The Pirates went for the series sweep over Atlanta yesterday, but the pitching fell apart and the Braves got the win. Here’s Joe Block
Manager Derek Shelton says the Pirates’ pitchers couldn’t hit their spots yesterday and the Braves made them pay.
Shelton says the bright spot for the Bucs was newly-acquired first baseman John Nogowski, who has had quite a first week in Pittsburgh.
Perhaps a sign that General Manager Ben Cherington is close to trading All-Star second baseman Adam Frazier: The Pirates yesterday signed former All-Star infielder Dee Strange-Gordon to a minor league contract and assigned him to Indianapolis. He’s already been with three teams in the NL Central this year after playing the last three years in Seattle. Strange-Gordon opted out of a minor league deal with the Cubs and has been released by both the Reds and Brewers this season.
Among the highlights from director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk’s weekly update yesterday was a timetable for pitcher Steven Brault’s return. He threw a bullpen session in Pittsburgh last weekend, then returned to pitch a simulated game in Bradenton on Tuesday. He will pitch an actual rehab start for Bradenton on Sunday and then join Indianapolis for his next rehab assignment. He’s been out since spring training with a strained back muscle.
Altoona right-hander Roansy Contreras won’t throw a baseball for two to four weeks as he deals with a forearm strain and then must build up his arm strength again. He won’t be back until later in the season. Curve shortstop Oneil Cruz will resume full baseball activities in two to three weeks as he also recovers from a strained forearm.
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