Pittsburgh Pirates Reinstate Trevor Williams From The Paternity List

(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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During Monday’s off day, the Pittsburgh Pirates made a roster move

While the Pittsburgh Pirates did not play on Monday as part of the All-Star Break, the team still made a roster move. The team reinstated starting pitcher Trevor Williams from the paternity. To make room for Williams on the 25-man roster, infielder Kevin Kramer was optioned back to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Williams was originally scheduled to start for the Pirates on Saturday. However, prior to the start he was placed on the paternity list as he and his wife Jackie were prearranging for the birth of their adopted daughter. Congrats, Trevor and Jackie!

In 12 starts this season Williams owns a 4.54 ERA and a 4.00 FIP in 71 1/3 innings pitched. He is scheduled to start his second half against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday at Wrigley Field in the final game of a crucial three-game series against the first place Cubs.

Williams has struggled since coming off the injured list. When he went on the IL, his ERA and FIP were both 3.33. But in two starts since returning his numbers have ballooned. However, the Pirates are 2-0 in these games. There is zero reason to expect anything but a big second half from Williams now that he is healthy.

Optioning Kramer for Williams was a bit of a surprise. In two stints with the Pirates this season Kramer has one plate appearance. This plate appearance came on Sunday when he drew a pinch hit walk to start a 3-run rally in the 7th inning of a 6-5 Pirate victory.

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The reasoning Kramer being optioned is a surprise is that it takes the Pirate bench back down to four players. Having only four players on the bench played a key role in the Pirates losing to the Brewers on Friday night.

Kramer being optioned is probably a good sign when it comes to the health of Corey Dickerson. Dickerson left Saturday’s game with groin discomfort in the 7th inning. If the Pirates were not confident in Dickerson being able to avoid an IL stint, odds are, they would have kept Kramer around and optioned a pitcher back to Triple-A instead.