The Pittsburgh Pirates have placed left-handed pitcher Wandy Rodriguez on the 15-day disabled list with right knee inflammation, and have recalled Jared Hughes from Triple-A.
Considering the struggles from Rodriguez, it would be fair to speculate whether this injury is a phantom move, giving him a break. So far he has a 7.65 ERA in 20 innings, but the bigger concern is that his average velocity is down over a full MPH.
Hughes is probably up in the short-term to provide bullpen depth, since the Pirates don’t need a starter to replace Rodriguez until Thursday.
Tim started Pirates Prospects in 2009 from his home in Virginia, which was 40 minutes from where Pedro Alvarez made his pro debut in Lynchburg. That year, the Lynchburg Hillcats won the Carolina League championship, and Pirates Prospects was born from Tim's reporting along the way. The site has grown over the years to include many more writers, and Tim has gone on to become a credentialed MLB reporter, producing Pirates Prospects each year, and will publish his 11th Prospect Guide this offseason. He has also served as the Pittsburgh Pirates correspondent for Baseball America since 2019. Behind the scenes, Tim is an avid music lover, and most of the money he gets paid to run this site goes to vinyl records.
Everyone who wants to see Pimentel is aware that he didn’t make an appearances for two weeks and then he barely threw harder than 90 mph is his last two appearances and could not find the strike zone. Not sure I want to see him in a spot start.
If Wandy’s number was 53 and the back of his jersey said “McDonald”, I’d have think Tim accidentally uploaded the same article from 2013.
Pimentel. Spelled Pimentel.
There’s definitely something not right. Hitters are killing his curveball. That never happens.
I guess they didn’t want to use the “toe” excuse in back to back seasons. You can only pull that one out so often…
Tim, does that suggest that pimental or Gomez will start on Thursday since they brought Hughes up?
What are percentages Cumpton or Pimental gets next start? I’m guessing Locke unlikely as he is throwing tonight.
I’d say 80/20 cumpton
IMO, you have the right pitchers, but the exact opposite odds – I favor Pimental 80-20 because we need to see what he is going to be worth to us. We already know or should know that Cumpton can step into this Rotation any time, but he has the options whereas the others do not. Hughes plugs the BP allowing Pimental the time to prep for the start.
Oh I agree with you. I would much rather get a look at Stolmy in starter’s spot and now that you mention it perhaps that is what they will do.
” it would be fair to speculate whether this injury is a phantom move, giving him a break. ”
my thoughts exactly! then he gets a rehab, right?
Give him a break? – A break from what? He is DONE – time to pull the plug on him. Cumpton deserved his slot based on his spring – and has continued to pitch well enough to deserve the opportunity!