Pirates Place David Bednar On 15-Day Injured Record

Previous to at the moment’s 3-1 loss to the Rays, the Pirates positioned nearer David Bednar on the 15-day injured checklist resulting from a left indirect pressure.  The location is retroactive to June 20.  Left-hander Justin Bruihl was referred to as up from Triple-A within the corresponding transfer.

Bednar final pitched on Wednesday, and Pirates GM Ben Cherington stated in his weekly radio present (hat tip to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) stated that the right-hander “felt a little bit one thing in his left aspect” following that outing.  Bednar and the workforce took a couple of days to relaxation and consider the state of affairs, however after Bednar nonetheless felt some tightness after a throwing session, an IL journey was deemed vital.

Cherington described the position as considerably preventative, as Bednar’s pressure is taken into account comparatively delicate and there’s hope he would possibly be capable to return as soon as his minimal 15 days are up.  As Cherington famous, “We’d like him for the most important a part of the season, as potential….Hopefully, meaning it’s a brief keep on the IL, slightly than it turning into one thing greater and it being an extended absence.”

The Bucs dropped to 37-40 after at the moment’s loss, however stay simply a few video games out of a wild card berth within the very crowded NL postseason race.  A scorching week may simply get Pittsburgh right into a playoff place, although the workforce’s struggling lineup should begin producing, and naturally shedding their nearer for not less than 15 days gained’t assist the Pirates’ possibilities.

Proprietor Bob Nutting believes his workforce can keep in competition, and recently said that the Pirates may make some additions on the July 30 commerce deadline (and presumably obtain some additional payroll house to make these provides).  Nonetheless, given the Bucs’ lack of offense and now this hit to their bullpen, it wouldn’t be a shock if Pittsburgh explored being deadline sellers if the workforce can’t get on monitor, or if different NL golf equipment begin to catch fireplace and create some actual house within the wild card race.

Bednar’s damage may make his commerce candidacy a moot level, however even when he did return in 15 days and the Pirates seemed to deal some gamers on the deadline, it isn’t possible that he’d be on the transfer by July 30.  Whereas Bednar’s title has lengthy been linked to commerce hypothesis, the Bucs have proven that they’re wanting to correctly finish their rebuilding interval, so it isn’t possible that they’d transfer such an efficient nearer in brief order.  It isn’t out of the query that the Pirates may nonetheless commerce Bednar as his price ticket continues to rise throughout his arbitration years, however that idea will possible be explored extra within the offseason than throughout the subsequent month.

An All-Star the final two seasons, Bednar has a 5.17 ERA over 31 1/3 innings this 12 months resulting from a really tough begin.  After posting an 11.45 ERA over his first 13 appearances and 11 innings, Bednar has righted the ship and delivered a 1.77 ERA throughout his final 21 video games and 20 1/3 innings.

With Bednar sidelined, Cherington stated it’ll be “all palms on deck” for closing duties.  Aroldis Chapman and Colin Holderman are the likeliest candidates to earn saves — Holderman has been the simpler of the 2 pitchers this season, although Chapman has a protracted historical past of previous closing expertise.

The Pirates may additionally get some bullpen reinforcements coming within the type of Ryan Borucki, as the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Kevin Gorman writes that Borucki is about to start a minor league rehab task on Tuesday.  Borucki hasn’t pitched since April 5 since a case of left triceps irritation despatched him to the 15-day after which the 60-day injured checklist.