The Pirates positioned starter JT Brubaker on the 60-day injured listing over the weekend, formally conserving him out of motion by means of late Might. The correct-hander has been coping with discomfort in his throwing elbow, a nebulous however alarming subject for any pitcher.
Whereas the Pirates haven’t but offered a proper analysis or therapy plan, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Publish-Gazette experiences that Tommy John surgical procedure is among the many concerns. That’s to not say surgical procedure is inevitable or essentially seemingly, but it surely affirms Brubaker is coping with a probably severe subject.
Brubaker had entered spring camp assured of a spot within the Pittsburgh rotation. He took the ball 28 occasions final yr, rating second on the staff with 144 innings. He allowed 4.69 earned runs per 9. That uninspiring mark was paired with extra attention-grabbing peripherals, as he posted roughly common strikeout, stroll and grounder charges. Brubaker punched out 22.8% of opponents, walked batters at an 8.4% clip and saved the ball on the bottom 44% of the time.
An elevated .334 batting common on balls in play contributed to Brubaker’s mediocre outcomes. Had his ERA extra intently approached his satisfactory underlying marks, he may have generated some consideration at this summer time’s commerce deadline. As a substitute, Brubaker goes to overlook at the least chunk of the primary half and will wind up needing season-ending surgical procedure. He has precisely three years of main league service and certified for arbitration final offseason, agreeing to a $2.275MM wage. He stays controllable by means of 2025.
With Brubaker on the shelf, righty Johan Oviedo has stepped into the beginning 5. Acquired from the Cardinals in final summer time’s José Quintana/Chris Stratton commerce, the 25-year-old Oviedo began seven video games for Pittsburgh down the stretch. In 30 2/3 frames, he put up a 3.23 ERA regardless of strolling almost 12% of opponents. His ’23 season debut didn’t go nicely, as he was tagged for 5 runs (together with three homers) over 4 2/3 innings throughout tonight’s outing in Boston. Mitch Keller, Wealthy Hill, Vince Velasquez and Roansy Contreras spherical out the current beginning workers.
