Week's Notes: Bad Week; Players Coming & Going; Pirates Major & Minor League Snips; MLB Shorts

Labor Day...

Notes:

• It was off to Milwaukee's America Family Field (nee Miller Park) to begin the week. The Brew Crew walked off the opener as the Pirates couldn't hold a two-run, eighth inning edge. The Bucs did hold on to the lead in the second game, then dropped the third without much drama. The season series is done; the Bucs finished 8-11 v the Brewers. On Friday night the Pirates opened a 10-day, nine-game homestand with Toronto as the first foe. The Jays swept the set; in the finale, the Pirates were down a run with runners on second and third with no outs in the ninth. They struck out three straight times.
• OF Jack Suwinski was recalled from Indy on Monday and OF/1B Bligh Madris was optioned to the Indians. On Wednesday, RHP JT Brubaker returned from the paternity list (it was a boy!) and RHP Miguel Yajure was recalled from Indy. To clear roster room, recently added LHPs Cam Vieaux and Eric Stout were optioned back to Indy. Then on Thursday, when rosters expanded to 28 players, the Pirates recalled RHP Johan Oviedo and OF Cal Mitchell from Indy. The club needed another starter, and Oviedo got his call to the slab Friday. Nice intro; he struck out the Toronto side in his first frame and tossed three shutout innings, surviving two hits and three walks.

Johan Oviedo - 2022 AT&T SportsNet

• 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes left Friday's game with shoulder discomfort and missed the remainder of the Toronto series.
• Chase De Jong earned his first MLB save on Tuesday against Milwaukee, closing out Mitch Keller's 4-2 win. Keller was on his game and struck out a career-high 10 batters in a six-inning outing.
• The Pirates claimed RHP Peter Solomon off waivers from the Houston Astros and optioned him to Indy. The 26-year-old is projected as a back end starter/long man. RHP Colin Holderman (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day IL to clear a 40-man spot.
• IF Kevin Padlo has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Indy.
• C Henry Davis finished his rehab and was activated by Altoona. He's supposed to see some OF time there when he doesn't backstop just to get at bats; makes sense with Endy Rodriguez as the other catcher and Malcolm Nunez getting first base reps, his only true natural spot other than DH (think Josh Bell player profile).
• Bradenton's RHP/SS Bubba Chandler, 19, was selected as the Florida State League Pitcher of the Week. In his start, he threw five no-hit innings, walking two and striking out five.

Bubba Chandler - 2021 photo/Pirates

• Hi-A Greensboro IF Francisco Acuna was hit with an 80-game suspension without pay after testing positive for a PED. Acuna, 22, hit .271/.361/.452 with six HR in 63 games.
• AP reports that ex-Pirates prospect and current Detroit Tigers OF Austin Meadows revealed on Friday he has been dealing with mental health issues along with physical ailments and will not play again this season.
• The Braves claimed RHP Jesse Chavez, 39, off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels. He had pitched for the Bravos earlier in the season.
• Stay tuned: The MLBPA has sent minor league players a union representation card to gauge the farmhands interest in unionizing...