PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It's the second straight year Ke'Bryan Hayes has landed on the injured list with a lower-back injury. Is it to the point where the Pirates believe it's long-term?
"We don't have long-term concerns about what is going on, but we are looking at a variety of things to try to help him feel better," Pirates GM Ben Cherington said during his show on 93.7 The Fan and the Pirates Radio Network.
Cherington said the back was trending to a point where they thought they could manage the pain through the All-Star Break, but Hayes just didn't feel good enough to go. He said the back just 'grabbed' on Hayes and they need to get to the point where he can rotate freely.
The Bucs GM said they will see where he's at leading up to Friday, but feel like they've done every test possible and they don't believe it's a long-term issue and doesn't need surgery. Cherington said Hayes is obviously frustrated and that pop-up of the injury came at a time where he was just starting to hit the ball well.
Cutch update
Expect Andrew McCutchen to return to the lineup when the second half starts over the weekend. Cherington said his elbow had been bothering him off-and-on recently and flared up when he fell on the brush-back pitch. They don't believe that injury is any concern long-term at this point.
Ortiz/Contreras
Described as a pair of pitchers who haven't been the best versions of themselves, Cherington said it got to a point where in order for Luis Ortiz and Roansy Contreras to advance, they needed to go to the minors. He noted it's not uncommon for young pitchers to have to go through that with Ortiz 24-years-old and Contreras 23.
"They just need to get into a better spot, most of that probably comes back to the physical and the delivery part because everything flows from that," Cherington said on 93.7 The Fan and the Pirates Radio Network. "If the body is in a really good spot, firing at the right time and the delivery is in a good spot, the sequencing is good, moving down the mound efficiently and fast, then the stuff and the command is going to follow. We've seen both of those guys obviously in the past do that exceptionally well. Recently in the big leagues, we have not seen that."
Cherington said both are strong, good workers and motivated and they'll need that because change isn't going to happen overnight. They will have to work at it and he believes both will return to PNC Park at some point. He also said both are a key part of the team improving.
West Coast flop
"It's been frustrating this road trip," Cherington said on 93.7 The Fan and the Pirates Radio Network. "We knew it was going to be a challenging trip. West Coast trips are always challenging. Every game the offense doesn't go your way, every game you lose you learn a little more clearly where our limitations or gaps still are to get better."
Cherington pointed out if a couple of plays went their way, they would be 3-3 heading into Sunday's matchup in Arizona. He admitted they have to improve to win those games and knows that talk is cheap and outcomes do matter.
"We are better than we were last year," Cherington said Sunday. "We are closer. We have to work our tails off to keep getting better. We don't want to be talking about the games we should have won. We will keep going to work."
