The Pirates lost two starters to the disabled list only three days before the non-waiver trade deadline. Josh Bell and Corey Dickerson were both placed on the 10-day disabled list Saturday. In corresponding moves, Jose Osuna and Austin Meadows were both recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis.
Bell, removed from the game in the third inning Friday night, suffered a left oblique strain, and Dickerson, who hasn't played since Tuesday, went on the disabled list, retroactive to July 25, with a left hamstring strain. Meanwhile, Starling Marte returned to the starting lineup for the first time since being hit by a pitch Wednesday.
Todd Tomczyk, the Pirates' director of sports medicine, said the club is "optimistic" both Dickerson and Bell will only need the minimum 10 days to recover from their respective injuries.
Bell has batted .266/.347/.402 with 22 doubles, four triples, six home runs and 49 RBIs in 104 games this season. Since the start of last season, only Freddy Galvis and Joey Votto have appeared in more games than Bell (263). A National League Rookie of the Year finalist in 2017, Bell appeared to have suffered the injury in the second inning Friday night, when he ran slowly to first base on a ground out.
Bell was promptly removed and was not in the home clubhouse following the walkoff win. He also declined to speak to reporters Saturday afternoon. Bell had gone 9 for 24 over his previous seven games, batting .358 with four doubles, a triple, home run, eight RBIs and eight walks in his last 16 games.
Dickerson, who has batted .400 with 12 RBIs in 18 games this month, ran, shagged fly balls and took batting practice on the field Saturday. He wasn't placed on the disabled list until moments before first pitch and will be eligible to return next Saturday against the Cardinals. Tomczyk added that Dickerson is able to hit, but he's not able to sprint.
"The type of player Corey is, he wanted to play through this," Tomczyk said. "He tried to play through it. But the style he plays it probably wasn't the best option for him to push through this and make something minor into a potential long-term and beyond where our comfort level is."
With Bell out, David Freese, who went 3 for 3 with 5 RBIs Friday night, including the walkoff hit, will likely become the starter at first base, although he's out of the lineup Saturday after playing five consecutive games.
Osuna would serve as a backup at third and first base, while also having the ability to play right field in certain ballparks, including PNC Park. He's batted .196 with a .582 OPS, two home runs and 7 RBIs in 23 games with the Pirates this season. Although he's hit just .222 over his past 10 Triple-A games, he was their only option, given that Kevin Kramer, who could have backed up Colin Moran at third base, is not on the 40-man roster.
Meadows, 23, was sent back to Indianapolis earlier this month after batting .298 with a .810 OPS, five home runs and 13 RBIs in 48 games for the Pirates. He batted just .220 with a .551 OPS, 14 strikeouts and only three walks in the final 17 games before his demotion. Meadows also struggled upon returning to Triple-A, batting .231 in 10 games.
