Pittsburgh Pirates Recall Pitcher Tyler Bashlor

The Pittsburgh Pirates have made a lot of roster moves already this season.  They have made another one in advance of tonight’s game.

The Pittsburgh Pirates will be back in action tonight as they get set to take on the Cleveland Indians.  The Indians are off to a really strong start this year with a record of 13-9, although that record puts them at 1.5 games behind the first-place Twins.  Still, this is not going to be an easy series for the Buccos.

One thing that the Pittsburgh Pirates do have going for them is rest.  The team has only played two games over the last week and should find their pitching staff healthy and ready to go.  In addition to Bucs pitchers getting time to rest, the team’s bullpen will be receiving a potential boost.  The Pittsburgh Pirates announced that right-handed reliever Tyler Bashlor will join the team for tonight’s game:

Career Numbers for Bashlor are: 48 games (54 IP), 5.33 ERA, 45 strikeouts. MILB: 182 IP, 3.33 ERA, 242 strikeouts

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Bashlor from the Mets just last week.  The Mets were set to put him on waivers but the Bucs were able to acquire him for cash considerations.  In doing so, the team let Robbie Erlin go, who was then picked up by the Braves.  The team chose Bashlor over Erlin for multiple reasons.

The biggest being he is controlled through the 2025 season.  Erlin was signed as a non-roster invite and would have been a free agent at the end of this year.  Instead, the Bucs get a power arm who could get an opportunity to stick in the bullpen.  The 27-year-old has a fastball that has sat in the mid-90s and shows plus spin rate.

The Bucs have a chance to be a little more patient with him than the Mets were willing and hopefully it works out.  With some of the relief performance this team has had this year, he is worth a look.  Worst case the team gave up nothing to get him and give him a chance.