Pirates place LeBlanc on disabled list, recall Brault

The Pirates have placed left-handed reliever Wade LeBlanc on the 10-day disabled list with random discomfort a left quad strain. Maybe somebody in the team’s front office actually noticed that LeBlanc has an ERA of 7.58 since May, with an opponents’ OPS of .900 or higher every month. Maybe they decided it was time to make a move . . . ah, who am I kidding? That kind of performance doesn’t seem to bother this front office in the least.

Anyway, Brault is currently leading the International League in ERA at 1.94. He appeared twice in relief for the Pirates back in July, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks, with two strikeouts, in two innings. The only Pirates’ relievers who’ve been effective lately have been Felipe Rivero, George Kontos and A.J. Schugel, so maybe Brault will actually get a chance to do something other than mop up.