Right-hander Johan Oviedo will get another chance to stick in Pittsburgh’s rotation on Wednesday afternoon when he makes his second start of the season for the host Pirates against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Oviedo (0-0, 18.00 ERA) will oppose Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt (11-6, 4.22) in the decisive game of a three-game series. It will be Oviedo’s first start since Aug. 4 when he made a brief return to the majors after sitting out more than a year following Tommy John surgery.
Oviedo pitched only one inning against the San Francisco Giants that day and struggled, throwing 43 pitches and allowing two runs on two hits and three walks despite striking out three. He was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis the next day.
Over the past two weeks, Oviedo made two starts at Triple-A and threw 8 2/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned), six hits and three walks while striking out 15.
“He went down and handled what he needed to with the competitiveness that he consistently shows,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said on Tuesday. “I’m just really proud of the way he handled that because it’s not easy to do. Going through that whole journey to get back here, and then you pitch one inning and it doesn’t go the way you planned and you find yourself back in Triple-A.”
Oviedo, who has a 13-25 career record and made 58 starts and 72 appearances overall before being sidelined following the 2023 season, was projected to open the 2025 campaign in the Pirates’ rotation. However, a lat injury in spring training delayed his return by months.
Oviedo is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in two career starts against Toronto. Pittsburgh will need to make a roster move to clear space for his recall from the minors prior to the Wednesday game.
Oviedo will face a Toronto lineup that regained its form on Tuesday during a 7-3 win. Alejandro Kirk and George Springer each homered for the Blue Jays, who hold a five-game lead in the American League East.
Toronto manager John Schneider said that Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who sat out on Tuesday after exiting the Monday game with left hamstring tightness, was feeling better. However, it’s likely the first baseman will not return to the lineup on Wednesday.
“It was just inflammation, which is good,” Schneider said before the Tuesday game about the results of the MRI Guerrero underwent earlier in the day.
On the mound, Bassitt will be looking for his first win since July 23 against the New York Yankees. He is entering what could be a crucial start as he tries to retain a spot in the rotation with the team debut of Shane Bieber looming on Friday.
Bassitt last pitched on Friday against the Texas Rangers in Toronto. He allowed three runs on four hits and four walks while striking out four over five innings. Bassitt left with a no-decision in a game Toronto eventually won 6-5.
Bassitt, who is 8-0 with a 2.73 ERA in 14 starts at home, has been a far different pitcher away from Toronto. On the road, he is 3-6 with a 6.39 ERA in 11 starts and one relief appearance.
Bassitt, however, is a perfect 4-0 for his career with a 2.10 ERA in five starts against the Pirates.
–Field Level Media
