One of the most productive outfields in the National League is back to full strength after the Pirates activated Corey Dickerson from the 10-day disabled list before first pitch Saturday at PNC Park.
Dickerson, who suffered a left hamstring injury July 24, is not starting against the Cardinals but is available off the bench. The left fielder batted .400 with six doubles, three triples, six home runs and 12 RBIs in 18 games last month. Outfielder Christopher Bostick, who went 0 for 2 in pinch-hit appearances since being recalled Tuesday, was optioned back to Triple-A Indianapolis to make room for Dickerson.
"I've been working through it and got to a place where I can get out there with confidence and try to help this team win," Dickerson said.
Dickerson, acquired from the Rays in late February, has batted .318 with a .868 OPS, 11 home runs and 44 RBIs in 91 games this season. The 29-year-old was on a tear at the time of his injury with 13 hits in 27 at-bats, including five homers and nine RBIs, in six games before suffering the injury. He's also batted .383 with five doubles, two triples and five home runs in 11 games as the club's leadoff hitter.
Dickerson was 2 for 2 with a two-run triple off Indians starter Shane Bieber when he strained his left hamstring while running to first on a groundout July 24 in Cleveland. He was placed on the disabled list four days later, retroactive to July 25, and only missed the minimum 10 days. Jordan Luplow started six of the eight games with Dickerson out and had only three hits in 20 at-bats as the Pirates' leadoff hitter.
Adam Frazier, who is 10 for 22 since being recalled July 25, is starting in left and batting leadoff Saturday against Cardinals left-handed starter Austin Gomber. Frazier's batted .320/.364/.330 in 97 career major-league at-bats against left-handed pitchers.
It was the first time Dickerson's been on the disabled list since September 2015 and the first time he's suffered a hamstring injury in his professional career.
He wanted to avoid a stint on the disabled list; however, the Pirates wanted to take advantage of two off-days this week to ensure Dickerson doesn't encounter a setback. "You don't want a setback, you don't want it to turn into, 'I could have taken a few more days,' to potentially missing weeks at a time," he said. "You have to be cautious about it, but you also have to be confident in what you do, the work you put in. If something happens it happens for a reason."
• With Josh Bell on the disabled list and a lefty starter on the mound, Francisco Cervelli is starting at first base for the first time since April 20, 2016. Cervelli has played first only seven times during his major-league career and began taking ground balls there prior to his latest stint on the seven-day disabled list July 14.
The move is designed to monitor his workload behind home plate while keeping both his and Elias Diaz's bats in the lineup. Cervelli is 7 for 14 with five RBIs in his last four games, while Diaz is batting .386 against left-handed pitchers this season.
"Francisco shows all the actions you want to see — the hand and the feet work," Hurdle said. "He's done it in the past a little bit. He's actually played second base, but you have to get him in a game to find out where they are and what you have."
• Bell, placed on the 10-day disabled list July 28 with a left oblique strain, swung in the batting cage prior to first pitch Saturday, a significant step for him to return to the field. The 25-year-old first baseman is eligible to come off the disabled list Wednesday when the Pirates play the Rockies in Denver.
Bell is batting .266 with a .749 OPS, six home runs and 49 RBIs in 104 games this season.
• Left-handed pitcher Steven Brault, demoted to Triple-A Indianapolis Friday, will throw a bullpen in Toledo Sunday and is expected to be available out of the Indians' bullpen Tuesday. Hurdle said the plan is for Brault to still be used as a reliever, noting the Pirates are in need of a lefty in their bullpen, and Brault will likely pitch once every two days in Triple-A.
Hurdle expressed confidence the Pirates and Brault have pinpointed why he's struggled with command. The 26-year-old had a team-high 46 walks in 69 1/3 innings.
• Edgar Santana, whom Hurdle and assistant athletic trainer Ben Potenziano checked on in the sixth inning Friday, is OK, according to Santana and Hurdle. Cervelli called for the staff to check on Santana after the right-hander's velocity was down and his command was erratic. Santana said he was laboring through the inning because it was the first time he threw a season-high 35 pitches in his 1 1/3 innings.
"Dr. Cervelli checked on him and he's OK," Hurdle said.