PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Giving up six runs in two-thirds of an inning on Friday night, Pirates put lefty reliever Sam Howard on the 10-day injured list with right knee tendinitis.
Howard had an ERA of 2.45, WHIP of 1.05 and an opponents' batting average of .129 with 34 strikeouts to 16 walks before that appearance jumped the ERA to 4.44, WHIP of 1.25 and the average to .165.
"Battling something with his knee a little bit," said Pirates GM Ben Cherington said during his show on the Pirates Radio Network and 93.7 The Fan. "It's just crept up a little bit more recently. He's obviously an important part of our bullpen. Will continue to be an important part of our bullpen. Rather than that turn into something else. We just want to give him a chance to let that calm down so he can feel good when he is out there next."
Austin Davis recalled from AAA. He has not allowed a hit to a left-handed hitter all year. Davis started the season on the 60-day injured list with a left elbow sprain. The 28-year-old pitched 12 innings in the minors allowing three hits, four runs, walking five and striking out 19. Davis pitched a scoreless inning with the Bucs on June 6 against Miami before he was sent back down.
Pirates traded 25-year-old right-handed reliever Joel Cesar to the Philadelphia in August of 2020 for Davis. A 2014 Phillies second round pick, Davis pitched 50 games for Philadelphia between 2018-2020, 58.1 innings, 27 walks, 64 strikeouts, 5.86 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 1-2 record.
"Glad that Austin is here," Cherington said. "He's done a really good since coming off his rehab assignment. Certainly believe he can help us at this level."
