BUCS STAGGER INTO MILWAUKEE AFTER ANOTHER LOSS TO REDS

A week ago the Pirates were tied for the third Wild Card playoff slot in the National League.  Now, after a 2-5 week, the Bucs are three-and-a-half games out of the race as trade deadline day arrives.  Teams have until six o’clock this evening to make deals.

The Pirates’ miserable week ended with another loss to the Reds on Sunday.  Joe Block has the story.

With Ryan O’Hearn placed on the injured list and out six to eight weeks, the Pirates activated first baseman Spencer Horwitz yesterday.  He’d been out since injuring his hamstring on June 24^th, and suffering a concussion in a rehab start last week. Horwitz was 0-for-4 at the plate.

To make room for Horwitz and newly-acquired reliever Camilo Doval on the roster, the Pirates optioned outfielder Billy Cook and pitcher Isaac Matson to Indianapolis.  There could be yet another move in the bullpen tonight.  After throwing an inning of scoreless relief in a rehab outing on Thursday for Indianapolis and another shutout inning Saturday, left-hander Evan Sisk is with the team in Milwaukee.

On Pirates Insider on WCCS yesterday, general manager Ben Cherington said Camilo Doval, who was acquired from the Yankees on Saturday, has great arm talent and he’s happy to add him to the bullpen.

Cherington says the Pirates have suffered from the loss of O’Hearn, Horwitz, Oneil Cruz, and Konnor Griffin, and while he’s looking forward to getting those bats back, he wouldn’t mind adding to the offensive depth.

Even with the rough week damaging the Pirates chances of making the playoffs, Cherington says the Bucs are still looking to trade big leaguers for other big leaguers if need be.

The reeling Pirates open another four-game NL Central series tonight against the team with the best record in baseball.  The Pirates visit the first-place Milwaukee Brewers, with Bubba Chandler (3-8, 4.56 ERA) faces the Brewers’ right-hander Brandon Sproat (3-6, 5.05 ERA).  It’s a 7:15 airtime, 7:40 first pitch on WCCS.

The Pirates swept the Brewers in a three-game series at PNC Park last month.  That series opened with a 7-6 win in which the Bucs chased Sproat after giving up three runs, two earned in three innings on July 11^th.