The Pirates were swept by the Braves over the weekend in Atlanta, and yesterday’s loss spoiled an outstanding performance by Bubba Chandler.
Joe Block has the recap.
Manager Donnie Kelly says the three losses in Atlanta hurt, especially yesterday’s game.
Kelly says Bubba Chandler was outstanding for the Bucs.
On Pirates Insider on WCCS yesterday, general manager Ben Cherington talked about the team’s recent pitching woes, both in the rotation and the bullpen.
Cherington said Paul Skenes is fine physically, and suggested that his struggles might be related to his playing in the World Baseball Classic back in March. He said it disrupted Skenes’s spring training routine, but said Skenes will work it out.
Cherington said the starting rotation as a whole hasn’t been sharp lately, but that’s part of the ups and downs of a season, and each individual pitcher is always working on his approach.
The GM also talked about Konnor Griffin’s arm injury. The rookie shortstop is eligible to return from the injured list on Wednesday with a flexor muscle injury, and the team will play it conservatively before bringing him back…and Cherington says the soreness has disappeared and Griffin in “asymptomatic.”
The Pirates are off today and will open a three-game home series with the Dodgers tomorrow night.
Second baseman Brandon Lowe was out of the lineup yesterday after he fouled a ball off his kneecap on Saturday, but he was able to pinch hit, and he hit a double in the ninth inning. Oneil Cruz sat out with a hand injury suffered when sliding into home on Saturday. He’s listed as day-to-day.
Cherington said catcher Joey Bart will go to the minors on a rehab assignment this week after recovering from a foot infection.
With the injuries to Griffin and Lowe, the Pirates yesterday called up infielder Davis Wendzel from Indianapolis and sent outfielder Johstynxon Gacria back down to Indy.
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