Pirates Place Francisco Cervelli on the Disabled List

The disabled list grew for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday evening

Two days after placing right fielder Gregory Polanco on the 10-day disabled list with a hamstring injury, catcher Francisco Cervelli is joining him. On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Pirates placed Francisco Cervelli on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to August 14th, with wrist inflammation.

Francisco Cervelli had not played in the team’s past two games. The Pirates were hopeful that by giving Cervelli three days in a row off, due to the off day this past Monday, his wrist would heal enough to avoid a disabled list stint. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

This is Cervelli’s second disabled list stint this season. The first was due to a concussion. At this point, the biggest thing for Cervelli is to let his wrist heal and make sure he is 100 percent healthy for the 2018 season.

With Cervelli out, the catching duties now fall upon Christ Stewart and Elias Diaz. Stewart has caught the past two games for the Pirates and will catch again tonight.

Francisco Cervelli was having a typical Cervelli before getting injured. He was an on-base threat owning a 10.2 percent walk rate and a .340 on-base percentage. He was also playing great defense with a 4.5 dWAR, and ranking among the league leaders in both framing and blocking. However, his power was below league average with a .121 ISO and a .370 slugging percentage.

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To take Cervelli’s spot on the 25-man roster, the Pirates recalled utility infield Max Moroff. In 71 Major League plate appearances this season Moroff owns a .239 on-base percentage, .211 wOBA, and a wRC+ of 25.

This was the wrong move for the Pirates to make. Instead, they should have recalled outfielder Jordan Luplow and let him play every day in right field with Gregory Polanco out.