Pittsburgh Pirates Make Two Roster Moves

May 20, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli (29) reacts after tagging out Colorado Rockies catcher Dustin Garneau (not pictured) at home plate trying to score during the seventh inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
May 20, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli (29) reacts after tagging out Colorado Rockies catcher Dustin Garneau (not pictured) at home plate trying to score during the seventh inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Pittsburgh Pirates have activated Jameson Taillon and Francisco Cervelli from the 15-day disabled list, while optioning Chad Kuhl to Triple-A and designating Erik Kratz for assignment.

Jameson Taillon and Francisco Cervelli are both back on the Pittsburgh Pirates active roster. It is no surprise that Taillon was activated from the disabled list today as the Pirates announce over the weekend that he would start tonight. However, Cervelli being activated off the disabled list came as a pleasant surprise.

To make room for Taillon and Cervelli on the roster, the Pittsburgh Pirates have optioned right-handed pitcher Chad Kuhl to Triple-A. Also, they have designated Erik Kratz for assignment. So the Erik Kratz Era is officially over, yay!

In four starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season Jameson Taillon has a 3.86 ERA and a 3.43 xFIP in 28 innings pitched. Taillon is averaging 6.75 K/9, 1.61 BB/9, 1.29 HR/9, and he has a WHIP of 1.25. Tonight will be Taillon’s fifth career start, and first against the Milwaukee Brewers.

As for Francisco Cervelli, he was struggling for the Pittsburgh Pirates before being put on the disabled list with a broken hamate bone on June 11th. Cervelli is slashing just .257/.373/.293/.669 on the season, to go along with a .309 wOBA and a wRC+ of 94. However, Cervelli’s 17.4 percent strikeout rate is the second lowest of his career while his 14.9 percent walk rate is the highest of his career.

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Francisco Cervelli’s biggest problem this year is that he was hitting for zero power before being put on the disabled list. In fact, he still has not hit a home run this season. But, hamate bone injuries are notorious for having a negative effect on a player’s power. So, one has to wonder how much that factored into his struggles.

As always, Francisco Cervelli was playing a strong defensive catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates before his injury. Cervelli has a 3.8 dWAR this season, he has two defensive runs saved, and was ranking as the best pitch framer in all of Major League Baseball prior to his injury. Cervelli was also throwing out runners at a career high rate.

As I said above, to make room for Taillon and Cervelli the Pittsburgh Pirates optioned Chad Kuhl to Triple-A Indianapolis and designated Erik Kratz for assignment. In four starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season Chad Kuhl had a 4.19 ERA, 4.08 FIP, and a 5.42 xFIP in 19 1/3 innings pitched. Kuhl was averaging 6.05 K/9, 2.33 BB/9, and 0.93 HR/9. Kuhl was coming off the best start of his Major League career against the Washington Nationals on Sunday when he held the Nats scoreless in six innings, allowing just one hit and not walking a batter. Odds are, we will see Kuhl in Pittsburgh again this season.

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As for Erik Kratz, well, he sucks and we will not see him in Pittsburgh again this season. Split between the Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates this season Erik Kratz was slashing .094/.105/.153/.258 to go with a .111 wOBA and a wRC+ of -41. Also, Kratz had a 36.8 percent strikeout rate.

On top of Jameson Taillon and Francisco Cervelli returning from the disabled list tonight, Gregory Polanco is also back in the Pittsburgh Pirates lineup. All of these are great boosts for the Pirates as they look to make a push toward a fourth consecutive playoff berth. The Pittsburgh Pirates are now the healthiest they have been all season.