Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton announced left-hander Steven Brault will start the home opener against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night at PNC Park and confirmed right fielder Gregory Polanco has been cleared to return after testing positive for covid-19.

Shelton said Polanco is going through the MLB health and safety protocol and could soon return from the injured list. Polanco posted videos of himself working out Friday at PNC Park on social media.

Brault was 4-6 with a 5.16 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 19 starts last season before being sidelined by shoulder discomfort that resurfaced in spring training and caused him to be shut down for six weeks. Brault will face Brewers right-hander Adrian Houser. Shelton, however, said Brault isn’t yet part of the starting rotation and could pitch in a piggyback role with a player to be determined.

“No, he’s not part of the rotation, and it’s not to say that he’s an opener,” Shelton said. “It depends on the definition of opener is, in terms of how many pitches he throws and how we use him. Traditionally, how openers are used for an inning — that’s not how we’re going to use him.”

Lefty Derek Holland is scheduled to start Tuesday against Brewers righty Josh Lindblom, with Joe Musgrove facing Brandon Woodruff on Wednesday night in the final game of the three-game homestand.

The Pirates tinkered with pairing Brault and right-hander Chad Kuhl, who is returning after missing last season with Tommy John surgery. Relievers Robbie Erlin and Chris Stratton, who both have starting experience in the majors, also could be used in piggyback roles.

“We’re going to be flexible with it,” Shelton said. “We have a couple different options of people that we can use. Then it would just depend on our usage here the next two days.”

The Pirates started Cole Tucker in right field Saturday at St. Louis, the first career start in the outfield for the 2014 first-round pick who primarily plays shortstop. Guillermo Heredia started in right in the 5-4 season-opening loss on Friday night but play center in Saturday’s 9-1 loss.

Polanco’s return would be a boost to the lineup, as he had surgery on his left (throwing) shoulder in September 2018 and played only 42 games last season. Polanco had 23 home runs and 81 RBIs in ’18, and his arm looked stronger before he was sidelined with covid-19.

“We have to see how his body is. As soon as we feel or deem his body is ready to come back, then he will be able to come back assessment-wise,” Shelton said. “But we’re not going to put him in a situation where … we’re building up. We’re going to make sure his body is deemed healthy.”

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)