{"id":77032,"date":"2024-06-17T16:46:17","date_gmt":"2024-06-17T20:46:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=77032"},"modified":"2024-06-17T16:46:17","modified_gmt":"2024-06-17T20:46:17","slug":"pirates-call-up-daulton-jefferies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/06\/17\/pirates-call-up-daulton-jefferies\/","title":{"rendered":"Pirates Call Up Former Athletics Pitcher for Big Reds Series"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Pittsburgh Pirates have called up pitcher Daulton Jefferies<\/a> in time for Monday night\u2019s game against the Cincinnati Reds. The Pirates acquired Jefferies in a May 10 trade<\/a> with the San Francisco Giants for minor league outfielder Rodolfo Nolasco<\/a>. To make room for Jefferies, the Pirates have optioned pitcher Justin Bruihl<\/a>, who they acquired<\/a> on June 6, to triple-A Indianapolis.<\/p>\n

It was rumored that Jefferies would be called up to make a start in Colorado last weekend, but manager Derek Shelton<\/a> used bullpen games instead. However, when Jefferies was scratched from Sunday\u2019s start for Indianapolis, it seemed apparent he was going to Pittsburgh. There\u2019s been no word on how he\u2019ll be used. He\u2019ll likely fill an immediate need in the bullpen while also being a candidate to fill the fifth starter\u2019s spot when it comes up in the rotation.<\/p>\n

Pirates Call Up Daulton Jefferies on Monday<\/h2>\n

Jefferies\u2019 promotion is based more on need and lack of worthy candidates than on merit. In five starts for the triple-A Indianapolis Indians, Jefferies has pitched just 20 2\/3 innings. His record there is 1-1 to go with a hideous 6.10 ERA, 1.742 WHIP, and 1.20 strikeout-to-walk ratio. However, with Mart\u00edn P\u00e9rez<\/a>, Quinn Priester<\/a>, and Marco Gonzales<\/a> on the injured list, the only healthy options on the Pirates\u2019 40-man roster are Jefferies and young Braxton Ashcraft<\/a>. Ashcraft was only recently promoted to triple-A and has made just one start there.<\/p>\n

Other starters at Indy who have major league experience are Domingo Germ\u00e1n<\/a> and Michael Plassmeyer<\/a>. Neither is on the 40-man roster. Adding one of them to the active roster would require somebody to be dropped from the 40-man. With 11 players currently on the IL, that\u2019s not appetizing to the Pirates at this time. When they added Josh Fleming<\/a> to the active roster on Friday, they had to designate recently acquired Niko Goodrum<\/a> for assignment before he even had a chance to report to Indianapolis and fill out his Form W-4. They don\u2019t want to drop anybody else. In any event, Germ\u00e1n and Plassmeyer have put up worse numbers than Jefferies. In an organization that thought itself deep in pitching, Jefferies may become the Pirates\u2019 fifth starter by default.<\/p>\n

Pirates are Desperate for Starters<\/h3>\n

The desperate need for a fifth starter arose when P\u00e9rez and Priester went on the IL in rapid succession. The Pirates successfully employed bullpen games, winning against the Minnesota Twins on June 8 and the Rockies on Friday and Saturday. However, those games took their toll on the bullpen. On June 9, with many of his relievers unavailable, Shelton had to leave Ben Heller<\/a> in the game in the 10th inning, despite Heller giving up seven runs. Heller and his 49.50 ERA have since been designated for assignment. One of the feel-good stories behind the Heller signing was his reunion with hometown pal Colin Holderman<\/a>. Now they\u2019ll have to go back to texting one another.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the Pirates lost to the Rockies on Saturday, 16-4, as their bullpen got shelled, again because some relievers weren\u2019t available. Nothing went right for the Pirates that day.<\/p>\n

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Ryan McMahon steals home! \ud83c\udfc3\u200d\u2642\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/5Pgb2Kk1Uk<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 MLB (@MLB) June 16, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n