Pirates News: Frustrating starter promotion, Nick Yorke, Endy Rodriguez

The Pittsburgh Pirates will be reunited with a familiar face Wednesday, though it might not be one fans will be happy to see.

Per a report from Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates will select the contract of right-hander Jake Woodford to start Wednesday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Woodford is currently on a minor league contract, so the Pirates will need to make a corresponding move to add him to their 40-man roster, which is currently at capacity.

Woodford was designated for assignment by the Pirates in August following his last spot start, in which he gave up eight runs (six earned) on six hits against the Cincinnati Reds. He cleared waivers and returned to Triple-A Indianapolis, where he has allowed three earned runs in nine innings since his last MLB appearance. As a result, the Pirates are entrusting him with the start against his former club.

It's a bold move by Pittsburgh, considering Woodford has turned in an 8.01 ERA and 1.62 WHIP across 30.1 innings in the big leagues this season between the Chicago White Sox and the Pirates. But the Pirates need someone to eat innings while they give their five-man rotation of Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, Mitch Keller, Luis Ortiz and Bailey Falter an extra day of rest between starts. Unfortunately, if Woodford's last start is any indication, Wednesday could turn into a bullpen game rather quickly.

Pirates' Nick Yorke picks up first MLB hit against Cardinals, then quickly records two more

Playing in just his second career MLB game Tuesday, Nick Yorke recorded his first Major League hit – a line-drive single to center field – off Cardinals right-hander Lance Lynn in the fifth inning. Though the Pirates lost 3-1, Yorke also picked up his second and third hits before the night was over.

Yorke sent hit No. 2 the other way, lining a single to right field off Ryan Fernandez. He put a bow on the night with a final single to center field off Cardinals All-Star closer Ryan Helsley in the top of the ninth.

After going 0-for-3 with a stolen base in his big league debut Monday, Yorke provided plenty of optimism for the future with Tuesday's multi-hit effort. He also shined defensively at second base, making a clean pick of a grounder by Thomas Saggese with a runner on third to help Falter pitch around a leadoff double in the second inning.

Pirates' Endy Rodriguez has two-hit night in return to Triple-A Indianapolis

Playing in his first game with Triple-A Indianapolis as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery, Pirates catcher Endy Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with an RBI Tuesday. His return to Indianapolis follows his Sept. 10 season debut with Double-A Altoona, where he hit .208 (5-for-24) with four runs, a double, an RBI and a walk in six games to begin his rehab assignment.

After Rodriguez went under the knife in December to repair an injury sustained during winter ball, it was announced that he would not play in the Major Leagues this season; in fact, it was doubtful that he would play at any level this year. However, his progress during his rehab assignment indicates that he is on track to compete for an MLB roster spot in 2025.

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