ST. LOUIS (AP) - The Pittsburgh Pirates are hopeful Francisco Liriano, taken out of Saturday’s game with flu-like symptoms and dizziness, will be able to make his next start.
General manager Neal Huntington said Sunday that the team was “cautiously optimistic” Liriano would be ready. Liriano left after walking pitcher Tyler Lyons and falling behind 3-0 to leadoff man Matt Carpenter in the third inning.
Liriano, a 16-game winner last year, is 0-3 with a 3.97 ERA in six starts. He was getting treatment Sunday after receiving IV fluids when he came out of the game.
“It’s just a matter how he feels today, how he feels tomorrow, how he feels on his side (session),” Huntington said. “And do our medical people feel there’s anything additional we need to do based on how he’s feeling and what he’s reporting to us.”
Huntington also said Wandy Rodriguez, put on the 15-day disabled list Monday with right knee inflammation, would likely need one rehab start soon and if the outing goes well would rejoin the team. Catcher Russell Martin, placed on the DL Saturday, was optimistic his hamstring injury wasn’t serious.
The Pirates shuffled their bullpen, recalling right-hander Casey Sadler from Triple-A Indianapolis and optioning right-hander Jared Hughes to the minors after a one-day stay.
Five Pittsburgh relievers allowed a run in seven innings Saturday in a 6-1 win over St. Louis Saturday. Bryan Morris, warmed up twice but was not used. Hughes worked 1 1-3 scoreless innings.
Sadler is 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA in four minor league starts and is in the majors for the first time. He was a 25th-round pick in 2010 and was the pitcher of the year at Double-A Altoona in 2013 after going 11-7 with a 3.31 ERA.
Hughes is 1-0 and hasn’t allowed a run in 2 1-3 innings in two brief stints with the Pirates.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.