The Pittsburgh Pirates and visiting Milwaukee Brewers are expected to start a rookie on the mound Thursday night in the opener of their four-game series.
The Pirates, who will attempt to win three consecutive games for the first time this season, called up right-hander Mike Burrows from Triple-A Indianapolis before Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
Burrows, 25, will make his season debut and his first major league start on Thursday.
The Brewers officially have not announced a starter for Thursday’s game, but the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported that the team is expected to recall right-hander Carlos Rodriguez from Triple-A Nashville to make his season debut.
Burrows made his debut in the majors last Sept. 28 and pitched in relief against the Yankees in New York in his lone appearance of the season. He picked up the win despite allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits, including a home run, and three walks while striking out two in 3 1/3 innings.
Rodriguez, 23, also made his debut last season and went 0-3 with a 7.30 ERA over 12 1/3 innings, allowing 11 runs (10 earned) on 19 hits, including three home runs, and three walks while striking out nine. Rodriguez’s reported promotion comes after Milwaukee optioned right-hander Tobias Myers to Nashville this past weekend.
Rodriguez has pitched well in the minors this season, going 3-1 with a 1.99 ERA over nine appearances (eight starts).
There was speculation the Brewers could elevate right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, their top-ranked pitching prospect and No. 4 overall per MLB.com. But he is not on the 40-man roster while Rodriguez is, giving the team more flexibility.
“I certainly think Miz has the type of stuff that you want to take care of,” Brewers general manager Matt Arnold told MLB.com. “He has that kind of upside for us. And so you want to make sure if and when a guy arrives at the big league level that you put them in a position to succeed.”
Burrows is 2-1 with a 2.51 ERA in eight appearances (seven starts) at Triple-A Indianapolis this year. The move comes in the wake of right-hander Jared Jones undergoing season-ending surgery to repair the UCL in his right elbow.
Jones initially was intended to be a major part of the Pirates’ rotation but had been out since March 19, and he suffered a recent setback in one of his rehab appearances a week ago.
“It’s really tough losing him, obviously, for this year,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said after Wednesday’s game. “But you feel for him, going through it.”
Pittsburgh also announced that infielder Enmanuel Valdez underwent season-ending surgery on his non-throwing shoulder. He is expected to be out at least six months.
The Pirates are on a historic stretch of offensive futility, as they have failed to score more than four runs in their past 26 games, tying a major league record shared by the 1906 Boston Nationals, the 1918 and 1931 Boston Braves, and the 1969 California Angels.
The Brewers will try to keep that stretch going this weekend as they look to bounce back from an 8-4 loss in 11 innings to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.
–Field Level Media
