Pittsburgh Pirates

Josh Harrison’s season is over early after he was baseball’s version of the human piñata for five months.

The All-Star second baseman was placed on the disabled list because of a broken left hand, suffered Sept. 2 when he was hit by a pitch from Reds rookie righthander Tyler Mahle. It was the major league-leading 23rd time Harrison was plunked this season after being hit 26 times in his first six seasons.

“I look around the league, and I see other guys that crowd the plate more than me,” Harrison said. “Why am I the one to get hit? I mean, you’ve got to throw in, but there might be something to it.”

Rookie Max Moroff and utility player Sean Rodriguez will get the bulk of starts at second base for the rest of the season.

Manager Clint Hurdle got a four-year extension through 2021,

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. He is in his seventh year with the Pirates and had a 575534 record through Sept. 4. Daniel Hudson and rookie

Dovydas Neverauskas are now the primary setup relievers for closer Felipe Rivero. They took the spot of right-hander Juan Nicasio, who was placed on irrevocable waivers despite having a 2.85 ERA in 65 games and was claimed by the Philadelphia Phillies. The move enabled the Pirates to avoid paying the $600,000 remaining on Nicasio’s $3.65 million salary.