Bad news for the Pirates yesterday as JT Brubaker was diagnosed with elbow and forearm discomfort and manager Derek Shelton said he will likely start the season on the injured list. Brubaker was scheduled to start yesterday’s exhibition game against the Twins but Rich Hill started instead in an 8-4 loss. Hill had missed Sunday’s start due to illness.
Brubaker missed most of the 2019 season with a sore forearm. His replacement in the starting rotation will likely be fireballer Johan Oviedo.
The Pirates yesterday optioned infielder Mark Mathias to Indianapolis. Infielders Drew Maggi and Chris Owings were reassigned to the minor league camp along with pitcher Tyler Chatwood. The moves apparently help the odds of utility man Ji Hwan Bae and outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba to make the opening day roster.
The Athletic reports that catcher Kevin Plawecki is expected to exercise his opt-out clause after being told he will not make the team.
The exhibition schedule wraps up today in Bradenton when the Pirates play the Twins again. The airtime on Groundhog Country is one o’clock. The regular season opens on Thursday in Cincinnati.
The Reds won’t have six-time All-Star first baseman Joey Votto for Opening Day against the Pirates. Votto said on Monday that he will start a Triple-A rehab assignment later this week as he works to return from left rotator cuff surgery.
