Pirates Injury Update: Jared Jones, Bailey Falter, Ryan Borucki

The Pittsburgh Pirates' starting rotation and bullpen could be getting a boost (or three) fairly soon.

On Sunday's edition of his weekly radio show on 93.7 The Fan, general manager Ben Cherington provided some key updates on a trio of injured Pirates pitchers. Perhaps the closest to returning is left-hander Bailey Falter, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with left triceps tendinitis on July 7. Cherington said he is "pretty optimistic" about Falter's progress after he threw a sim game and live batting practice at PNC Park over the All-Star break and that the lefty is "in a good spot on his way back."

Prior to his injury, Falter went 4-7 with a 4.08 ERA over 17 starts in Pittsburgh's No. 5 rotation spot. Falter is eligible to come off the IL as early as July 20, so the expectation is that he will complete a short rehab assignment before rejoining the club.

The more conspicuous absence from Pittsburgh's starting rotation has been rookie right-hander Jared Jones, who emerged as a key piece for the Pirates in his debut season. But he's been on the IL since July 4 with a right lat strain.

Through his first 16 starts pre-injury, Jones went 5-6 with a 3.56 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 91 innings pitched. Cherington revealed during his radio show that Jones has resumed throwing but noted that his return would not be as imminent as Falter's due to the nature of the injury and the need to build up volume and pitch count. If all goes well, Jones should be back sometime in August.

Ben Cherington shares updates on injured Pirates reliever Ryan Borucki

In addition to the pair of injured starters in Falter and Jones, Cherington singled out reliever Ryan Borucki as another pitcher who is progressing through the rehab process but still isn't quite ready to rejoin the Pirates.

Borucki landed on the 60-day IL in May and has missed much of the season with left triceps inflammation. According to Cherington, Borucki's injury is nerve-related, making it more challenging to predict a return timeline. Borucki will continue to rehab in the minor leagues, and though he's still not feeling 100%, Cherington said the Pirates "still really believe that Ryan is in a position to impact us out of the bullpen this year."

While Cherington did not mention him specifically on his radio show, right-handed reliever Hunter Stratton is also progressing nicely in his recovery from a right triceps strain and could return to the Pirates' bullpen relatively soon. Stratton's rehab assignment began July 15 with the Pirates' FCL team, and he has since been transferred to Single-A Bradenton.

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