Pirates hope Nick Tropeano can help in long relief, possibly in rotation

The Pittsburgh Pirates hope the addition of right-handed pitcher Nick Tropeano on Sunday can pay dividends in long relief or in the starting rotation.

Tropeano had been in the Pirates’ alternate training site in Altoona before he was called up Sunday before the game with the Milwaukee Brewers. The Pirates claimed him Aug. 11 off waivers from the New York Yankees.

Tropeano, who will turn 30 on Thursday, didn’t appear in any games for the Yankees this season. But he has made 39 starts in parts of five seasons for the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels.

“He can give us some length once we get him stretched out,” manager Derek Shelton said. “Just getting an active arm, a healthy arm.”

“He’s a guy who’s been a reliable starting pitcher, depth starter,” general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday on his radio show on 93.7 FM.

With the Pirates embarking on a stretch of 15 games in 13 days starting Tuesday with the White Sox in Chicago, Shelton and Cherington want to ensure they have enough healthy arms, especially with starters Joe Musgrove and Mitch Keller on the injured list. Also, the Pirates are scheduled to play doubleheaders Thursday in St. Louis and Sept. 4 against the Cincinnati Reds in PNC Park.

Could Tropeano find a role, even a temporary one, in the starting rotation?

“We’ll see,” Cherington said. “He’s certainly capable of doing that. We’ll see where the opportunities come. The guys who have been in the rotation, we’re pleased with the effort we’re getting from those guys.

“We’ll see if openings occur. When you get into doubleheaders, you always need extra pitching, extra length. So Nick is one of several guys who would be an option for that type of situation.”

Cherington said he expects Musgrove (right triceps inflammation) to return “fairly soon.” Keller (left oblique) has been on the injured list since Aug. 2, but Cherington indicated the injury is not season-ending.

Tropeano, a fifth-round draft choice of the Astros in 2011, has a career record of 12-14 with a 4.51 ERA.

In other injury news, Kyle Crick (right lat muscle strain) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Monday. It will be his third since going on the injured list July 28.

“He’s feeling better all the time,” Cherington said.

Closer Keone Kela was pulled from the game Friday when he experienced forearm tightness. Cherington said that was the right call.

Kela missed all of summer camp while dealing with a positive covid-19 test. As a result, he didn’t get the amount of time to prepare for a season that normal spring training allows.

“Probably one of those things you can put in the bucket of the challenges for getting ready for a season this year,” Cherington said. “Especially in his case, when he missed some time when he was in the quarantine.

“We’re going to let it calm down for the weekend, have the off day (Monday) and check in with him Tuesday, see where he is.

“We’re not going to put him out there until he feels ready to do so.”

Crick and Kela will accompany the team on the road trip.

Love baseball? Stay up-to-date with the latest Pittsburgh Pirates news.