3.2 ip) to extend his scoreless streak to a career-high 17.0 innings dating back to Sept. 5, 2009...
the streak ended May 19 against Detroit when he allowed two runs in the seventh inning...was credited
with wins May 23 against San Francisco and May 27 at Baltimore to extend his winning streak to seven games dating back to May 8, 2009...the winning streak is a career-high and tied for fourth longest in
Oakland history by a reliever...allowed an inherited runner to score in the game against the Orioles but
stranded each of his 17 inherited runners over his final 40 games...his winning streak came to an end
June 21 against Cincinnati when he allowed two runs in the 10th inning of a 6-4 A's loss...two of his
three losses came in extra inning games...had a 7.71 ERA and .327 opponents batting average in 16
games following the loss to the Reds...then compiled a 2.89 ERA and .196 opponents average over his
final 32 appearances...posted five of his six saves over a nine-game stretch from July 21 to Aug. 17...
had lowered his season ERA to 4.03 at that point but then logged a 5.06 ERA over his final 12 appearances...
his last outing was Sept. 25, as he did not pitch in the final eight games.
2009
Was one of the top set-up men in the American League as he went 6-1 with four saves and a 2.63 ERA in a team-leading 74 appearances for the A's...the games pitched tied for eighth most in Oakland history...led American League relievers and tied for second in the majors with a career-high 102 strikeouts (Broxton,
LAD 114)...that was the sixth-highest strikeout total by a reliever
in Oakland history...joins Rollie Fingers (1972-73, 75-76) and
Dennis Eckersley (1987) as the only Oakland relievers to fan 100
in a season...tossed 78.2 innings for an average of 11.67 strikeouts
per nine innings...that was the second-highest mark by a
reliever in Oakland history to Octavio Dotel, who had a 12.79
average in 2004...now has 372 strikeouts in 341.0 career innings,
an average of 9.82 per nine innings...had more strikeouts than
innings pitched for the fifth time in his six big league seasons...
in addition to strikeouts, he also had career-highs in saves and
innings pitched, and matched his best in wins...his ERA and .188 opponents batting average were career
lows...his appearances fell one short of his career-high of 75 in 2005...tied for fourth among AL
relievers in games, ranked fifth in opponents batting average, tied for fifth in wild pitches (5), sixth in
opponents on-base percentage (.248), percent of inherited runners scored (20.0%) and strikeout to walk
ratio (4.43), and tied for eighth in innings pitched and wins...first batters faced hit .145, which was sixth
lowest in the AL...his 25 first-batter strikeouts ranked second in the AL and were the most by an A's
reliever since 1974...Kiko Calero had the previous high with 24 in 2006...his opponents batting average
broke down to .183 (21 for 115) against left-handed hitters and .193 (31 for 161) against right-handers...
allowed a .165 average with runners in scoring position...posted a 1.45 ERA and .161 opponents batting
average over his first 17 games through May 13, a 4.88 ERA and .246 opponents average over his
next 31 games through July 30 and a 0.94 ERA and .135 opponents average over his final 26 games...
first batters faced were hitting .250 at the All-Star Break but they went 0 for 29 with four walks and 14
strikeouts after the break...did not allow any of his first 10 inherited runners to score through May 19
or any of his final 10 inherited runners to score, beginning Aug. 23...allowed 8 of 20 (40.0%) to score
in between...did not allow a run in 31 of his 34 outings in Oakland for a 0.98 ERA and .125 opponents
batting average...had a 4.07 ERA and .237 opponents average in 40 games on the road...yielded a .216
opponents average over his first 15 pitches in a game and .111 after that...compiled a 5.57 ERA and .263
opponents average in 21 day games and a 1.56 ERA and .158 opponents average in 53 games at night.
2008
Split the campaign between the Cubs and Triple-A Iowa, compiling a 1-1 record and a 3.63 ERA in 45 big league outings...allowed a .267 opponents batting average, including .230 (14 for 61) by left-handed hitters and .288 (30 for 104) by right-handers...yielded three of his four home runs to lefties...stranded 28 of 40 inherited runners...
recorded 32 scoreless outings, while holding the opponent hitless in 21 appearances...produced a 2.96 ERA in 21
games at Wrigley Field, compared to a 4.43 ERA in 24 road contests...tossed more than 1.0 inning on 13 occasions,
producing a 2.78 ERA and holding hitters to a .237 batting average in those outings...entered the game with
the bases loaded in six games - kept the opponent off the board in four of those games, and stranded two of the
three runners once.
