Catching up on some injured-list transactions around baseball…
- The Pirates placed right-hander JT Brubaker on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to September 16. Right-hander Luis Ortiz was called up to take Brubaker’s spot on the active roster. Brubaker was officially listed as sidelined due to right arm inflammation, although lat soreness was given as the reason for his early exit from Thursday’s game, when he lasted just three innings. Over 141 1/3 innings and 27 starts for the Bucs this season, Brubaker has a 4.58 ERA and some unimpressive Statcast numbers, although his SIERA is a more favorable 3.95. His ability to eat innings could put him in the conversation for a spot in Pittsburgh’s rotation next season, even if he doesn’t make it back for one more start in 2022.
- The Diamondbacks placed right-hander Keynan Middleton on the 15-day IL due to a sprained left big toe. Righty Luis Frias was called up from Triple-A in the corresponding move. The toe sprain will likely end what has been an injury-plagued season for Middleton, who missed a couple of months due to elbow inflammation and a right ankle sprain. Between the injuries and time in the minor leagues, Middleton was limited to 17 innings in 18 appearances with the D’Backs, and he posted a 5.29 ERA over that rather small sample size. Now in his sixth MLB season, Middleton has yet to regain the early promise of his first two seasons with the Angels, before Tommy John surgery sidelined him in 2018. He inked a minors deal with the D’Backs last winter and probably seems likely to be back on the open market this offseason in search of another non-guaranteed deal.
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