Various sources are reporting that Jose Tabata has been recalled and is in the Pirates clubhouse in St. Louis. Tabata was recalled because Jordy Mercer is going on paternity leave as he and his wife are expecting.
The Pirates certainly have had an odd string of coincidences around their most recent roster moves. Chad Qualls was bombed the other night and then placed on bereavement leave the next day, which allowed the team to recall Jared Hughes. Yesterday Mercer was hit in the hand by a Jason Motte fastball. It is hard to imagine he would not miss at least a few games even though x-rays proved negative. Lo and behold, Jordy's wife is expecting and off he goes, and up comes Tabata.
Hmmm...
UPDATE: The Pirates beat writers are also reporting that Starling Marte is unavailable today after leaving yesterday's game with discomfort in his right side. Marte said he was unsure how long he will be out. The Pirates are definitely shorthanded. Neil Walker's status for today's game is not yet known.
UPDATE by Charlie: Tabata has not actually been activated yet.
UPDATE by David: Clearly confusion reigns in the PIrates clubhouse. The Pirates have now announced that they have placed Starling Marte on the 15-day DL with a right oblique strain and have officially recalled Jose Tabata who will bat leadoff in today's lineup. It appears Jordy Mercer will be going on paternity leave after the game and the Pirates will make another move at that point. Neil Walker is not in the lineup today, so that would suggest the Pirates bench consists of Rod Barajas, Yamaico Navarro and Garrett Jones, with Walker and Mercer unavailable.