Notes: Streaks, Injury Updates, Other Stuff

 Notes:

• David Bednar, born in Pittsburgh and a grad of Mars HS, won his first MLB game on Tuesday.
• The Pirates broke a season long five-game losing streak to the Cards with their 8-2 win on Thursday.
• Kevin Newman has gone a club-record 62 consecutive games without making an error at shortstop; he's the first NL shortstop to begin a season with more straight errorless games since Spike Owen with Montreal in 1990 (63 games). .The last SS to begin a season with an errorless streak of more than 60 games was Cleveland's Omar Vizquel (89 games in 2000).

Kevin Newman - 2021 photo Pirates

• The Pirates are starting a 20-game stretch without an off day as they play through to the All-Star break. It should be interesting to see how the beleaguered Shelty balances the staff workload these next three weeks. 
• Big League injury report: LHP Sam Howard was diagnosed with tendinitis of his right knee and isn't expected out long-term, tossing a bullpen session this week. LHP Steven Brault (lat strain) will begin throwing BP this week; he's expected to rejoin the club when they begin their July homestand against the Brewers on the 1st to continue his rehab. RHP Luis Oviedo (quad strain) has begun throwing without a timetable given, while RHP Trevor Cahill is still in rest mode for his calf strain.
• Minor League injury report: If you've been following Indy and missed SS Cole Tucker, he had been out since the 13th with a non-Covid respiratory virus before returning to action on Wednesday. The Tribe's RHP Miguel Yajure (nerve irritation) has began throwing off flat ground; the Pirates plan to be cautious in his recovery program and transferred him from the 7-day to the 60-day IL (he went on the IL on 6/2). 2B Nick Gonzales, the Bucs #1 pick last year, is out with a broken finger, but is rehabbing in Florida and taking BP, so he's nearing his return to High-A Greensboro. 
• Neil Walker will be honored by the Bucs on July 3rd and throw out the first pitch.
• Charlie Morton won his 100th game in style on Tuesday, spinning seven shutout innings in the Braves 3-0 win over the Mets. He won 41 of those games as a Bucco.
• Just a reminder - with all the trade rumors flying around, the deadline is still a month away (July 30th this year). But the draft is on its way, taking place July 11th-13th in Denver and lasting 20 rounds.