PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The Pirates will be without a key leverage arm from the right-side for likely the entire Cubs series, reliever Dennis Santana going on the Major Leage Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List, effective Monday.
Right-hander Hunter Stratton was recalled from AAA Tuesday.
Stratton ruptured the patella tendon in his left knee sliding into the wall behind home plate at PNC Park on August 24. Not surprisingly to Pirates manager Derek Shelton, Stratton returned quickly.
“I think that goes throughout the whole offseason,” Shelton said Monday. “He dominated a pretty significant injury and was able to get himself back and in a position to pitch. Now we just get a chance to look at him.”
Stratton is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 10 appearances in AAA spanning 11.2 innings with four walks and nine strikeouts and a 1.46 WHIP. Stratton had four straight scoreless appearances after giving up five runs in a third of an inning to inflate his ERA to 9.00.
“I think we had to check off some boxes for him just because of the fact he didn’t have much of a spring training, or any spring training,” Shelton said. “He’s been throwing the ball well. He’s done different things. It’s a situation to get a look at him with having an unfortunate situation.”
Another rehab beginning
Two days after infielder Spencer Horwitz began his first rehab game at AA Altoona, right-handed reliever Dauri Moreta will be on the active roster for Class A Bradenton.