--SS Jack Wilson will begin a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment Saturday at Class AA Altoona. Wilson, who has been on the disabled list since April 4 with a strained left calf muscle, served as the designated hitter Thursday in an extended spring training game. It was his first game action since being injured. If all goes well, Wilson is expected to be activated Tuesday when the Pirates play San Francisco in the opener of a three-game series and six-game homestand.
--LHP Tom Gorzelanny is expected to throw in the bullpen Friday, two days after being lifted for a pinch hitter because of lower back stiffness after pitching five shutout innings against the New York Mets. The Pirates are confident Gorzelanny will make his next start Tuesday against San Francisco, particularly because he will have an extra day of rest with an off day Monday. --LHP Zach Duke pitched well enough to win Thursday against the Nationals, as he allowed two runs in seven innings. But he settled for a no-decision, and his road winning drought continued. Duke has not won away from home since last May 27 at Cincinnati.
--LHP Phil Dumatrait will make his first start of the season Friday night at Washington, the third of four consecutive southpaws who will start for the Pirates. LHP Paul Maholm is scheduled to start Saturday against the Nationals. The last time the Pirates started four left-handers in succession was May 8-11, 1994, when Zane Smith, Steve Cooke, Randy Tomlin and Denny Neagle pitched on consecutive days.
--RHP Olivo Astacio, who was placed on the 40-man roster in the offseason, was released for what the Pirates said was "a significant violation of organizational policy." Astacio missed all of spring training because of a sore shoulder and had yet to appear in a minor league game this season for high Class A Lynchburg.
BY THE NUMBERS: 5.91 -- Starting rotation's ERA coming into the week, the worst mark in the major leagues.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "You feel for Matt. He was trying so hard to help the team and he just wasn't getting it done. He is a great guy and was a real leader on this team." -- LHP Paul Maholm, after RHP Matt Morris was released.
