Pittsburgh Pirates left-handed starting pitcher Marco Gonzales is headed back to the injured list with a left forearm strain. Manager Derek Shelton announced Monday night’s game at San Diego. That would have been Gonzales’ scheduled start. Jake Woodford made the start instead. Relief pitcher Ryder Ryan was called up to take Gonzales’ spot on the active roster.
Pirates to place Marco Gonzales on injured list; Ryder Ryan rejoins team in San Diego https://t.co/z7Rqib8rMf
— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (@PittsburghPG) August 13, 2024
Veteran Pirates Pitcher Gonzales Is Headed Back to Injured List
It’s a tough and frustrating setback for Gonzales and the reeling Pirates, who have lost seven in a row and nine of 10 heading into Monday’s action. The Atlanta Braves acquired Gonzales from the Seattle Mariners last December in a multi-player trade. The Braves flipped him to the Pirates two days later. With the Braves and Mariners paying all but $3 million of Gonzales’ $12.25 million salary, the deal was a no-brainer for the Pirates. Gonzales was expected to stabilize the starting rotation with his veteran presence.
Instead, Gonzales has been limited to seven games for the Pirates due to a recurrence of the forearm issue that sent him to the injured list earlier this season and sidelined him after 10 games in 2023. It crept up again after just three starts in 2024. As a result, he went from April 14 to July 11 without pitching for the Pirates. As this issue has been on the IL for a long time, the last two times, it seems a good possibility that he won’t pitch again in 2024.
Gonzales is 1-1 this season with a 4.54 ERA and 1.604 WHIP. He’s pitched better than his statistics indicate. After his fifth start, his ERA was 2.70. His last two starts, against two hot-hitting teams in, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Padres, didn’t go well. However, with an interesting five-pitch mix and the ability to pitch east-to-west, he’s the pitcher who normally does well late in the season. Now, we’ll never know.
It’s a financial blow to Gonzales, too. If there was a slim chance that the cost-conscious Pirates would pick up his $15 million option for 2025, that’s surely gone now.
The Fallout
Time will tell whether Woodford remains in the rotation or was just an emergency starter for Monday. Domingo Germán had his contract selected by the Pirates on Friday. After much speculation, the Pirates determined that he would be used to bolster a much-maligned relief corps. Germán looked sharp in his only outing and may be considered for a starting berth. They could also dip into Triple-A Indianapolis, where No. 4 prospect Braxton Ashcraft has a 0.49 ERA and 0.982 WHIP after four games. However, this would go against Pittsburgh’s usual cautious approach when promoting prospects.
Whoever the real estate expert coined the phrase “rent, don’t buy” must have had Ryan in mind. Although Ryan made the squad out of spring training, he’s been up and down from Indy to Pittsburgh and back as needed to fill holes in the big club. If the Bucs decide to turn to the minors for a starter, Ryan’s stay may be short once again. In 13 appearances, the rookie right-hander has a 5.29 ERA and 1.412 WHIP. The Pirates like him because his sinking fastball reminded them of Colin Holderman. However, in light of Holderman’s recent struggles, that may not be the most ringing endorsement.
Main Photo Credits: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
