Manager Clint Hurdle clarified the short-term future of the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation Wednesday, saying Steven Brault will start Sunday’s game, and Jordan Lyles will make a minor league rehab start that day.
Lyles has been on the injured list since June 10 because of hamstring tightness. Hurdle said he will throw the equivalent of six innings and/or 85 pitches for an affiliate that was yet to be determined.
It’s been nearly three years since the Pittsburgh Pirates have had a pitcher strike out 12 batters in a game. That’s how good Jordan Lyles was.https://t.co/bcwySidJOh
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) May 18, 2019
After a rocky start to the season, Brault has been good since being re-inserted into the rotation May 29: In four starts, he has a 1.25 ERA with 19 strikeouts (but nine walks) in 212/3 innings.
Mitch Keller was demoted back to Triple-A on Wednesday, and the Pirates are in the midst of a stretch of three off days over an eight-day period. So it seems likely if Lyles’ rehab start goes without incident he will re-join the rotation, and it will be set as a five-man unit going forward.
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