PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle said on Saturday that lefty Erik Bedard (back spams) is not feeling healthy enough for his regular scheduled start for Monday in Miami. Instead, right-hander Brad Lincoln will make the start and Bedard will be bumped to Wednesday against the Nationals.
“After conversation yesterday with the training staff and with Erik, we are going to start Brad on Monday and we’re going to back Erik up until Wednesday and go from there,” Hurdle said.
Bedard was removed from the game on Wednesday in the top of the second inning after throwing an 1-2 pitch to Adam LaRoche at PNC Park. Bedard said he felt his back tighten up on the final pitch thrown. He was removed from the game several minutes later and diagnosed with back spasms.
The lefty has gone 2-4 with a 2.57 ERA over seven starts (35 innings).
Lincoln will be making his first start of the season for Pittsburgh. The right-hander made two starts in Triple-A before being recalled on April 18. He’s posted an 0.63 ERA over 14.1 innings in relief from the bullpen. He’s allowed just one earned run in relief, which ranks third among National League relief pitchers.
Hurdle said that Lincoln will be unavailable from the ‘pen the next two games and everyone else in the rotation will be moved back a day. The scheduled rotation is as followed: Sunday: A.J. Burnett; Monday: Lincoln; Tuesday: Kevin Correia; Wednesday: Bedard; Thursday: James McDonald.
