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Charlie Morton poised to take back spot in rotation
Charlie Morton made a rehab start on Thursday for the AAA Indianapolis Indians. This is one of the last steps in the process to get him back to the Pirates rotation. Morton went seven innings while allowing 11 hits, no walks, one earned run, and eight strikeouts.
Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports:
Charlie Morton will be in Chicago today or tomorrow. He'll throw a bullpen and have conversation about the next step, according to Hurdle
— Travis Sawchik (@Travis_Sawchik) May 15, 2015
Is it really called a bullpen session if you have it at Wrigley Field? All jokes aside, this will be an important session for Morton. He will get to show Ray Searage that his command and control are back to where they need to be. After the session, they will have a conversation to determine what the next step will be for Charlie.
Hurdle would not elaborate on if Charlie Morton will rejoin rotation when he returns ... and if he was ready to rejoin the team
— Travis Sawchik (@Travis_Sawchik) May 15, 2015
The big question will be where does Charlie fit in once he does returns? Does he go to the bullpen? Not likely. The big question will come down to who’s spot in the rotation he takes: Jeff Locke‘s or Vance Worley‘s. Rum Bunter Editor Tyler Waite has already weighed in on this with his piece, Jeff Locke should sit when Charlie Morton returns, that was featured earlier this week. However, if you recall back to just before Charlie went on the disabled list, it appeared that Vance Worley was headed for the bullpen. This will be an interesting situation that we will follow closely.
UPDATE: Jeff Locke has been taken out of his start in Chicago. He had thrown 102 pitches, 56 strikes, and 46 balls in only 3.2 innings pitched in his last outing. He gave up five runs while walking 3. He did manage to strike out four, however. He gave up a three-run home run to Kris Bryant and a solo home run to Anthony Rizzo. Locke was later lifted for Antonio Bastardo. Bastardo was then able to get Kris Bryant to fly out to end the inning.
Many Buccos fans will question why Jeff Locke has been ineffective this season. I would believe that Ray Searage and Clint Hurdle will be reviewing video and notes on Locke’s start to determine if he has something going on with his mechanics that may need some additional work. Keep an eye out for more information if and when it becomes available here at Rum Bunter.
Next: Series Preview: Pittsburgh Pirates travel to Chicago to face second place Cubs