Joe Musgrove Placed On The Disabled List

The Pittsburgh Pirates now have two starting pitchers on the disabled list

The old saying is that when it rains it pours. It seems that the Pittsburgh Pirates have been stuck in a torrential monsoon for seven weeks now, and things continued to get worse on Tuesday night.

Prior to the start of Tuesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Pirates placed starting pitcher Joe Musgrove on the 10-day disabled list. Musgrove was originally scheduled to start for the Pirates on Wednesday night, but now the team’s starter is TBA.

Musgrove’s DL stint comes as a result of a right index finger infection. Fortunately, he is not expected to miss more than a start or two. He joins Chad Kuhl as Pirate starting pitchers that are currently on the DL.

This is Musgrove’s second DL stint of the season after he started the 2018 campaign on the DL with a muscle strain. In seven starts this season Musgrove had been arguably the team’s best starting pitcher. On top of owning a 20.3% strikeout and 6.2% walk rate, Musgrove’s 3.79 ERA and 3.33 FIP both lead the staff.

The question now becomes who will start for the Pirates on Wednesday night?

If I was a betting man I would put money on the Pirates starting Clay Holmes. That is, if he is not needed in relief during Tuesday night’s game.

Left-handed pitcher Brandon Waddell is scheduled to start for Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday. It is unlikely to be Waddell though as he has pitched in just eight games (four starts) at Triple-A, and he has been hammered to the tune of a 7.84 ERA and 5.59 FIP for the Indians.

Personally, I would go with Tyler Glasnow. His strong work out of the bullpen this season has earned him the right to get another crack at the starting rotation. If Glasnow is not stretched out enough to be a traditional starter, the Pirates could even look to get three or four innings out of him before going to the bullpen.

Next: Pirates Remain Busy In International Free Agency

Look for there to be more news on the Pirates’ starting pitcher following Tuesday night’s game. Stay tuned with Rum Bunter for all and any news relating to Wednesday night’s starter for the Bucs.