Pirates place Polanco on DL, recall Elias Diaz; Meadows to Indy

The Pirates have placed restored Gregory Polanco to his natural habitat on the 10-day disabled list for the third time this year with a left hamstring strain. To replace him on the roster, they’ve recalled catcher Elias Diaz from AAA. The reason for recalling Diaz rather than Jordan Luplow is that Francisco Cervelli has a hand injury that forced him out of Sunday’s game. The hand injury is a recurring one that could still force Cervelli to the DL, but for now he’s apparently day-to-day. Of course, the Pirates could have placed Cervelli on the DL now and recalled Luplow, but that would deprive them of the opportunity to play shorthanded, as well as the chance to use players in right field who’ve shown that they can’t help the team in right field.

Meanwhile, according to the roster at MiLB.com, Austin Meadows has at long last finished his rehab from his own latest hamstring injury and is back with Indianapolis.