Pittsburgh Pirates: Two Rehab Starts Worth Watching On Sunday

There will be a pair of starting pitchers making rehab starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday that will be worth the attention of the team’s fans

On Sunday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Pirates will be looking to finish off a sweep of the San Diego Padres. Additionally, there will be a pair of rehab starts in the team’s organization on Sunday that fans should be keeping their eyes on.

The Triple-A Indianapolis Indians will be playing the Pawtucket Red Sox. In search of a series victory, the Indians will send Jordan Lyles to the mound. This will be Lyles first start since June 8th with the Pirates.

This will be the first rehab start Lyles has made since being placed on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring issue. Prior to hitting the IL Lyles owned a 3.64 ERA, 3.65 FIP, a 9.1% walk rate, and a 24.9% strikeout rate in 12 starts.

In his last four starts before hitting the IL, Lyles struggled. He owned a 6.92 ERA, 5.72 FIP, allowed 2.08 HR/9, and averaged just 3.25 innings per start in these four games. However, in the first of these four starts he exited early due to his hamstring starting to bother him. So, it is not unreasonable to think that his hamstring was the main reason he struggled in these four starts.

If all goes well for Lyles on Sunday, this should be his lone rehab start. This would line him up to rejoin the Pirate rotation next weekend in Milwaukee. Getting the pre-injury version of Lyles back in the fold would be a big boost for the Pirate starting rotation.

In addition to Lyles, righty JT Brubaker will be making a rehab start. Brubaker will take the ball for the West Virginia Black Bears. This will be Brubaker’s second rehab start on his way to rejoining the rotation and Triple-A, and the second of which that will be with West Virginia.

If not for his injury, odds are, Brubaker would already be at the MLB level. He likely would have been back in April due to the injuries to the Pirate starting rotation. Hopefully, Brubaker will continue to pitch well during his rehab on his way back to joining the Triple-A rotation, and, eventually, the Pirates.