Weekend Notes:

Labor Day Weekend:

Notes:

• The Pirates reinstated RHP JT Brubaker from the 10-day IL (thumb) and RHP Kyle Keller was optioned to Indy. We're sorta surprised that Keller has lasted this long: his slash is 0-0/7.71 with a 2.143 WHIP in 23 outings. As for JT, he worked three innings and left the game on Saturday with shoulder discomfort. RHP Duane Underwood also left the game later for the same reason. They both went on the 10-day IL with shoulder inflammation and RHPs Keller (talk about your quick reprieve) and Shea Spitzbarth were recalled to replace them.
• 3B K'Bryan Hayes returned to action on Sunday; he had last played on August 29th after bruising his hand.

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• Yoshi Tsutsugo became the quickest Pirate to reach seven homers to start his career (42 at bats) with his pair of weekend blasts. In other dinger dispatches, Bryan Reynolds hit his first MLB grand slam off the Cubs Zach Davies.
• 1B Colin Moran had a nine-game hitting streak end Sunday when he walked twice.
• On his weekend radio show, Ben Cherington wouldn't commit to shutting down JT Brubaker, which seems kinda overly dogmatic for the circumstances.
• The Pirates were swept by the Cubs and the White Sox before them. They've lost six in a row and 8-of-9.
• Pittsburgh has had 26 active roster players/37 designations on the IL this year.
• The Pirates begin a nine-game, 11-day homestand Monday afternoon with the first of three games against the Tigers. After a day off Thursday, the Bucs host Washington for three games, followed by a three-game series against Cincinnati with another day off next Monday.
• IF Erik Gonzalez (oblique) has been transferred to the 60-day IL, ending his season and perhaps his Pirates career.
• Altoona's LHP Oddy Nunez tossed an immaculate inning (three strikeouts on nine pitches) on Saturday night against Akron. He worked two innings and fanned all six hitters he faced during a 2-0 loss.