3:03 pm: Per Nubyjas Wilborn of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Taillon will not throw for “at least” four weeks, with the injury apparently far more severe than originally believed. Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic tweets that Taillon’s MRI showed no UCL damage, though the righty will seek a second opinion next week to confirm.
1:55pm: Per a team release, the Pirates have placed righty Jameson Taillon on the 10-Day IL with a flexor strain in his right elbow and selected the contract of lefty Tyler Lyons from AAA-Indianapolis, among other roster moves.
It’s a concerning injury for Taillon, 27, who joins rotation mate Chris Archer on the injured list for a rotation-thin Pirate club. A 2014 Tommy John knocked the former 2nd overall pick out of action for two full seasons, though he’s been mostly healthy since. The 6’5 righty was off to his usual strong start this year, posting a a solid 88 FIP-/91 xFIP- (numbers right in line with his career figures and season projection) in seven starts for Pittsburgh.
It’s unclear who’ll step in to the vacant slots in the Pittsburgh rotation, though righty Nick Kingham and lefty Steven Brault appear to have the inside tracks. Top prospect Mitch Keller, who’d struggled early with command but has been dominant in his previous two Triple-A outings, is also a candidate.
Lyons, 31, spent six years with St. Louis before inking a minor league deal with Pittsburgh this offseason. His strikeout rate has jumped to over ten per nine in the last two seasons since a full-time move to the bullpen, but the lefty was hit hard in ’18 despite predominant left-on-left usage.
im assuming Keller or Brubaker is the other move, or at least that one is up within the week.
Brubaker is on the IL with his own forearm strain
I think that Brubaker may be given the first chance to be brought up as Keller may not be quite ready.
Kingham will probably be the replacement as that is the main reason why they did not submit him to waivers as he has no more options.
Surprisingly,Brault still has one option left.He has not improved in the four years that he has pitched in the ML.His has been a tough job as the swingman,but control problems have been the main culprit.Someone with his limited stuff needs to have very good control,which has been especially tough due to his very limited usage.His is a position that should have been filled with a veteran reliever which was apparent to many of us except for NH.
I really hope that this is not a setback for Taillon.
Brubaker is on the IL himself with a forearm strain
Sorry,I assumed too much.Thank you.If they need to bring someone up to start it would have to be Keller but they need to “hit”on him as they “missed” on Glasgow.I think it too soon for Keller,but Clay Holmes has an era of over 6,so he may be off the map soon.
Hate for them to rush Keller. Not sure that they missed on Glasnow as much as he just did not perform in the Burgh. Sometimes a player needs a change of scenery and a new voice to hear in the coaching staff. If not for that deal they may not have pushed for Reynolds as they would still have Meadows. Will see Meadows still is hitting when he comes back from the IL stint.
Glasgow has said that he was not confident of his stuff in Pittsburgh so you are probably right on him.
The problem with Meadows is that I think that he has a relatively high ceiling also so he may be better than a Corey Dickerson type of player.It is the opposite of what you said though,they had Reynolds before they traded Meadows,so they may have been so impressed with Reynolds that they felt that they could trade Meadows as they would not have room for both.
Trading Meadows was a huge, huge mistake. Marte & Polanco are not players to build upon…both dumb as rocks
Tallion constantly hurt. Meanwhile Glasnow tearing it up.
Pirate evaluators are clueless.
Trade Meadows keep goofball Polanco
The Pirates are the mini Yankees in terms of injuries.
I sure hope it’s not Brault. He’s still the same pitcher he was 3 seasons ago, and that’s not a compliment. They probably should give Kingham first crack at the spot unless they think Keller is ready. On the other end of this, I’m curious to see if Lyons has anything left, as that bullpen could really use a lefty not named Vazquez who can get guys out in the later innings.
Funny or not, Liriano has been relatively effective in the role you described.
Santana, Kuhn, Burundi, Talion, and Kena too many similar injuries to be a coincidence. What are the Pirates missing? The spring simulated games to save arms may backfire.
I thought it was weird that like Taillon and Archer didn’t start pitching in Spring Training until like mid March. Though Kuhl and Santana’s injuries were kind of out of their control with Tommy John.
“mostly healthy since”… yes and coming back from testicular cancer.
Someone give James Marvel a chance!