The Pittsburgh Pirates announced that Jameson Taillon has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder fatigue. Steven Brault will be recalled from Indianapolis to take his spot in the rotation. While no details have come out about the disabled list trip, this move sounds like the Pirates are using the All-Star break to give Taillon an extended rest to limit his innings this year. He has already pitched 89.2 innings this season at the halfway point and with the timing of this DL trip, he would only be missing 1-2 starts, though he can pitch in rehab in Indianapolis during that time. As I said, no details have been announced, but this sounds like the type of breaks to limit him that we heard about in the early part of the year.
UPDATE: Just heard through a source that the Pirates planned a couple weeks ago to give Taillon a break in the near future. It’s possible that something could have happened in the meantime, but the timing of this disabled list trip, as well as Gerrit Cole pitching on the same night, making him available for the Sunday start in Pittsburgh, has me thinking that the Taillon DL trip was all just planned in advance to limit his innings.
UPDATE: Tuesday 4:15 PM: To make room on the 40-man roster for Brault, the Pittsburgh Pirates designated Jacob Stallings for assignment. That was a slightly unexpected move with the lack of healthy depth they currently have on the 40-man roster. Stallings should clear waivers, but he’s now out of action until that happens and leaves the team without a third catcher option on the 40-man. It also leaves Indianapolis with Jin-De Jhang as their starting catcher unless another move is in the works.
