The Pittsburgh Pirates will get their Opening Day starting pitcher back from the injured list on Wednesday night at PNC Park
In a lot of ways, Opening Day 2020 feels like an eternity ago. Back on Opening Day, right-handed pitcher Joe Musgrove toed the rubber for the Pittsburgh Pirates. After spending time on the injured list, Musgrove will return for the Pirates on Wednesday night.
Musgrove has made just three starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season. In those three innings of work, Musgrove has walked 16.2% of batters faced, struck out 25.0% and he allowed four home runs. All of this comes out to a 6.75 ERA and a 6.50 DRA.
Musgrove has been on the injured list since August 4th. This IL stint has been due to tricep inflammation. In addition to costing him starts, this IL stint may have prevented Musgrove from being traded.
On Tuesday, was reported by Robert Murray of The Athletic that the Pirates were close to trading Musgrove before Monday’s trade deadline. The team rumored to be on the other end is the team that drafted Musgrove – the Toronto Blue Jays.
Entering the 2020 season Musgrove appear primed for a season where he put it all together and broke out as a starting pitcher. Hopefully, when he returns from the IL he will be able to do so. All eyes will be on Big Joe on Wednesday night at PNC Park.
Regardless of if Musgrove is traded in the off-season or not, him pitching well will benefit the Pirates. Musgrove is under team control through the 2022 season and the Pirates have expressed interest in extending his contract in the past.
First pitch between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs is scheduled for 7:05 on Wednesday night. Kyle Hendricks will start for the Cubs and oppose Musgrove.