Taillon injured, Reyes optioned

Jameson Taillon is headed to the Injured List while Pablo Reyes has punched a ticket to the International League.

For Taillon, the only details offered by the Pirates is a “right elbow flexor strain”. This site reports that it’s an injury that rarely requires surgery and is commonly cured by rest. So far this year Taillon has compiled a 4.10 ERA in seven starts covering 37 innings.

Reyes, who made an impression in his recall last September, hitting 293/349/483 in 18 games, has struggled off the bench for the Pirates in the first month of 2019, putting together an anemic 128/190/128 batting line while playing a variety of infield and outfield position.

To take Taillon’s spot on the active roster the Pirates will purchase the contract of veteran left-handed reliever Tyler Lyons, who they signed as a minor league free agent in the off season. Lyons, who had appeared in six season with the St. Louis Cardinals, making a total of 127 relief appearances and 20 starts (none since 2015) with a 4.09 ERA, appeared in 10 games with the Pirates’ Triple-A Indianapolis affiliate, with a 3.18 ERA in 11 innings, with 5 walks and 12 strikeouts.

Reyes will be replaced by Kevin Newman, who hit the injured list 23 days ago with a lacerated finger and who 12 days later began a rehabilitation assignment at Indianapolis. Newman made the Pirates’ 25 man roster out of Spring Training, but appeared in only six games, going 3-for-11 before his injury as he backed up the since injured Erik Gonzalez at shortstop. In 8 games at Triple-A, covering 35 plate appearances, Newman was hitting 273/333/364 while also getting experience in the outfield.