2007
Was second on the Cubs with 73 relief appearances behind Bob Howry (78)...posted a 3.48 ERA with a 2-3 record...stranded 33 of 38 inherited runners, the second-best rate of success in the National League (86.8%)...teammate Carlos Marmol led the NL with an 87.8% success rate...posted a 2.48 road
ERA compared to a 4.15 ERA at Wrigley Field...lasted at least 2.0 innings on nine occasions, including
a season-high 2.1 innings Aug. 31 against the Astros...limited hitters to a .210 batting average with
runners on base...had a season-opening, 11.0-inning scoreless streak snapped April 25 vs. Milwaukee
when Rickie Weeks homered to left on a 1-0 pitch...picked up his first win of the season June 23 at U.S.
Cellular Field against the White Sox, tossing 0.1 innings...allowed his first inherited runner to score
July 17 vs. San Francisco, snapping a streak of 20 runners stranded to begin the season...pitched 1.2
shutout innings in two post-season appearances for the Cubs in the NLDS against Arizona, with a walk
and two strikeouts.
2006
Began the season on the Opening Day roster, but struggled and was sent to Triple-A Iowa, where he was 6-0 with 10 saves and a 2.01 ERA in 31 games, all relief appearances. Wuertz rejoined the Cubs on July 23. From Aug. 18-Sept. 2, he threw 11 1/3 shutout innings.
2005
Finished tied for 11th most in NL in relief appearances. Was unscored upon in 38 of his last 53 appearances, spanning 54 2/3 innings. He struck out 68 in that stretch. Picked up wins in back to back games Sept. 12-13. Went more than one inning in 20 of his appearances.
2004
Michael had four stints on the Cubs' roster (April 2-30, May 20-June 4, June 27-July 11 and September 6 through the end of the season), going 1-0 with 1 save and a 4.34 ERA in 31 games...made his major league debut on Opening Day April 5 at Cincinnati, retiring all 3 batters he faced...earned a hold in the 7-4 Cub win, striking out Jason LaRue and Ryan Freel before inducing a groundout from Juan Castro...was unscored upon in 23 of his 31 games, including a 14.0-scoreless inning streak June 2-September 26 (spanning 15 games)...struck out 30 batters in 29.0 innings, a ratio of 9.3 strikeouts per 9.0 innings...picked up his first major league win September 15 against Pittsburgh, pitching 1.0 scoreless inning of relief...entered the game on July 3 vs. the White Sox in relief of starter Greg Maddux...came in to the game in the top of the 6th inning with two runners on base...induced a pair of fly balls to get out of the inning and earn the save in the rain-shortened, 6.0-inning contest (4-2)...saw action in 37 games at Iowa, where he was 1-1 with a team-high 19 saves and a 2.42 ERA...issued 59 strikeouts and allowed just 15 walks...held opponents to a .183 average...while at Iowa, the right-hander had a season-long 14.2-scoreless inning streak June 20-August 1... picked up 1 win and 4 saves during the 11-game span...was named Iowa's pitcher of the year.
2003
After beginning his career as a starter, Michael saw action both as a starter (16 starts) and as a reliever (27 appearances) ... the right-hander threw 124.0 innings, going 3-9 with his first professional save and a 4.57 ERA...in his starts, he went 2-9 with a 5.40 ERA ... as a reliever, he posted a 2.77 ERA in 39.0 innings of
work...his ratio of 1.4 walks for every 9.0 innings pitched
as a reliever ranked 5th among Pacific Coast
League bullpen members...earned his first save July 29 against Omaha,
working 2.0 innings...in his final 8 relief appearances, he allowed 2 runs
over 9.0 innings.
2002
Spent most of the campaign in Triple-A Iowa's starting rotation, going 9-5 with a 5.55 ERA...
struck out 131 batters, the fifth-highest total in the Pacific Coast League...made his first professional relief appearance May 30 at Oklahoma - and picked up the win (11-1) by allowing one run in 6.0 innings...
struck out a season-high 10 batters in a 4.0-inning stint July 29 against Omaha.
2001
Spent the season at Double-A West Tenn, going 4-9 with a 3.99 ERA in 27 starts...was fifth in
the Southern League in strikeouts (135) and tied for fifth in starts...threw a 7.0-inning complete-game two-hit shutout May 16 at Greenville...struck out eight in the 3-0 win...tied a season-high by tossing 8.0
innings in a June 30 start against Birmingham, allowing no runs and two hits.
2000
Went 12-7 with a 3.78 ERA in 28 starts for Single-A Daytona...tied for the Florida State League lead in starts, tied for second in wins and complete games (3), ranked third in innings pitched (171.1) and fifth in strikeouts (142)...fanned a season-high 11 batters July 18 at Sarasota.
1999
Tied for the Midwest League lead in starts (28) at Single-A Lansing, going 11-12 with a 4.80
ERA...struck out a season-high 12 batters June 18 against Clinton.
1998
Began his pro career at Single-A Williamsport, where he went 7-5 with a 3.44 ERA.
