At times this season, the Pirates’ bullpen has been taxed.
When the Pirates’ pitching strategy has worked this season — using former starters as long relievers to eat innings when the starting pitcher is through — it has saved arms and given manager Derek Shelton plenty of options to attack. When it doesn’t work, the team is sometimes forced to use five or six pitchers in one game.
After Monday, those decisions may become even tougher. The Pirates announced that they had optioned left-hander Sam Howard and right-hander Miguel Yajure to Class AAA Indianapolis, moves necessary to cut their active roster down to 26 players, something which all MLB teams had to do by Monday.
The moves make sense for both players. Howard was brought in to replace left-hander Anthony Banda, who went on the 10-day injured list with a non-COVID illness. As was the case at the end of last season, though, Howard couldn’t find solid footing. Howard made just three appearances, totaling two innings. He allowed two earned runs, walked four batters, hit another and gave up a home run.
Yajure, on the other hand, slid into one of the Pirates’ long relief roles. In his first appearance, that worked, he pitched two scoreless innings against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 10. He walked one opponent but otherwise incurred no damage.
After that, Yajure struggled. In his other five appearances with the club this season, he allowed a jarring 13 earned runs in just 8 1/3 innings, giving up 16 hits and five walks with just one strikeout, numbers that saddled him with a 14.04 ERA. It seems likely that Yajure will go back to a starter’s role with Indianapolis. After all, that’s where he thrived last season, with a 3.40 ERA in 47 2/3 innings as a starter in the minors.
The moves leave the Pirates with 13 pitchers and 13 position players, as of now. That doesn’t have to remain the case.
Banda will be eligible to return from the 10-day injured list Tuesday. The Pirates expressed an expectation that Banda would stay on the IL for the minimum 10 days. He was around the clubhouse during the last homestand, as well, a good sign that he’ll be back immediately. With Howard going down, Banda will provide some left-handed support out of the bullpen.
Originally, the plan for MLB was to place a 13-pitcher limit on teams in an effort to limit pitching changes throughout games and quicken the pace of play. The rule, meant to take place starting Monday, was postponed in an effort to allow teams more freedom to combat any arm issues from a shortened spring training or any further COVID issues that may arise.
So the Pirates have some options in deciding who to send down to clear room for Banda. If they don’t mind going forward with 13 pitchers and 13 position players, their, then someone like right-hander Beau Sulser, who just made his MLB debut Apr. 26, could be an option. At the same time, the way the Pirates have been using their bullpen, they may want 14 pitchers. In that case, perhaps outfielder Jack Suwinski or infielder Diego Castillo, both rookies with room for further development, could find themselves back in the minors.
Mike Persak: mpersak@post-gazette.com and Twitter @MikeDPersak
First Published: May 2, 2022, 8:15 p.m.
