Pirates’ Charlie Morton likely to start Thursday vs. Giants
By Matt Shetler
With top prospect Gerrit Cole earning a promotion to the big roster to make his major league debut Tuesday night against the Giants, he might not be the only new face in the Pittsburgh Pirates rotation this week.
If injured starter Wandy Rodriguez can’t make his scheduled start on Thursday, all signs point to Charlie Morton getting the call.
May 23, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Charlie Morton (50) throws a pitch against the New York Mets during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Morton is fresh off of his best rehab start Saturday night for Triple-A Indianapolis in which he threw 6.1 innings, throwing “a very good mix” of 96 pitches, according to Pirates’ manager Clint Hurdle. Morton allowed six hits and two runs, with one walk and four strikeouts against Norfolk.
Rodriguez, who left his previous start last Wednesday after retiring one batter because of tightness in the forearm, was scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Monday. If the signs aren’t encouraging, the lefty will be placed on the disabled list and Morton likely would step into his spot, although the Pirates have not yet confirmed the news.
Morton, who is currently on the 60-day disabled list, would be on his normal four days of rest is he is needed on Thursday.
If it’s not Thursday, it likely won’t be long before Morton is back in a Pirates uniform as he is almost out of rehab appearances.
Morton underwent Tommy John surgery on June 14th of last year, which would make his return to big league action in around a years’ time.
If Morton is anything like he has been during a majority of his rehab outings, he would give the Pirates rotation a big lift for the short-term.