Moran, Newman leave game
Injuries continue to mount for the Pirates this season.
They have suffered a large number of bumps and bruises but a vast majority had been to pitchers. On Sunday, against the Milwaukee Brewers, they took some hits on the other side of the ball.
On the first at-bat of the game, Brewers center fielder Avisail Garcia grounded a ball down the third-base line. Erik Gonzalez picked it, but his throw pulled first baseman Colin Moran off the bag and into the path of Garcia. The two collided heavily and though Moran stayed in the game through the second inning, he was replaced in the lineup by Cole Tucker in the third. It was later announced that Moran was being evaluated for a concussion.
Then, in the bottom of the third, shortstop Kevin Newman struck out swinging against Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes and seemed to grimace a bit as he did so. Sure enough, when the Pirates took the field in the top of the fourth, Newman did not join them. He was replaced in the lineup by infielder JT Riddle. The official update on Newman was that he was removed with right lower abdominal muscle discomfort.
Manager Derek Shelton said after the game that Newman was day-to-day.
It’s possible that Moran and Newman might have to spend some time on the injured list. If that were to happen, they would add to an already crowded group the Pirates have sent there this season — 12 players on the IL, including eight on the 45-day injured list and four on the 10-day.
The Pirates have some interesting options at their alternate training site in Altoona. Third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes could make his longawaited debut on the roster, filling in at third base while Erik Gonzalez pitches in for Newman at short.
As for Moran’s replacement, Will Craig, the 25-yearold first baseman, has put in an adequate amount of time in the minor leagues and could be deserving of a call-up.
If the Pirates decide Moran and/or Newman don’t need more than a few days on the shelf and avoid sending them to the injured list, they could go to something resembling the lineup that replaced them Sunday. The only obvious day-to-day change would be first baseman Josh Bell’s addition. He had Sunday off.
This tactic also could open the door for Cole Tucker to return to the infield until Newman makes a full recovery.
What is surely disappointing for all involved is that
Newman and Moran were swinging hot bats. Newman recently had his nine-game hitting streak broken. And Moran had three doubles Saturday against Milwaukee and is the team leader in home runs. The recent success for each of them coincided with a bit of an awakening for the Pirates offense on the whole, as they scored seven and 12 runs, respectively, against the Brewers on Friday and Saturday. If the Pirates hope to continue that miniature hot streak they may have to do so without two of their hottest hitters, Newman and Moran.
Pitcher called up
The Pirates called up righthanded pitcher Nick Tropeano early Sunday from their satellite camp in Altoona and optioned Nick Mears, who struggled with his control Saturday in the ninth inning against the Brewers.
“The fact that we had used Mears two of the last three days and the number of pitches he threw [Saturday] night, just getting an active arm, a healthy arm,” Shelton said.
Tropeano started the season with the New York Yankees but was designated for assignment Aug. 8. The Pirates claimed him three days later. In 42 career big-league games (39 starts), he is 12-14 with a 4.51 ERA.