A few injury updates this morning:
**Rob Biertempfel has an update on Charlie Morton, who will be making a rehab start on Thursday for Altoona:
#Pirates Morton slated to make rehab start Thursday for Double-A Altoona
— RobBiertempfel (@RobBiertempfel) May 12, 2013
Game plan for Charlie Morton includes 2 rehab starts. If all goes well, he could rejoin #Pirates on or around May 26
— RobBiertempfel (@RobBiertempfel) May 12, 2013
The 26th would be Morton making two starts, and getting five days rest. That would give Jeanmar Gomez three starts in the Pirates’ rotation, including today’s start against the Mets. The Pirates couldn’t really avoid that third start. They have an off-day on May 20th, which means they could move A.J. Burnett and Jeff Locke up a day and keep them on five days rest. The problem is they’d need a starter on the 25th, and would be left with a choice of Wandy Rodriguez or Charlie Morton on four days rest.
**Bill Brink reports that Jeff Karstens will be throwing three innings and 50 pitches tomorrow for Bradenton.
Jeff Karstens is scheduled for three innings or 50 pitches Monday for Class A Bradenton.
— Bill Brink (@Bill_Brink2) May 12, 2013
I’ll be at that start in Clearwater, and will have a report on the game. Francisco Liriano did the same thing in his rehab, starting off in Bradenton, then quickly moving to Altoona. If the Pirates keep Karstens as a starter, then he would have about four more starts after this one to be fully stretched out. He could be back sooner if they choose to make him a multi-inning reliever. However, I don’t see that happening right now. Charlie Morton will probably join the rotation at the end of the month, but we don’t know when James McDonald will be back, or how effective he will be. That leaves the rotation one injury away from having Gomez as their only option again. It would be better to have Karstens in that role.
**Biertempfel updates us on Chase d’Arnaud, who was hit in the hand with a pitch in yesterday’s extended Spring Training game.
#Pirates Chase d'Arnaud HBP on wrist yesterday in ext ST game, x-rays negative. He's already on mend from thumb surgery.
— RobBiertempfel (@RobBiertempfel) May 12, 2013
The next home game for extended Spring Training is Thursday, so if d’Arnaud is still there, I’ll get a chance to see him then.
