Chad Kuhl, Anthony Alford, Sam Howard take steps toward returning to Pirates from IL

Lefty reliever Sam Howard started his minor-league rehabilitation assignment, but right-hander Chad Kuhl and outfielder Anthony Alford are on track to return to the Pittsburgh Pirates first.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Kuhl (3-6, 4.43 ERA in 14 starts), who went on the covid-19 injured list Aug. 2, is working his way back into getting in game shape and had no issues after throwing a live batting practice/simulated game Wednesday afternoon.

“We’ll continue to build Chad up and hope to have conversations about making him active sometime soon for the Pittsburgh Pirates,” Tomczyk said.

Alford (lower back strain) remained in Pittsburgh to work with the team’s physical therapy and strength and conditioning coaches instead of traveling to Los Angeles but is expected to join the Pirates in St. Louis. Alford, who batted .235 in five games after being selected from Triple-A Indianapolis on Aug. 7, has resumed all baseball activities, from playing catch to hitting in the batting cage, and will be reassessed over the weekend.

“It was felt best for his injury with the lower back not to travel across the country on the flight because of how acute his symptoms were,” Tomczyk said. “So that’s why the team decided to keep him back. Significantly, the inflammation is down. He’s back to doing most of his activities of daily life and baseball activities. We can get him to St. Louis to continue his rehab progression with the team on a major-league diamond with his teammates.”

Tomczyk, however, warned that while Kuhl is closer to returning than Alford, neither is ready to be activated to the 26-man rostert. Tomczyk said the Pirates want to see how Kuhl responds to his batting practice/sim game but doesn’t expect either to require a rehab assignment.

Howard, out since July 13 with a right oblique strain, joined the Indianapolis Indians for Tuesday’s game against Toledo and allowed one hit, one walk and had one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning. Howard (2-2, 5.76 ERA in 38 appearances) was on a 20-pitch count, so he was removed after throwing 19 pitches before Tigers top prospect Spencer Torkelson came to bat. (Howard struck out Tigers No. 2 prospect Riley Greene.)

“He scattered the fastball a little bit, but first outing back, the fact that he was healthy, that’s what we were looking for,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said of Howard, who spoke with bullpen coach Justin Meccage. “We know the command will come back. (Meccage) talked to him this morning. He said he was in a good spot, felt good. Overall, he’s healthy, so that’s the most important thing. We can work from there on the command stuff.”

Howard is expected to make multiple appearances for Indianapolis before returning to the Pirates’ bullpen. Right-handed starter Bryse Wilson, acquired from Atlanta at the trade deadline, was scheduled to throw a side session Wednesday after going on the 10-day IL with right arm fatigue.

“Early reports are that he’s coming out of that with no issues,” Tomczyk said. “He’s making nice strides.”

In other Pirates’ injury news:

• Righty reliever Blake Cederlind, who underwent Tommy John surgery in March, was cleared to resume playing catch on flat ground earlier this week.

“He’s made tremendous strides in another phase in his journey from Tommy John,” Tomczyk said. “So he’s begun the flat ground portion of his return-to-pitch program.”

• Double-A Altoona shortstop Oneil Cruz and right-hander Roansy Contreras are making “very encouraging progress” in returning from right forearm soreness.

Cruz, ranked the team’s No. 1 prospect by Baseball America, is making throws across the diamond and hitting batting practice in the cage and is expected to rejoin the Curve as designated hitter in the next three-to-five days.

Contreras is “recovering well” and expected to throw a live batting practice/simulated game in the coming days.

“It really depends on how this first one goes,” Tomczyk said. “We’ll see how he recovers. In general terms, there are up to three live BP/sim games before we get back into competition.

“But, again, that is very specific to the individual. Right now, we’re taking it sim game-by-sim game, but we’re very encouraged by Roansy Contreras, his progress and making it back to competition.”