The Pirates had a rough week, losing two regulars in the span of five days as C Ryan Doumit suffered a broken right wrist and SS Jack Wilson also went on the disabled list with a sprained left middle finger. Youngsters will be counted on to fill both spots. Rookie Jason Jaramillo will be the primary catcher and be backed up by another rookie, Robinzon Diaz. Brian Bixler, who spent part of last season with the Pirates, likely will get the majority of playing time at shortstop, with veteran INF Ramon Vazquez also pitching in.
PLAYER NEWS: --LHP Zach Duke, who starts Friday against Cincinnati, is 3-1 with a 2.43 ERA through four starts this season after going 5-14 with a 4.82 ERA in 31 starts last season. Part of the reason for Duke's early success is allowing 8.19 hits per nine innings this season compared with 11.19 last year. Duke has also allowed only one home run in his first 29 1/3 innings this season after giving up 19 long balls in 185 innings in 2008.
--CF Nate McLouth is hopeful of returning to the lineup Friday against Cincinnati after sitting out the last six games with a strained oblique muscle in his right side. The Pirates, though, want to see him go through a full batting practice Friday before determining if he is ready to play.
--OF Jose Tabata, one of the Pirates' top prospects and a member of the 40-man roster, will miss at least a month at Class AA Altoona with a strained right hamstring. He suffered the injury Tuesday while running out a groundball.
MEDICAL WATCH:
OF Nate McLouth (strained right oblique muscle) sat out April 24-29. He is day-to-day.
SS Jack Wilson (sprained left middle finger) went on the 15-day disabled list April 25. He was advised not to take batting practice before May 4.
RHP Craig Hansen (neck spasms) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 20.
C Ryan Doumit (broken bone in right wrist) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 20. He had surgery April 23, and he will be out eight to 10 weeks.
LHP Phil Dumatrait (arthroscopic right shoulder surgery in August 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He was pitching in extended spring training in mid-April.
ROTATION:
LHP Paul Maholm
RHP Ian Snell
LHP Zach Duke
RHP Ross Ohlendorf
RHP Jeff Karstens
BULLPEN:
RHP Matt Capps (closer)
LHP John Grabow
RHP Tyler Yates
LHP Sean Burnett
RHP Evan Meek
RHP Jesse Chavez
LHP Donnie Veal
CATCHERS:
Jason Jaramillo
Robinzon Diaz
INFIELDERS:
1B Adam LaRoche
2B Freddy Sanchez
SS Brian Bixler
3B Andy LaRoche
INF/OF Eric Hinske
INF Ramon Vasquez
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Nyjer Morgan
CF Nate McLouth
RF Brandon Moss
OF Craig Monroe
OF Delwyn Young
