The Pittsburgh Pirates have called up left-handed pitcher Kyle Lobstein, and have optioned Wilfredo Boscan to Indianapolis. The move makes sense, as Boscan started last night, and won’t be available for a few days, while Lobstein gives them an extra reliever, following a night where their bullpen received a lot of work.
Lobstein has been one of the better relievers who has been through the revolving middle relief door for the Pirates this year. That statement does come with the disclaimer that he has a 4.13 ERA and a 4.88 xFIP, and sadly that is good enough to be one of the better relievers. He has stepped up a few times in extended innings, so he could have some value to the Pirates as a long reliever.
Boscan made his first MLB start last night, and looked good the first time through the order. He struggled big time after that, and looks like he’s best used as a long-reliever at most in the future.
Alan Saunders will have more from PNC Park later today.
Tim started Pirates Prospects in 2009 from his home in Virginia, which was 40 minutes from where Pedro Alvarez made his pro debut in Lynchburg. That year, the Lynchburg Hillcats won the Carolina League championship, and Pirates Prospects was born from Tim's reporting along the way. The site has grown over the years to include many more writers, and Tim has gone on to become a credentialed MLB reporter, producing Pirates Prospects each year, and will publish his 11th Prospect Guide this offseason. He has also served as the Pittsburgh Pirates correspondent for Baseball America since 2019. Behind the scenes, Tim is an avid music lover, and most of the money he gets paid to run this site goes to vinyl records.
Next up for the rotation…Frank Duncan?
Well, he has played that role already this
year at multiple levels. I hope they
would not be serious about that,
but your comment was really funny.
Any team, including the Cubs, that lost three of their top six starters to injury/personal issue and had the remaining 3 starters pitching well below expectations would be in serious trouble.
Yeah, that’s undeniable. But, aside from Cole, it’s not as if anyone the Pirates ‘lost’ was contributing. Vogelsong? Nicasio? Not exactly like losing Arrieta and Lester. And Cole’s been out…what…one start? Two?
Mrs. Lincoln although the play “Our American Cousin ” is not your genre you will like the theatre.
Shucks! I thought Gas can…. errr I mean Boscan had real potential.
Hey now…I like Boscan! He’s not a starter at the ML level, though. However, I think he’d be acceptable as a once-through-the-order bullpen arm…nothing special, but every team needs a couple of guys like that.
So you’re saying he isn’t good enough to pitch against Cueto?!? Clearly you’re delusional.
The best management team in all of sports thinks he’s uber special. Otherwise they wouldn’t be saving him from super 2. 😉
He was a desperation move…even management knew it. Heck, even if Nicasio were on the team…he would be just as much of a risk.
Yes….but having 5 or 6 guys like that may be a bit much…..
Sadly, this BP doesn’t even have that.
Hope springs eternal. I will be watching for Glasnow’s results tonight.
I hope the writers realize they can save time by having a Mad Libs-style template…
“___________” was recently rocked and will be going to Indy. “__________” who was rocked before, but is doing well at Indy, has been recalled.
Then again Locke will pitch a gem after two unmitigated disasters.
There’s a Mad Lib for that!
In spite of giving up ________ runs over his his last ________ starts, ________ pitched a gem tonight. ________’s command was the best it’s been all season and Clint Hurdle said: “This may be a turning point for _______, but we’re taking it one start at a time.”
🙂
You have real talent! Are you a copywriter?
No, a Pirates fan.
Now I can see the season turning around with this move!!
The Chinese fire drill continues – it would be comical, if it wasn’t so pathetically sad…
I was going to mention deck chairs, but that works, too.
Lee,
I think we have already rearranged the deck chairs
multiple times. My bigger concern now is who makes
Cole’s next start for him?
Kyle Lobstein? Justin Masterson? At that point you might as well just laugh going up against Kershaw
Gerrit Cole!
Nevermind!
The revolving door continues to recycle. Maybe the GM should try some different names from outside the org!
I’m done