Pirates bullpen suffers another big blow as reliever Nick Burdi is shut down for season

The bullpen blows keep coming for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who shut down another high-leverage reliever by placing right-hander Nick Burdi on the 45-day injured list Wednesday with a right elbow injury.

The Pirates added utility player JT Riddle, who was on the IL with an abdomen injury, to their major league roster. Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Riddle will be active and available to play infield and outfield.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Burdi “just didn’t feel right” after Monday’s 5-4 loss at the Chicago Cubs, when he allowed the winning run on two hits and one walk in the ninth. Burdi earned his first career save in an 8-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on July 28 at PNC Park.

“We brought him home, had him evaluated by our physicians,” Tomczyk said. “We still are in the medical protocols of gathering the most comprehensive information with Nick, so at this point in time, we felt that with the build-up, with the injury, that unfortunately his shortened season is over.”

That’s bad news for Burdi, who was returning from surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, and for the Pirates after they lost righty Michael Feliz (forearm) for the season. They also are without relievers Kyle Crick (shoulder), Clay Holmes (forearm) and closer Keone Kela, who tested positive for covid-19 but has been cleared to return.

Tomczyk said Kela, who has been playing catch and has thrown two bullpen sessions, “responded well to the initial workload, and we envision him hopefully getting off the slope facing hitters in the coming days. We’ll go from there and see how he responds to that.”

Tomczyk described Crick’s injury as “muscular in nature” but called it a “very good sign” Crick resumed throwing Wednesday. Tomczyk said Holmes continues to report mild symptoms, so he won’t start throwing until he is deemed pain-free.

Tomczyk also provided updates on other injured Pirates:

• Right-handed pitcher Mitch Keller, who has a left oblique strain, “continues to make notable improvement” but “still feels some limitation with some movements.” Keller isn’t throwing yet and will be replaced in the starting rotation Thursday by JT Brubaker, who will make the first major league start of his career.

• Catcher Luke Maile, who is out for the season after fracturing his right index finger in training camp, has returned home to Tampa and will work with the team’s physical therapists and strength coaches in Bradenton.

• Right-hander Jameson Taillon, who is out for the season after Tommy John surgery, “continues to be very diligent and very professional about his rehab.” Taillon is throwing two bullpens a week and threw his curveball pain-free on Tuesday. “He continues to make excellent progress,” Tomczyk said.

• Right-hander Chris Archer, out for the season after surgery for neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrom, is at his home in California and is working on his range of motion and strength.

• Infielder Kevin Kramer, who is out for the season after hip surgery, was scheduled Wednesday to see orthopedic surgeon Dr. Marc Philippon at The Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo. Kramer is projected to return for the 2021 season.

“His rehab is going well,” Tomczyk said, “but there’s nothing new to report.”